ELI Mourns the Loss of ELI Founder and Friend, Craig Mathews
It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Craig Mathews, one of the founders of the Environmental Law Institute and a true leader in its early history. Craig was instrumental in shaping ELI from its inception, serving as one of the framers of our original articles of incorporation and as a member of ELI’s first Board of Directors. His vision, dedication, and steady leadership helped establish the Institute’s role as a trusted, independent voice in environmental law and policy.
Craig’s service to ELI spanned decades. He served as President of the organization from 1973 to 1975, chaired ELI’s Executive Committee for a decade, and remained an enduring member of the Board of Directors from 1970 to 1992. Even after stepping back from formal leadership roles, Craig continued to support ELI as a long-standing member of our Leadership Council, reflecting a lifelong commitment to the Institute and its mission.
Beyond ELI, Craig enjoyed a distinguished legal career, practicing environmental and international trade law for many years in Washington, D.C., including as a partner at Leva, Hawes, Symington, Martin & Oppenheimer before continuing in solo practice. He was also deeply committed to legal education, serving as an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law and as a visiting lecturer at Yale University, sharing his knowledge and experience with future generations of lawyers.
Craig’s legacy lives on not only through the institution he helped build and the family he adored, but also through the many colleagues, students, and leaders he mentored along the way. He brought integrity and a deep respect for the rule of law to every aspect of his work. And he did it all with his trademark graciousness, ready wit, and generous spirit. Craig will be greatly missed by the ELI community and by the field of environmental law more broadly. We are grateful for his extraordinary service and lasting contributions, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
—Jordan Diamond, January 23, 2026