RICHMOND—Andre A. Moenssens, revered law professor, acclaimed forensic scientist and fingerprint expert, prolific author, consultant and devoted father and grandfather passed away peacefully on July 28, 2024.
Andre was born January 13, 1930, in Hoboken, Belgium, the son of Frans Moenssens and Leontine DeMeulenaere; and brother to Christiane Marchand-Moenssens and Magda Vanderheyden-Moenssens, all of whom predeceased him.
He is survived by his wife, Ann C. Smith; his four daughters, Monique Moenssens Kantemir, Jacqueline Moenssens Ramsey (Maxwell), Michele Moenssens Smith and Suzanne Moenssens Etherington (Sandford); his son, Mark Andre Moenssens (Michele); and his grandchildren, John Ramsey, Madeline Ramsey-Schley, Emily Strine, Robert Kelsay, Elizabeth Kelsay, Grace Etherington, James Etherington, Maerek Moenssens and Maren Moenssens. He is also survived by a myriad of much-loved family and friends including Susan Moenssens Rogers, William Creekmur, Fred Baughan and Allan Baughan.
A towering figure in the field of fingerprinting and forensics, Andre dedicated his life to advancing fingerprint analysis and criminal identification. He had a remarkable journey. Born in Belgium in 1930, his character was strongly forged by his childhood exposure to the devastation of World War II. An infinitely curious young scholar, he read four-to-five books per week and pursued divergent interests. His passion for music led him to enroll in the conservatory at 16, perform in a 100-piece concert orchestra, play five instruments, compose a symphony and form a Dixieland Band.
However, it was his private detective business, exposure to distinguished forensic experts and his fascination with the complexities of fingerprint identification that motivated him to pursue that calling with relentless determination. He wrote his first book on forensic evidence at 19, became a member of the International Association for Identification (IAI) at 23 and studied American fingerprinting techniques through a home study course offered by the Institute of Applied Science in Chicago. At the same time, he worked for 20th Century Fox in Brussels where he was introduced to many recognizable faces in cinema.
In 1956, Andre’s inquisitive disposition and ambitious nature brought him to the United States where he worked by day for the Portuguese Consulate in Los Angeles, was a press photographer covering the LAPD and drew fingerprint artwork for books. He was also a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press and attended many movie premiers and events.
He left L.A. in 1960 to become the head instructor for fingerprint analysis at the Institute of Applied Science in Chicago. Shortly after, he graduated from law school at the top of his class, earning his J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law and then his Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Northwestern University in 1967.
Motivated by his great love for teaching and the intersection of fingerprinting and the law, he became a professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law where he was tenured. Andre quickly became a trailblazer in his field and went on to teach at the University of Richmond for 22 years where he first retired professor emeritus in 1995. Considered one of the nation’s premiere forensic science scholars, he was invited to hold the Visiting Professor of Law William J. Mayer, Jr. Chair at West Virginia University for two years. He then held the Douglass Stripp Distinguished Professorship of Law Emeritus at the University of Missouri at Kansas City for six years where he chaired the Midwestern Innocence Project.
Over his lifetime, Andre lectured in at least 24 states, Washington, D.C., and seven countries. As a professor, he was respected for his expertise, kindness, sincerity, effectiveness in the classroom and ability to inspire students—leaving a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of learning from him.
Andre’s contributions extended beyond the classroom. He was frequently consulted by lawyers, government agencies, news media and television producers and testified in high-profile criminal cases, providing invaluable insights that helped bring justice to many. He authored and co-authored at least 31 influential textbooks on scientific evidence and criminal law. He also edited, authored and co-authored hundreds of publications, articles, magazines and chapters in books that have shaped the legal analysis of forensic evidence. After retiring, he continued working with professional associations, updating legal text volumes, and was the co-editor in chief (with Allan Jamieson) of the Wiley Encyclopedia of Forensic Science.
Andre received many awards and honors in his lifetime. Among the more prestigious were being named a Distinguished Fellow with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in 2005 “in appreciation for his lifetime of service to the forensic science profession;” being the first recipient of the Harold A. Feder Jurisprudence Section Award; and receiving the Stephen B. Meagher Commitment to Friction Ridge Science Award in 2012, given by the Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis Study & Technology (SWGFAST). He was proud to be a Life member of the IAI.
For all his accomplishments, his colleagues described him as humble, cultured, compassionate and a ‘gentleman giant’ in his field—a man way ahead of his time who had few, if any, peers.
Nothing was dearer to Andre than his children and grandchildren. To them, he was a cherished father who was loving and had unwavering belief in their potential. He instilled in them a love of all types of music and instruments, sports (his favorite sport was soccer), Scouting (he was a Crown Scout in Belgium), sketching and painting, reading extensively, traveling, speaking multiple languages (he spoke at least five), boating, gardening, religious studies and more.
Immersed in their academic pursuits, he delighted in their concerts, performances, and games—even becoming a coach and a referee—and championed their many endeavors. He supported his grandchildren’s activities with similar faithfulness. He taught his family to think critically and creatively, work hard and always put in extra effort. His legacy will live on for generations.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 13, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, followed by a graveside service at Greenwood Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center or St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Bliley Funeral Homes & Cremation Center, Staples Mill Chapel of Richmond handled the arrangements.
