Morton Susman

1934 - 2025

Morton Susman
08/06/1934 - 01/21/2025
Morton Lee Susman, born August 6, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved son of Dr. Harry Susman, DDS, and Alma Koslow Susman. Mort was preceded in death by his father Harry, mother Alma, brother Dr. Jon Susman, DDS, and his wife of 65 years, Nina Meyers Susman, the love of his life.
Mort's early years were spent in Corpus Christi, Texas, before his family relocated to Dallas, Texas, following World War II. He graduated from Highland Park High School and pursued higher education at Southern Methodist University (SMU), earning a degree in finance and later a Juris Doctor from SMU's law school. An exceptional student, Mort served as editor of the SMU Law Review and graduated among the top of his class. It was during law school that he met Nina Meyers, beginning a lifelong partnership filled with love and shared adventures.
Anticipating his draft number being called, Mort enlisted in the United States Navy, attending Officer Candidate School and Naval Justice School. As a commissioned lieutenant in the Navy's JAG Corps, he was stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. During his service, Mort discovered a remarkable talent for trying cases, which would shape the course of his career.
After fulfilling his military commitment, Mort and his growing family moved to Houston, where he began his civilian legal career with the U.S. Department of Justice. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mort served as chief of the Criminal Division and, in 1966, was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. In this role, he led the prosecution of several high-profile cases, including the West Tec securities fraud case, the draft evasion case of Muhammad Ali, high profile drug smugglers, and cases against organized crime figures.
In private practice, Mort's exceptional skills transitioned seamlessly to the defense side. One of his notable early victories was successfully defending Frank Sharp in the Sharpstown Bank scandal. Over the years, his clients included prominent business leaders, congressmen, judges, and city officials. Mort concluded his distinguished career as a senior partner at the New York law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Mort's passions extended beyond the courtroom. He was an avid motorcycle and sports car enthusiast, a licensed private pilot, and an accomplished photographer who enjoyed developing his work in his darkroom. His love of adventure led him to scuba diving and underwater photography, and he even owned a scuba diving operation in Grand Cayman. Mort also enjoyed flying radio-controlled airplanes and building electronic devices, many of which remain operational to this day.
Together, Mort and Nina traveled the world, creating cherished memories. They enjoyed vacation homes in Grand Cayman and later at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, where Mort spent his retirement years. Throughout his life, Mort remained a devoted family man, sharing his hobbies and captivating stories from his legal career with close friends and loved ones.
Mort is survived by his beloved son Mark and daughter-in-law Melissa, granddaughter Julienne Susman Murchison (Robert F. Jr.) of Dallas, Texas, and grandson Maxwell Lee Susman (Madeline) of Menlo Park, California. He was also a proud great-grandfather to Robert Frank Murchison III, Otto Charles Susman, Olivia Julienne Susman and Christina Clara Murchison. His wisdom, warmth, and wit will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A private graveside service will be held at East Lawn Palms Mortuary & Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona. A celebration of Mort's extraordinary life and legacy will be held at a later date in Houston and Tucson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Navy SEAL Foundation, USO or to a charity of your choice.