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Robert
N.C. Nix Jr. ’50 A&S
By Heather E. Linde ‘04
 Former
Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Robert N.C. Nix Jr. ’50
A&S, died on August 23 at the age of 75.
Justice Nix was the son of the late Congressman Robert N.C. Nix Sr., the
first African American from Pennsylvania to be elected to the U.S. House
of Representatives.
He was born in Philadelphia in 1928 and graduated with highest honors from
Central High School. At Villanova, he majored in philosophy and graduated
in the top of his class with a 4.0 average. He earned his doctorate of jurisprudence
from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1953.
During his career, he was a trial lawyer, a deputy attorney general and
judge in the Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas. In 1972, he was
elected associate justice for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and served
in that position for 12 years. For his final 12 years in Pennsylvania’s
highest court, Justice Nix served as the chief justice.
He was a member of many civic organizations and holds honorary degrees from
Villanova, Delaware Law School of Widener College and Chestnut Hill College.
Justice Nix is survived by his wife, Renate; his sons, Robert N.C. Nix III,
Michael, Judd Steven, and Anthony; stepchildren, Timothy and Kimberly Bryant
and nine grandchildren.
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