Charles Cuprill Oppenheimer

Military career

Charles Cuprill Oppenheimer was a United States Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Cuprill Oppenheimer enrolled in the Army ROTC program and graduated in 1940. By 1941-1942 Cuprill Oppenheimer took a temporary leave of absence from attending the University of Puerto Rico School of Law when he was asked to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company "L" 65th Infantry Regiment. By 1946 World War II had ended, and at 30 years old and with the rank of Major honorably left the military service that year to resume the pursuit a law degree and his law career.

After obtaining his license to practice law from the United States Supreme Court and in 1947, his law practice was temporarily interrupted again from 1950-1953 when Cuprill Oppenheimer was asked to return to military active duty with the Puerto Rico National Guard during the Korean War. During the Korean War Cuprill Oppenheimer commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 296th Infantry Regiment (note: the 296th was mobilized on September 14, 1952 so that it could provide replacements to its sister company deployed in Korea). Cuprill Oppenheimer later became the Commanding Officer of the Henry Barracks Army base in Cayey, PR where United States' draftees were trained before shipment to the Korean War as replacements to the 65th Infantry Regiment.

Retired from the Puerto Rico National Guard with the rank of Major General.

Law career

In addition to his military career, Cuprill Oppenheimer was admitted to the practice law in Puerto Rico in 1947 by the United States Supreme Court (note: at the time the Bar Examination and admission process was such that upon graduation of law school, an individual candidate had to undergo an extensive oral examination administered by each individual Puerto Rico Supreme Court Justice, and upon passing the Bar Exam, the U.S. Supreme Court would admit and confer upon the successful candidate a license to practice law in Puerto Rico). Cuprill Oppenheimer was also admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar. As previously noted his law career was interrupted twice when he had to answer the call by the United States to serve his nation during World War II and the Korean War. He was rewarded for his sacrifices by having a successful law practice in good standing with the legal community for well over 50 years. Cuprill Oppenheimer is well known for his appellate work (Property law and Administrative law) and for being responsible for having being instrumental and influential in setting landmark jurisprudence with the Puerto Rico Supreme Court in a multitude of his cases argued before the P.R. Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Academia

He earned his bachelor in political science from the University of Puerto Rico in 1940 and his Juris Doctor from the UPR school of law in 1947.

He served three terms as Dean of Pontifical Catholic University School of Law. He was one of the Founders, and a Trustee Emeritus, of the Ponce School of Medicine, a two time president of Phi Sigma Alpha and "Hermano Emeritus" Medal holder of the Fraternity.

In 1950 he was one of the founders of the Gamma-Boriquen chapter of Fi Sigma Alpha fraternity. He was a co-founder, of the El Vigia Rotary Club and was appointed to Government Committees by all the elected Governors of the Commonwealth Puerto Rico. He was also Chairman of the PR Electoral Reform Commission. He was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Legacy

The Charles R. Cuprill Oppenheimer Award is given to the Graduate Student with the Most Outstanding Grade in the Administrative Law Course.

Cuprill Oppenheimer is a Law Professor Emeritus of the Pontifical Catholic University of School of Law.

The Federalist Society Chapter of the Pontifical Catholic University School of Law is named after Charles R. Cuprill Oppenheimer.

Keeping up with Cuprill Oppenheimer's law legacy his three sons Charles Alfred, Hector Rambel, Sr., and Raymond Warren became attorneys as well. Cuprill Oppenheimer's oldest grandson Hector R. Cuprill, Jr. and his youngest granddaughter Diana I. Cuprill further continued his legacy by pursuing law careers—one practices law in the Orlando Metro Area, Deland, Florida, and the other in the San Juan Metro Area, Puerto Rico.

His oldest son attorney Charles A. Cuprill Hernandez, Chapter 11 U.S. Bankruptcy Attorney, is involved in the sport of horse racing and a winner of the Pennsylvania Breeder's Award, an avocation passed from father to son.

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Personal life

Cuprill Oppenheimer married Lidia M. Hernandez. He was married to Lidia for over 60 years. They had three children named Charles Alfred, Hector Rambel, and Raymond Warren. He loved all his 7 grandchildren (Marilu, Natalie, Hector, Mercedes, Charles, and Diana) and great grandchildren dearly. He enjoyed the simple things in life and loved company. He enjoyed the passage of time with friends and family at "Monticello" (how he affectionately called his farm up in the majestic mountains of Puerto Rico). He was an avid world traveler with his wife Lidia. They traveled extensively throughout the American Continent, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.