The news of the passing of career general counsel Robert Bostrom rocked the in-house counsel community last week. Most recently as the chief legal officer at the struggling Fort Worth-based home decor retailer Pier 1 Imports Inc., Bostrom rose to prominence after holding the top lawyer position at Freddie Mac during the recession and later at the struggling apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Colleagues say Bostrom was passionate about uplifting the in-house and Big Law community through his involvement with several organizations and his advocacy for pro bono work and diversity and inclusion.