Statement on the passing of founding Partnership board member Joel Fleishman

September 30, 2024

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from its president and CEO, Max Stier, on the passing of founding board member Joel Fleishman: 

“We mourn the passing of Joel Fleishman, an extraordinary man and founding member of Partnership for Public Service’s board of directors whose energy, enthusiasm and leadership created a lasting foundation for our organization’s success. 

After accepting an invitation from close friend and Partnership founder Samuel J. Heyman to join the organization’s board of directors, Joel brought his expertise in the field of philanthropy and background in law, public policy and the social sector to help expand the organization’s reach and impact. 

Until his passing, Joel was generous in sharing his time, wisdom, support, and vast network of relationships to help the Partnership grow and fulfill its mission of building a better federal government and a stronger democracy. 

Joel also was an individual of great compassion and kindness, and we will always be grateful of his friendship. His legacy will live on through our ongoing work and impact.”  

A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Joel had been a member of the law faculty at Duke University since 1971 and served as the first director of what is now the Sanford School of Public Policy and as a professor of law and public policy and director of the Heyman Center on Ethics, Public Policy and the Professions. He also directed the Duke Foundation research program and wrote extensively on such subjects as legal regulation and financing of political activities as well as philanthropy and the regulation of not-for-profit organizations. He also served in several senior roles at Yale University and had been a legal assistant to the governor of North Carolina.