Alphonse M. Schwitalla

SCHWITALLA, ALPHONSE M. went peacefully to be with Jesus on March 24, 2015, leaving his home in Miami, Florida, as he slept beside his beloved Mary Lou, his wife of more than 57 years. He was surrounded until the end by the love of his 5 children and their spouses, his 15 grand-children and 3 great-grandchildren. Al was born in 1930 in St. Louis, MO, and he earned his undergraduate degree there. After serving in the United States Army, Al moved to Miami in 1955 to attend law school at UM. Following a clerkship for U.S. District Judge Emett Choate, Al opened his own practice downtown and soon became known as a bankruptcy specialist who never turned away a client because he could not pay. Al provided decades of pro bono legal services to many organizations important to him, including Belen Jesuit School, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy and Morningstar Baptist Church. In later years, he relocated his practice to Coral Gables until 1984, when he was forced to retire after suffering injuries in a serious auto accident. Although Al never again practiced law, he dedicated the rest of his life to his family and to St. Louis Catholic Church in Pinecrest, where he and Mary Lou were founding parishioners in 1963. They served as Eucharistic Ministers for many years and helped the church in countless other ways. Al policed the grounds daily, and he did so with kind words and a "Jesus is your Best Friend" for everyone he encountered. For over 25 years, he offered friendly waves to motorists from his bike, and handed out beautiful prayers he wrote each day in the Perpetual Adoration Room. His original prayers are currently being catalogued and are estimated to number over 6,000. Al "Grandpa," was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, nephew, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He considered education of utmost importance and never tired of imparting wisdom and grammar lessons, or of sharing his Catholic faith by word and example. Al treated all people with respect, no matter their color, age, religion, or station in life. He helped many people and touched many lives, leaving a lasting impression on all he met. Al is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; brother Alfred; sister, Mary Alexis Ivanovic; sons, Mike (Rachel) and Jim (Michele); daughters, Mary Alexis Opoien (Kyle), Linda Villena (Jose) and Susie Culmo; 15 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren. Services will be held Saturday, March 28, 2015, at St. Louis Catholic Church, with a Celebration of Life Visitation at 10 a.m. and Mass of Chiristian Burial at 12 noon. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Park South. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Louis Catholic Church, or West Springs Church of Ballwin, MO, pastored by Al's nephew, Reverend Tim McDonnell.