Barry Nakell, a tireless champion of social justice and a spirited lover of the outdoors, passed away at the age of 82 on September 17, 2025, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Born in 1942 to Jack and Briné (née Bernice Davis) Nakell, Barry left behind a legacy that touched classrooms, courtrooms, and mountain trails alike.
As a lawyer, law professor, athlete, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, he lived with a passion that inspired everyone around him.
Barry grew up in the bustling streets of urban Detroit, where he attended Mumford High School.
Those early years shaped his deep commitment to civil rights, especially during the turbulent civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s.
When his family moved to Los Angeles, young Barry discovered the joys of the natural world.
He fell in love with the outdoors and explored it whenever he could, hiking sun-baked trails, swimming in crisp ocean waters, and dreaming of adventures yet to come.
He pursued his undergraduate studies at UCLA, soaking up the vibrant energy of the West Coast.
Later, he earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law, honing the skills that would define his career.
Barry’s path led him from practicing law in California, where he worked on legal services for the indigent, to the faculty of the University of North Carolina School of Law.
There, he spent 27 devoted years teaching and advocating for change.
At UNC, Barry didn’t just Teach Law, he Transformed it
He led the integration of the law school faculty and worked tirelessly to diversify the student body, opening doors for generations of underrepresented voices.
As the first faculty advisor to both the undergraduate and law school LGBTQ+ organizations, he created safe spaces where students could thrive.
Barry’s innovations went far beyond the classroom. He established joint degree programs linking the law school with the departments of city and regional planning and business, fostering interdisciplinary thinking.
He launched the school’s continuing education program and even pushed through its no-smoking policy well ahead of the university’s broader ban.
His writings and advocacy against the death penalty were sharp and influential; he even authored a book on the topic, drawing from years of research and courtroom battles.
During the Vietnam War, Barry stood firmly with the protesters. He represented war resisters and draft dodgers, risking his own career to defend their rights.
He organized educational programs at the law school to unpack the complexities of the war, sparking vital conversations among students and faculty.
His work extended to Native American communities, where he represented tribes like the Lumbee, Tuscarora, Occaneechi, and Meherrin.
One of his proudest victories came in overturning Robeson County’s discriminatory double-voting system, a blow against systemic injustice.
Barry fought for women’s rights, employment protections, prisoners’ rights, and religious freedoms.
He defended the tenure system at UNC in heated court battles and took cases all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
There, he secured landmark wins in Bounds v. Smith, establishing key prisoners’ rights to access law libraries and legal materials, and advanced post-conviction remedies for the wrongfully imprisoned.
In 1974, Barry founded North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, a vital resource for incarcerated individuals seeking justice.
The organization grew so impactful that the state now funds it as evidence of its vision.
He also collaborated closely with the ACLU, tackling First Amendment cases that protected free speech and assembly.
In 1989, the ACLU honored him with the Frank Porter Graham Civil Liberties Award.
In his acceptance speech, Barry celebrated America’s progressive movements, crediting his influential teacher, Aaron Gorbach, and mentor, Dan Pollitt, for guiding his path.
Barry’s activism knew no bounds. He served as president of the Chapel Hill-Durham Jewish Federation.
He founded the Roundtable of Blacks and Jews, as well as the Roundtable of Palestinians and Jews, building bridges across divides.
He worked with the Human Kindness Foundation alongside leaders Sita and Bo Lozoff until Bo’s untimely death.
Always committed to non-violence, Barry channeled his energy into promoting peace and understanding.
Even as he Battled in Courtrooms, Barry Stayed True to his Athletic Roots
A lifelong swimmer, he glided through pools with the grace of someone half his age.
In Chapel Hill, locals grew used to spotting him jogging to and from the law school, his work clothes tucked neatly in a backpack.
He adored hiking rugged paths, biking winding roads, and skiing fresh powder. Barry visited nearly every national park, collecting stories like souvenirs.
Tennis became a late-life joy at The Farm in Chapel Hill, where he’d rally with friends under the Carolina sun.
He took up ballroom dancing at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Durham, charming his family with invitations to his lively performances.
A proud vegetarian, Barry co-founded the Triangle Vegetarian Society alongside animal activists Tom and Nancy Regan.
He savored shared meals and discussions there, always advocating for compassion toward all living beings.
Travel fueled his soul. Barry joined cultural tours with Backroads, exploring ancient ruins and vibrant cities worldwide.
He shared these journeys with friends and family, turning trips into cherished memories.
Above all, Barry treasured his family.
He is survived by his daughters, Jessica Burroughs and her husband, Michael Burroughs, and their sons, Reuben and Levi, grandsons he adored beyond words.
Every year of their childhoods, Barry whisked them to the North Carolina mountains, teaching them the values of civil rights and social justice through stories around the campfire.
His other daughter, Stacy Nakell, and her partner, Doug Holloway, were pillars of support in his later years.
Barry’s brother Martin Nakell and his wife Rebecca Goodman remain, as does his sister Linda Nakell with her husband Robert Dawson.
Linda’s son, Joren Dawson, his wife, Jascha Boyce, and their son, Swae Boyce, complete the close-knit circle.
Barry stayed warmly connected to his first wife, Lynne, and counted his best friends, Rich Snover and Dorette, as family too.
Barry chose a green burial at Bluestem Cemetery, a fitting return to the earth he loved so fiercely. Funeral arrangements are handled by Hall-Wynne Funeral Service in Durham.
Online condolences can be shared at hallwynne.com under his obituary.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to Porch, a Durham nonprofit that supports housing and community stability (porch-durham.org), or purchasing memorial trees through their online store.
Barry Nakell’s death marks the end of an extraordinary chapter, but his spirit endures.
He reminded us that justice isn’t won in silence, adventure isn’t confined to maps, and kindness can change the world one conversation, one hike, one heartfelt fight at a time.
Rest in peace, Barry.
