W. David Curtiss, professor emeritus of law, died Jan. 26 at his home in Ithaca. He was 94.

At Cornell, Curtiss specialized in criminal law and local government law, and served as a faculty trustee from 1966 to 1971 and as associate dean of the Law School from 1958 to 1962.

"A committed and compassionate teacher, David has won the respect and affections of thousands of students," Peter W. Martin, dean of the Law School, wrote in 1986. "That is where the true legacy of a teacher lies." Curtiss retired in 1986; in 2007 the Class of 1952 established the W. David Curtiss Scholarship to honor his life and work.

Curtiss grew up in Sodus, N.Y., and received his A.B. and LL.B. degrees from Cornell in 1938 and 1940. He established a law office in Sodus, but was quickly appointed district attorney of Wayne County at age 25, becoming the youngest D.A. in the state.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, Curtiss was discharged with the rank of lieutenant commander. He joined the faculty of the University of Buffalo Law School in 1946 and returned to Cornell in 1947.

In the 1950s, Curtiss recorded a radio segment for the "This I Believe" project. His contribution, about the value of uncertainty, drew on his experiences as a soldier, law student and attorney.

"I believe that it is wishful thinking for anyone to expect a return to the good old days of certainty and stability, since change and uncertainty are among the most characteristic aspects of our times," he said. "This being true, I came to realize that the important thing in life was to learn to accept these changes, to live with uncertainty, and, above all, to be flexible enough to adjust to whatever situations might arise."

Curtiss is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Fowler Curtiss, two children and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. in the auditorium at Kendal at Ithaca.