Mr. Shestack was president of the International League for Human Rights from 1972 to 1991, except for his two years at the United Nations.
But poetry was also a compelling interest.
A 1987 Inquirer story reported that the fourth annual symposium of the American Poetry Center attracted to Philadelphia such figures as Maya Angelou, John Ashbery, Robert Bly, and Donald Hall.
Mr. Shestack, who was chairman of the center at the time, said: "There are more poetry readings here than in any city in the country outside New York."
And, he said, "I don't know any other city that has so many major corporations involved in supporting poetry."
In Philadelphia, Mr. Shestack sometimes shared the limelight with his wife, Marciarose, a news anchor and talk-show host at KYW-TV, now CBS3, in the 1960s and 1970s.
But he also attracted attention for his own work.
"We lost a great one," William T. Robinson III, president of the American Bar Association, said Friday.
"With his tireless work for human rights and the rule of law," Robinson said, "Jerry Shestack made a positive difference in the lives of so many, not only in our country but around the world."
Robert Arsenault, president of the International League for Human Rights, said on Friday that "Jerry's dedication to the law and to human rights was a guidepost to a generation of activists in the U.S. and abroad. He was a mentor to many and an inspiration to many more."
'Natural-born leader'
Rudolph Garcia, chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, said in a Friday statement: "In every sense, Jerome Shestack was the consummate Philadelphia lawyer.
"He exemplified the ideals of keen intellect, personal character, and professional commitment.
