Douglas Raymond Rendleman, 86, passed away on March 8, 2026, in his home in Lexington. 

Doug was born on Feb. 6, 1940, in Exira Iowa, first of five children of the late Raymond and Odetta Parker Rendleman.

He is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 65 years, and four children, Susan and Nickolaos Mastrodemos of La Canada Flintridge, Calif., John Rendleman and Regan Pickett of Richmond, Charles Rendleman and Bramble Klipple of Scottsville and Benjamin Rendleman of Lexington; and six grandchildren, Olga (Glenn) and Meletis (Grace) Mastrodemos, Vivien (Nic) Tejada, Clarkson (Maddie) and Bea (Cass) Rendleman and Julia Rendleman. Doug is also survived by three siblings, Mary Gilchrist (married to Dave Gilchrist) of Iowa City, Iowa, Catheryn Irvine (widow of David Irvine) of Dysart, Iowa, and Neal Rendleman, MD, of Portland, Ore. Margaret Mehl (survived by husband Tom Mehl) predeceased Doug. 

Doug and Carolyn married Aug. 28, 1960, a marriage of extraordinary devotion and tenderness. He loved his children and grandchildren and basked in their activities and achievements. He seldom missed a Colonial Williamsburg fife and drum corps parade where his sons performed. Doug bicycled whenever possible. He commuted to work by bicycle and enjoyed biking for pleasure with Carolyn. He was a gardener with special fondness for his daylilies and tomatoes. He nurtured the calamondin orange tree, a gift from Carolyn in 1961, until his death. At retirement, he and Carolyn bought a pool table. He taught her to play and they found great joy in their daily games.

Carolyn’s support and home-making enabled Doug to devote himself to his profession and scholarship. He completed a bachelor of arts in political science in 1963, a master of arts in American history in 1965 and a juris doctor in 1968 from the University of Iowa. 

Doug clerked for Justice Becker at the Iowa Supreme Court. He published his first two Law Review articles in 1969 and 1970 and decided to pursue an academic career. He earned a master of laws from the University of Michigan in 1970 and for 50 years taught at the law schools at the University of Alabama, 1970-73; College of William and Mary, 1973-88; and Washington and Lee University, 1988-2020.  He was a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina, 1974-75; University of Virginia, 1976; and Washington University, 1992. 

One of his students wrote in a tribute, "As a teacher, Doug was revered by his students for his combination of high standards and an engaging sense of humor. His broad smile and the twinkle in his eyes, often accompanied by his lightning-fast wit, gently encouraged his students to perform their very best" reflects the enthusiasm that Doug felt for his profession and the response from his students.

Doug Rendleman, Robert Huntley Professor of Law Emeritus at Washington and Lee Law School, was a leading scholar in the fields of remedies and civil procedure, and he was widely respected for his rigorous scholarship, thoughtful teaching, and deep commitment to his students. He was a prolific author, published 47 articles, authored and co-authored 11 books, and contributed to many symposia. Doug co-authored numerous amicus curiae briefs, five of which were submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. In his retirement he was an adviser to Benjamin Crump and his legal team and he co-authored an amicus brief to support the family of Henrietta Lacks' lawsuit to recover restitution from a pharmaceutical company.

Doug was a member of the national American Association of University Professors Government Relations Committee for nine years and chaired it for four years.  In that role, he helped the national office monitor Congressional legislation, develop legislative agendas, and lobby for favorable legislation.  He has served as president, member of the executive committee and on the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the Virginia Conference of the AAUP.  Doug was committed to economic security for all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education and meaningful, ex ante faculty involvement in university decision-making processes. 

He was also active in the Association of American Law Schools where he served as an executive committee member and chair of the sections on Remedies and Civil Procedure. In 2021, Professor Rendleman was recognized with a Lifetime Scholarly Achievement award from the Remedies Section of the AALS. He was a mentor and friend to numerous law teachers.

Doug was an elected member for 30 years of the American Law Institute, an organization of judges, lawyers, and law professors devoted to law reform and restatement. He served as an adviser to the 2011 Restatement of the Law Third, Restitution and Unjust Enrichment and to the Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Remedies.  When completed, this Restatement of the Law will identify the types of damages that are recoverable, including past and future lost wages, medical expenses, disfigurement, pain and suffering, lost profits, and damage to property as well as issues related to measuring damages, and injunctions against future damages.  ALI Law Restatements are important contributions to the legal profession, the judicial system, and for legal education. 

At Doug’s request, the family will host a barbecue in his remembrance at a later time.