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Alan Robert Schwartz

1934 - 2019

BORN

1934

DIED

2019

About

Harvard University

Alan Schwartz Obituary

SCHWARTZ, ALAN Robert., born in 1934, passed away February 22, 2019 at the age of 84. As a member of Phi Beta Kappa, he graduated Harvard College in 1955, Magna cum laude, and continued his studies at Harvard law school graduating in 1958, cum laude. One of Florida's first appellate lawyers, he was appointed a Circuit Judge by Governor Reubin Askew in 1973. After his appointment to the Third District Court of Appeal in 1978, his peers elected him as Chief Judge. He was continuously re-elected until his retirement in 2004 where he went on to serve the state for another ten years as a Senior Judge. The Judge grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He spent his summers on Miami Beach and moved to Miami after law school to live permanently. He was the beloved Husband of Myrna Bricker. Adoring father to Rachel Schwartz, Louis and Sherri Schwartz, Sarah Schwartz, Steve and Tracy Bricker and David and Suzanne Bricker. He was the lovable Grandfather to Jared Alan, Jared Robert, Mikayla Rachel Schwartz, Michael and Alexis Goldstein and Andy, Ryan and Eva Bricker. The Judge was a brilliant man with a vast knowledge of History, Music, the Arts, Food, and Culture. He loved to play jeopardy, sit down with a wonderful book, cheer for the Cleveland Indians, partake in a stirred, very cold, up, Bombay martini or two, and of course the rule of law. However, most of all, he loved his family. He cared deeply for, and supported, the people around him and took pleasure in their success. We do see the work of our maker in that the re-dedication of his beloved 3rd District Court of Appeal will take place shortly in which the Atrium will be named in his honor. We believe that it is a fitting memorial, and in honor of his wishes, no services or memorial will be held.

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Published by the Miami Herald on Feb. 24, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Alan Schwartz

16 Entries

75th Birthday

sarah schwartz

February 19, 2020

Lenny Cooperman

March 9, 2019

RIP

Lenny Cooperman

Sandy Karlan

March 1, 2019

Well I was his first law clerk when he was appointed to the Third District. It was my first legal job and boy did I ever learn. When he was working on an opinion, he would tell me that there was a case that was relevant in the Southern Reporter - not only did he remember all cases, he knew the volume number, the page number and what side of the page the quotation was on! He would finish his opinions by the afternoon of the morning oral argument and he always thought of more legal issues than were raised. He was brilliant.
He did have a great sense of humor - not always displayed. I recall my investiture that he attended and I wasn't sure how to acknowledge in my speech all that he taught me and also refer to his toughness and demands that opinions and rulings be accurate. So I said that when I was assigned to the juvenile division, which is intense and demanding, I was well prepared because I survived working for Judge Schwartz. I looked over at him and was relieved to see that he was laughing along with the audience!
Never a day went by when I was with him on the court that he didn't mention one of his children. He was very devoted to them.
He was unique and I will miss him. Sandy Karlan

Woody Clermont

February 28, 2019

My condolences to the family of Judge Schwartz, it is very sad to hear of his passing. I will keep his family in my prayers of support during this difficult time. He will be missed.

February 27, 2019

I am so very sorry for your loss. May the God of comfort be with you in your time of need.

Milton Hirsch

February 27, 2019

[T]here sits a judge that no king can corrupt

William Shakespeare, Henry VIII, Act III, sc. 1

JUDGE MARIA ESPINOSA DENNIS

February 26, 2019

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SORROW. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

Judge Jose M Rodriguez

February 26, 2019

Yes, he had a great legal mind, but if you didn't look closely you would miss two more important character traits, those of being a good and compassionate human being. I personally enjoyed his sense of humor which not everyone understood. He will be missed by many. My heart felt Condolences to all of his family and friends.

Lisa Walsh

February 26, 2019

Judge Schwartz helped me become a better lawyer. He taught me the meaning of persuasion. He toughened me up. No one had a better grasp of the case, the issue or the fulcrum of a case than he did. I changed because of his influence on me and am in his debt. I will miss him.

Dino Galardi

February 26, 2019

He was a brilliant mind and an amazing jurist. Godspeed Judge...

George Knox

February 25, 2019

May his legacy of impeccable fairness and deep undersranding endure.

Jay Levy

February 25, 2019

Florida has lost a legal giant who committed himself to insuring justice was accomplished in every case before him. He truly was the smartest judge I have ever had the honor of appearing before. Suffice it to say here, no legal issue was too complex for him. He had a remarkable, encyclopedic memory of prior decisions of the court. At oral argument, Judge Schwartz delighted in pointing out prior cases that I had argued twenty years earlier and took even greater joy when I could not recall the case. I also had occasion to be with Judge Schwartz outside of court, and as Judge David Levy has said, he had an incredible sense of humor. As difficult as he was on occasion when I appeared before him, I knew it was never personal. His passing leaves huge void that will never be filled. I pray that he finds peace.

February 25, 2019

My deepest sympathies. May the God of all the entire family during this time of sorrow. Always remember that God keeps in his memory those whom we lose because they are precious in his eyes. (Psalms 116:15)

Matthew Sarelson

February 24, 2019

One of Florida's finest legal minds and a unique character who was always interesting to watch preside over a case. He was super tough, but fair, and always knew your case better than you did. A first rate legal mind. May he Rest in Peace and may we all aspire to be as smart and wise as he was.

Judge David L. Levy Senior Judge

February 24, 2019

It is with profound sadness, both personally and professionally, that I note the passing of Judge Alan R. Schwartz. He was a great Judge...a true legal scholar, and most meaningful of all to me, my friend. Inside his self-created tough exterior was a a man of great intelligence, total integrity, and a sensitive and caring man with a terrific self-deprecating sense of humor (only witnessed by those to whom he was very close!). You could name any legal question or issue of law and Alan could tell you the name of the most recent Florida case on point and tell you which Florida Appellate Court has rendered that decision...all without referring to any written material. It was all stored up in his head. That was a factor causing me, when I succeeded Alan as the Chief Judge of the Third District Court of Appeal, to have the Court's library named in his honor. I'm happy to see that the Court's newly constructed Atrium will also be named in his honor. I'll always remember all of the incredibly funny things that he said and did, in private as mentioned above, that also reflected his keen and quick mind. I will miss him. (JUDGE DAVID L. LEVY, Senior Judge, State of Florida).