Michael S. Libowitz

Michael S. Libowitz, long-time Baltimore City attorney, passed away Sunday April 10, 2022, of complications from fronto temporal dementia. The Roland Park resident was 76.

Michael was born on August 19, 1945 to Aaron Libowitz, a pharmacist and Ida Rosen Libowitz, a teacher and he grew up in the Mt. Washington neighborhood. He attended Baltimore City College and graduated from the A Course in 1963. In 1967 he earned a Bachelor Degree from the University of Virginia where he also played lacrosse. In 1970 he earned his J.D. degree from the University of Maryland School of Law and was admitted to the bar of Maryland that same year.

Michael began his legal career as an Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City ending as a trial team leader in 1973. After a few years of private practice with Goodman, Meagher & Enoch, he started his own firm with his friend Steven A. Thomas.

In 1985 Michael married Susan Rittenhouse, also an attorney and Securities Commissioner for the State of Maryland. At Thomas & Libowitz P.A., Michael specialized in criminal defense and family law, but handled a wide range of complex litigation and was an excellent and seasoned trial lawyer. He also served on the Attorney Grievance Commission and the Executive Council for the Bar Association of Baltimore City. Between 1990 and 1991, he served on the Russell Committee on the drug crisis and the underfunding of the justice system in Baltimore City.

Michael's law partner, Steven A. Thomas, said, "He was a brilliant attorney and a true intellectual, extremely entertaining and loyal to his family, friends and clients." He loved books and read widely, collected and enjoyed good wines and loved to attend Ravens games with his son, Nicholas. "While Michael developed an immunity to conventional hobbies such as tennis, golf, or woodworking," said long-term friend David Skeen "his real interest was in collecting and curating friends; whether from City College, UVA, fellow lawyers, clients or the neighborhood. He was very good at it."

Michael is survived by his wife Susan, his son Nicholas, and his sisters Suzanne L. Kaplan and Carol L. Buglio