BU School of Law Remembers Dean William Schwartz
Dean Schwartz led the law school from 1980 to 1988 and taught generations of law students.

William Schwartz (DGE’52, LAW’55, GRS’60), former professor and dean of Boston University School of Law, passed away in New York on December 20, 2017. He served as professor of law at the school for more than 30 years.
Schwartz joined BU Law as a professor of property law and trusts and estates immediately upon his graduation, magna cum laude, in 1955. He led BU Law as dean from 1980 to 1988. During his tenure, he negotiated with former BU President John Silber to take over the entire law tower, and established the International Law Journal and the Review of Banking & Financial Law. He oversaw the creation of the LLM in Banking & Financial Law Program, the first graduate program in the US to devote itself entirely to the study of banking and financial services law, and the founding of the Public Interest Project (PIP), a student organization created to provide fellowships to first and second-year students working in summer public-interest jobs.
After he stepped down as dean, Schwartz remained on the faculty until 1991, when he moved on to Yeshiva University to serve as vice president of academic affairs and professor of property law at the University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Throughout his career, he authored 18 books and more than 50 law review articles. He was counsel in the New York office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft; a member of the Legal Advisory Committee of the New York Stock Exchange; a representative (NGO Section) to the United Nations; and a member of the board of Viacom Inc.
In 2015, BU Law dedicated the Samuel M. Fineman Law Library with a gift made by Samuel Fineman in honor of Dean Schwartz and his wife Bernice. Fineman, who met William Schwartz when he was a first-year law student, maintained a lifelong friendship with the former dean and his wife. A photograph of William and Bernice Schwartz with Samuel Fineman and his fiancée Nyla Carleton hangs in the library.
“I learned from my experience with Bill and Bernice that you meet a few exceptional individuals in your life who you always remember, respect, and revere,” Fineman said. “From Bill and Bernice’s efforts, the foundation of the law school was forged to support tremendous growth by its succeeding deans and faculty to its current outstanding record and space.”
Michael Fricklas (’84) recalled Dean Schwartz’s impact on his career in a recent issue of The Record. When, after his first year at BU Law, Fricklas was considering transferring to a lower-cost school closer to his hometown in Colorado, Schwartz would have none of it. The dean found some discretionary funding to allow him to continue at BU. “I didn’t have lawyers in my family,” Fricklas said. “I didn’t have mentors or anyone guiding me through law school, but Dean Schwartz and BU Law enabled me to get a great education and a launch on a career.”
“Bill was a true son of BU Law—an alum, a faculty member, and dean,” says Dean Maureen A. O’Rourke. “Over the years, many alumni have told me of his outsized impact on their time at BU Law, their careers, and indeed their lives. For me, Bill was an extraordinarily generous and warm friend whose passion for the school and help in securing our new campus was second to none. I send my deepest sympathies to his wife and partner in all things, Bernice, and their entire family.”
Jeffrey Woolf (LAW ’74, GRS ’69) has generously established the Dean William Schwartz Scholarship Fund at the School of Law and invites alumni and friends to join him in honoring Dean Schwartz. To donate, please visit our BU Giving page.
The guestbook form has closed. Please view the entries below.
Guestbook Entries
Professor Schwartz was a wonderful teacher. He skillfully mixed humor with content, ensuring an education that will be remembered.
Another recollection: Professor Schwartz would frequently dictate citations with some hypotheticals. 1st year students dutifully scribbled them down. Knowing there were 5 religious Jewish students in Section D – 1979, he sometimes gave a citation not to American law, but to a portion of the Talmud, in Hebrew, as in “Baba Kama, Blat 23, Amud Alef.” All pens ground to a halt, while we five appreciated the inside joke. I will miss him.
Israel Silverman (’82), Scor Reinsurance Company
He was a great man whom we will all miss. He was my inspiration. I can’t believe he is gone.
Martin Lobel (’65), Lobel, Novins & Lamont LLP
My condolences to the Schwartz family.
Paul Spitz (’86), Spitz Law Firm
I remember Professor Schwartz with fondness from my first year at law school. My sympathies to his family.
Linda F. Spiegel (’78), Law and Mediation Office of Linda F. Spiegel, Esq.
Isabelle Katz Pinzler (’70)
Both Ruthie and I will miss him dearly. He gave me the encouragement and confidence when I needed it most.
Stephen Kass (’65) (and Ruth)
“Not a lot of land, but a Lot of land.”
David R. Gellman (’78), Goldstein, Gellman, Melbostad, Harris & McSparran LLP
Dean Schwartz was an effective and inspirational leader of the Law School. I recall one presentations which concluded with his ambitious vision for BULS – stating the past is prologue, which he then said simply meant “you ain’t seen nothing yet!” He will be missed but always fondly remembered.
Paul Horn (’83)
I well remember Dean Schwartz, my first year property professor, asking whether we were discussing “a lot of land or a LOT of land”. He was an engaging professor and a great BULS leader. I am sorry I am not in NYC today to be at the service but send my condolences to his family.
Leslie Miles (’82), Topside LLC
A wonderful friend, a mench.
Oscar Wasserman (Questrom’56, LAW’59, ’62,)
So sorry to read of Bill’s passing. A true gentleman, scholar and student of the Law. I will always remember his Property classes and his comments about definitions. May he rest in peace.
Matthew L. Lewiss (’65), Lewiss Law Associates LLP
My condolences to the loved ones of Dean Schwartz who was appointed just before I started at BU School of Law. I remember that the person who introduced him commented that his appointment proved that, referring to the University President, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Dean Schwartz made the study of Property both interesting and entertaining. “If you buy a lot of land, not a lot of land, but a lot of land….” Rest in peace.
H. Mitchell Schuman (’83), New York County Defender Services
Jay T. Hirschauer (’72), Hirschauer & Hirschauer
Professor Schwartz was a born teacher. It’s not everyone who can make Torts a class worth attending. The humor was frequently corny, but it helped make the information stick, and I still use some of his better lines when I teach. My condolences to his family. You’ve lost a very special person.
William Babcock (’76), Temple University
He was the best.
Robert D. Turran (’67)
My deepest condolences to Dean Schwartz’s family. I was lucky enough to have Professor Schwartz as a teacher my first year at BU Law. Not only was he a wonderful teacher, but a warm person with a terrific sense of humor. Professor Schwartz’s class was a highlight of my law school experience.
Deb Reed (’77)
Dean Schwartz’s engaging, entertaining and instructive classes were the catalyst in generating my devotion to a career in the law.
Mitchell Samuelson (’60)
I remember being terrified first week and attending a 1L reception in Tower. Dean Schwartz was welcoming and warm to all of us frightened newbies as he worked the room. I will always remember his kindness and humanity that evening. My Sympathy to his Family. Know that a good life was well led.
Amy Boyle Geisel (’88), Private practice and Trustee, Ringwood Public Library
I remember Prof. Schwartz as representing the best of BU Law.
Beth-Ann Fischer Gentile (’69), Self-employed lawyer
He was truly extraordinary—as a scholar, but more importantly as a wonderful human being.
Frank J. Santangelo (’64), Law Office of Frank J. Santangelo
I would like to extend the condolences of the Weinberg family. Bill was an invaluable friend whose friendship and wisdom we treasured. On a personal level, I will treasure the time I spent with him at the law school especially at the minyan in his office. We made out life much richer, we are today a little poorer due to his loss.
Herbert Weinberg (’87), Rosenberg Weinberg
Martin Malinou (’58)
My favorite professor at BULS, and a wonderful person. Few can bring humor and joy to the study of law, but he managed to do so on a regular basis. He will be missed but the many fond memories he provided will continue to be cherished.
Norman Gross (’69)
He always brought humor to the class. His knowledge was extraordinary.
Judith Kramer (’70), NYC Department of Education
Nemo dat quod non habet. Prof Schwartz was the best!
Peter C. Chervin, Saunders & Assoc.
My condolences to the family.
Janina Stodolski (’75)
Who was the “voice of uncommon sense”? Bill Schwartz brought the greatest clarity to complex subjects—and always made us laugh in the process!
Arthur D. Gold (’66)
He taught during my first year with humor, kindness and wisdom. His lessons remained throughout my legal career. Knowing him was certainly a blessing for all who had the privilege.
Fredda Fisher Wolf (’66), Hardy, Wolf & Downing PA
Professor Schwartz was my favorite professor. I learned a lot from him.
Jery Barton (’72), Barton Law Firm LPA
He was one of my favorite and most exciting teachers. often he would say “bring your significant other” as we will be discussing the Rule in Shelley’s Case (whatever that may have been). A true giant in the Law.
Ed McCarthy (’62)
My memory of Professor Schwartz comes from his Future Interest And Estate Planning course in 1972, when in the final lecture of the school year he inspired all of us to work very hard in the coming years on becoming very very good lawyers because the Law deserved it. I will never forget him.
Stephen Selden (JD’72, LLM’80)
“The swift and obvious answer: it depends.”
John Guppy (’82)
A mentor and inspiration to everyone who had the privilege to know him. Dean Schwartz will be missed but always remembered as a paragon of excellence.
David S. Fox (’78), Law Offices of David S. Fox
William Schwartz was a wonderful teacher and a wonderful person. I called him 30 years after BU Law School and asked his advice and he was generous and kind and helpful. A scholar and a mensch.
Alan Robert Ginsberg (’80), Larchmont Advisors Inc.
“Torts With Schwartz” was one of my favorite classes in law school. Professor Schwartz ‘ s corny jokes kept us 1Ls laughing and were a welcome contrast with the sterner demeanor of most of our other professors.
Judy Yogman (’77)
Sad to hear the news. Dean Schwartz was not only my profeobut also my colleague working on the opposite side of the Dumaines case in New Hampshire.
Alicia Reines-Leo (’89), Boston Public Schools
One of the most remarkable and well loved professors I have ever known.
Richard Mittleman (’65)
Condolences to Dean Schwartz’s family.
David McPherson (’93), L Catterton
Prof./Dean Schwartz’s classes were always interesting and good for learning.
E. Whitney Drake (’61)
He was “an authority in whom I had the utmost confidence.”
Jeffrey N. Rejan (’80), Malapero & Prisco LLP (White Plains, NY)
I had the honor of working extensively with Bill at Cadwalader from 2007 through 2013. A recent graduate of BU Law, Bill reached out to me for help on a pro bono project and for the next six years always found a place for me on one of his cases when I needed work. He was a mentor is every sense of the word, and never missed an opportunity to take me to lunch or introduce me to someone at the firm he thought could advance my career. Bill also got me an adjunct teaching position at Cardozo, where students would fight for spots in his Trusts & Estates course. I will forever be grateful for his contributions to the BU Law community, my development as lawyer, and the opportunity to count him as a friend.
Joe Zujkowski (’07), O’Melveny and Myers
He impacted my life in so many ways- It was his concern for me most of all! God bless you all!!!!
Thomas Robertson (’82)
He was simply the best. He’s why I loved law school. I will never forget Pearson vs. Post!
Ed Snyder (’65), Snyder Sarno LLC
I’m so sorry to hear this news. Professor Schwartz was my favorite law professor and one of my favorite teachers. I’m glad I had the chance to see him one last time at the dedication of the Fineman Library in 2015.
A. Joseph Ross (’70), Law Office of A. Joseph Ross, JD
Where else could one learn the law of “purple tootsies?”
Mort Glazer (’61)
I know that every BU Law grad from the sixties on down has a memory of this legendary teacher that makes them smile and know what a privilege it was to have known him. His memory will not fade.
Donald Norris (’69)
Can’t complain about my family’s station in life and BU Law under Dean Schwartz made it possible. You won’t be forgotten.
George O. Martinez (’84), BNP Paribas
My deepest sympathies for your loss. Dean Schwartz will be sorely missed by all of us.
Edania C. Rondon (’85), Edania C. Rondon PC
That Professor Schwartz could have made searching a real estate title still enjoyable after 50 years …. He lives on.
Robert V. Johnson II (’67), Law Offices of R. V. Johnson II, Concord, NH
I will always remember you as the professor who made learning the law fun. Your corny references resonate to this day: “Flea” Bailey (at that time the self-professed world’s greatest criminal lawyer) and “Plywood Ranch” for the John Hancock Tower, for its many wooden coverings of missing (fallen) windows. You were always kind.
N. Conlin (’78)
The finest teacher.
Warren Fitzgerald (’79)
It was a privilege to know Bill Schwartz, what a wonderful mentor to our son, Jonathan.
Lee and Mikki Fink, parents of Law school alum
My fond memories of the three years at BULS always include the wonderful man for all legal seasons Bill Schwartz. He will be missed.
Andrew Radding (’68), Adelberg Rudow Dorf & Hendler LLC
My deepest condolences to the Schwartz family.
Lisa Kahn Licker (’84), Kahn & Licker LLP
Bill Schwartz was a wonderful teacher (he taught me 1st year Torts and later Real Estate Transactions. I’ve been a practicing real estate and finance lawyer for 40 years, due in significant part to his teaching.
Gary D. Zanercik (’76), Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP
Dean Swartz was a wonderful professor and mentor. Tireless supporter of BU School of Law. I am proud to have been one of his students. He will be greatly missed by the entire BU School of Law family and all who were fortunate enough to have known him.
Genevieve M. (Domenico) Martin (’88), Asst. Atty. Gen. RI (ret. 9/2017) now private practice
My deepest condolences to the family. Dean Schwartz was an outstanding leader and had an extraordinary impact on the growth of the Law School.
Judge Dena Palermo (’83), United States Courts
A fine man, and an astute attorney. He will be remembered warmly.
Evan Benjamin (’82), Steve Madden
Professor Schwartz was the best: funny, thoughtful, and a true scholar. I use his lines ALL the time. May his memory be for a blessing to his family and all who knew him.
Dan Schwartz (’81), Nevada State Treasurer
Bill was my class mate and law review colleague. He was an outstandin person and will be missed. my condolences to his family.
Larry Liebman (’55)
Dean Schwartz made Property and Estates and Future Interests interesting and enjoyable, and I still remember some of his jokes.
Paul Rothschild (’71), BaconWilson PC
Professor Schwartz was always a favorite amoungst us law students. Beloved and well remembered even to this day. Condolences to his family. Your loss is shared by the BULS family from across the decades.
Richard Hawke (’76), Hawke Law Group
A true exemplar of what BU Law always hopes to produce.
Marvin Horwitz (’54)
For the past 56 years I have never forgotten Dean Schwartz who was my law professor. I should have told him what an impact he had on my life. I never did. So I tell his family. Please accept the sad condolences of Leonard and Judith Shapiro.
Leonard Shapiro (’61)
Good lecturer. Good comedy.
Jerome J. Mautner (’68), California District Attorney (ret.)
I had Professor (not yet Dean) Schwartz for personal products liability and trusts and estates. What I remember him teaching us what that the plural of “spouse” is “spice”. ;o)
David B. Picker (’80), Spector Gadon & Rosen
An extraordinary teacher, mentor and wit. He gave us all an appreciation for the law. He will be sorely missed.
Laurence Kraemer (’81), Northwell Health
I will always fondly remember Dean Schwartz’s humor and warmth–I still tell some of his stories from time-to-time, giving him due credit. Although his impact will live well beyond him, he will be missed. My condolences to Bernice and the rest of his family.
Jonathan Fink (’83), Wright, Finlay & Zak LLP
An inspirational scholar who pursued the law his lifetime long. My condolences to his family.
Cynthia Warren (’92), Cameron & Mittleman
Professor Schwartz was my all-time favorite teacher/professor. He made it fun to learn. I think of him frequently. Our memory of him is a blessing to us.
Mark N. Busch (’67)
A wonderful man and an challenging teacher. His posterity lives on through his students.
Arthur M. Read, II (’72), Del Sesto + Read
May God rest you in His presence and eternal peace. I am forever grateful for your role in establishing the LLM in Banking and Financial Law which has greatly shaped me into who I am today.
Peter Mugo (’98), Barings LLC
Dean William Schwartz, made a positive and lasting impact on my classmates and me. No doubt on thousands of his students. While his one liner Schwartz-isms are legendary, his compassion, decency and brilliance are more noteworthy. May his memory be for a blessing!
Jonathan Awner (’85), Akerman LLP
With my utmost respect.
Edward McCarthy (’62)
Professor Schwartz made a huge contribution to the law school through his many classes, through his indelible stamp on property courses and, of course, through his humor. His jokes were an underground currency in the law school years before there was bit coin. I am thankful that he was part of my law school education.
Barry Camson (’71)
Michael D. Fricklas (’84)
We all loved ‘Schwartzie’; we fondly remember him.
Peter J. Somma Jr. (’62)
I had him for first year property, and finished the year with a solid grasp of property law and some helpful Latin: “Nemo dat quod non habet.” He offered support and guidance for the next two years while in law school and after my clerkship, he encouraged me and my husband to return to Boston. I will always be thankful for his help.
Nancy Gottlieb (’82)
He was the best teacher ever!
John J. Ryan III (’65)
My father (LAW’67) spoke so highly of Professor Schwartz and still quotes to me from his law school lectures. As a relatively new attorney myself, I smile thinking of the lectures passed down and am also grateful to Professor Schwartz and to his lovely wife Bernice for their generosity to help the children in the care of Keren Or. Our programs are stronger and our impact prouder because of their support.
Elizabeth David-Dembrowsky (CAS’00), Keren Or Inc.
Katherine Liacos Izzo (’60)
I have such fond memories of Professor Schwartz from my first year Property class. He was a great professor who taught me a lot and made it interesting and enjoyable. To this day, I still find myself laughing and repeating his famous mantra, “Let’s say you have a lot of land. Not a lot of land, a but a LOT of land.” I send my deepest condolences to Mrs. Schwartz and the entire Schwartz family.
Wendy Knudsen (’92)
I remember looking forward to going to Schwartz on Torts. It helped that he was also a practicing attorney. He was a genius with a photographic memory. He was warm. funny and passionate. He used to talk about the Holy Grail insurance company.
James Muirhead (’76), James Muirhead Law Office
Dean Schwartz, A great teacher, a true friend who will be missed by thousands of former students, including this grateful broadcast journalist, who is honored to call the Dean a mentor and a friend. Condolences to the Schwartz family and our law school community.
Dan Rea (’74), WBZ Radio – Boston
Sincere condolences to the Schwartz family. Many of the seeds down by Dean Schwartz in the 1980’s clearly laid the foundation for the level of success enjoyed by the Law School today. Certainly a life well lived.
John Veech (’83), Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners
Professor Emeritus Julius B. Levine, Boston University School of Law
Cerebra, humorous, and a treasured memory. In class, I still hear his words about the case of the lost “brooooch” as Prof Schwartz called it with a Bronx twist. A remarkable lawyer, teacher and person.
Alan J. Cushner (’65), Cushner and Bloom PC
Bernice, thank you for the great partnership you forged with Bill. You have both made such a difference in this world. Thank You.
James Normand (’80), Normand Higham
Bill Schwartz was the person who inspired me most both at law school and during my career in private practice.Bill had the complete package of intellect and wit,as well as being a great motivator.But his package would not have been complete without his lovely and caring wife,Bernice.I and so many others are thankful for the time we had with Bill.
Lawrence Kaplan (’68)
Ah, the wonderful hours discussing the plight of the “fertile octogenarian”! God speed, Professor!!
Donald H. Marden (’64), Maine Superior Court
I had the great honor of working with Bill Schwartz at Cadwalader in the early 2000’s. He was a great lawyer, mentor and above all a first-class Mentch. In addition, I used his expertise as an attorney at Bear Stearns to assist us on some fiduciary issues. He will be sorely missed. Yehi Zichro Boruch!
Yosef Nussbaum, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Elizabeth K. McCarthy (’79)
I was saddened to learn of Bill Schwartz’s passing. He was certainly my favorite professor at BU; he taught my first year Property class, as well as a third year elective, Modern Real Estate Transactions, and was always able to blend stodgy academics with humor to keep the students interested. I also had the pleasure of reconnecting with him years later when he joined Cadwalader as counsel and consulted with me from time to time on securities law issues for his clients. He will be sorely missed.
Alan M. Parness (’70), Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft (1973–2013)
As a superb educator,scholar and advocate, you will be missed.
Stephen Dubin (’61)
Also lamenting his passing are B-Benny, C-Cookie, D-Dolly, E-Elvis and other putative owners of ‘a lot’ of land.
Stan Neustadter (’67)
Dean Schwartz was my property law professor and gave the best lectures. I will always remember him giving not only the majority and minority views, but also the better view. He will be sorely missed.
Levon Kasarjian, Jr. (’62)
Dean Schwartz gave us a great start! A kind and devoted teacher and mentor. And a beloved partner to his wife, Bernice!
Marla Crawford (’88), Goldman Sachs
A great man and true friend. His deanship represents a golden age for the Law School. My sincere condolences to his wife, Bernice, and daughter, Robyn.
Walter W. Miller, Jr., Professor Emeritus
A great teacher with a keen sense of what it took to make a lecture stick in our overwhelmed brains, plus a great sense of humor. I will forever use what he taught me about trusts and estates and real estate, but my fondest memories are little jokes that kept things relaxed. What happens when a bona fide purchaser for value (BFP) loses that status? His BFP-ness is cut off. And the professor’s favorite church: Our Lady of the Perpetual Simcha. Don’t underestimate the value of a relaxed classroom.
Martin Fisher (’74)
I took Prof. Schwartz’s Estate Planning course in 1973. His lecture-style delivery was the perfect way to handle the class size and location (the auditorium) and to give us the most information in the most efficient manner. Even though there is no reason that he would remember me, I wish I had developed a friendship with him and kept it up over the years. My only contact with him outside of and after the class came at the dedication of the school library. Of course he had aged but his voice and manner were still the same. When we spoke after the ceremony, I told him that the most practical advice he gave us in class was the first question to ask a new client: How much did you say your name was? When I recited the “how much”, he finished the sentence along with me.
John Bowen (’73), Bowen Law Office
May his memory be for a blessing.
David Affler (’90), Legal Aid Society
Bill was a true friend. From Beacon Hill to the main campus. My wife and I will always remember him.
Oscar Wasserman (LLB’59, LLM’62)
Having met Bill as a student our relationship went back many years. What a great guy he was. And Elaine and I were privileged to attend many BU Law events which were anchored by Bill and Bernice. We send her our sincerest sympathy on Bill’s untimely passing. We have lost a true giant of the legal world and humanity.
Charles N. Miller (’57)
Remember fondly his sense of humor in 1st year Civil Procedure class.
Melinda Sherer (’74), NYC Department of Environmental Protection
I remember Dean Schwartz with great fondness from my first year at law school. I still use his famous line at house closings: “not a lot of land, but a lot of land” – always gets a laugh. My condolences to his family.
Lawrence Krieger (’87), Krieger Law, Rochester NY
A giant in his profession, he will be missed.
Robert Droker (’68), U.S. Government
A great friend, A wonderful professor, A sensitive leader as Dean. I loved Bill.
Oscar Wasserman (Questrom’56, LLB’59, ’81), retired
Dean Schwartz recruited me on law day at Kent State in 1969. He was the reason I went to B.U. Law. I don’t know where I would be today w.o. his interest in me attending B.U. He will be missed. It was a privilege to know him.
John Plough (’72)
A wonderful teacher who will be missed. My condolences to the Schwartz family.
Irving H. Picard (’66), Baker Hostetler LLP
One word describes Dean Schwartz…Mensch. Those who had Dean Schwartz for property will always remember him fondly. A scholar, practitioner and teacher.
Jonathan B. James (’85), Law Offices of Jonathan B. James
Bill Schwartz was a spiritual mentor aside from being my law school dean. He was an observant Jew, and whenever he needed men to comprise a minyan, he would ask me to participate, which I was happy to do. He opened my eyes to another world, which I did not know at that time. We became friends. He initiated a religious spark in me, that set me on a correct path in life. I was proud and honored to know him.
Robert W. Hirsh (’81), Robert W. Hirsh & Associates
I will never forget Bill Schwartz’s entertaining lectures in Torts. I will also never forget his final exam. It included 202 true-false questions. The last two questions were (201) “This is the next-to-last question on the exam” & (202) “This is the last question on the exam.” Both were false, since 10 short-answer questions followed. I do not know if Professor Schwartz graded those two true-false questions. I do know he gave me my best grade in law school.
David Sobelsohn (’77)
Bill was a real inspiration to almost everyone who knew him, even those who were terrorized by him because we couldn’t figure out what the fox had to do with property law in our first year.
Martin Lobel (’65), Lobel, Novins & Lamont LLP
Bill Schwartz was an inspiration and will be very missed. May his memory be blessed.
Ezra Gross, Partner at Yigal Arnon & Co.
I remember Bill as a fine property law teacher and later as a mentor in the legal profession.
Mary Susan Leahy (’70), McLane Middleton, Concord NH
I have Professor Schwartz to thank for my career. I reached out to him as a second year associate because I thought what he did was so interesting and he took the time to take me to lunch, introduce me to his group, and open the door into his world. He was one of the most brilliant, honest, kind and dedicated human beings I have ever met. He is greatly missed.
Sasha Grinberg, Cadwalader
Bill was an ultimate gentleman, a great scholar with practical wisdom and a very loyal friend. He was always an inspirational and aspirational ally. With fondest memory and genuine love.
Michael Saperstein, Michael Saperstein Family Partnership
Bill was a wonderful friend and advisor. Although I needed and appreciated his thoughtful advice, I enjoyed more our chats about politics and the world at large. My sincere condolences to his wife and family.
John C. Merriam, M.D., Columbia University
A genuinely kind man and a brilliant teacher.
Philip Heller (’79), Fagelbaum & Heller LLP
The greatest man I’ve ever known. I miss and think about you every day. RIP.
Israel Halpert (’99), Fifth Avenue Synagogue
Bill. A great man, a person of integrity, values, and genuine feelings for others, an intellectual leader with humanistic qualities and much more. My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace and be in our thoughts.
Michael Baram, Professor Emeritus
Bill was a truly extraordinary man, a wise counselor and a great friend to all who know him. We will miss his warmth and humor.
Molly Lemeris and Carl Folta (COM’80), Viacom
He taught us Property Law, and entertained us well. May he rest in peace.
David W. Sanborn (’69), Law Office of David W. Sanborn
There was never a class without a smile. We all felt part of an honorable profession when listening to him. All these years later I recall his classes with great appreciation.
Fredda Fisher Wolf (’66), Hardy Wolf & Downing PA
Robert S. Wolfe (’70)
He was a true inspiration!!
Harry J. Riskin (’64), McKirdy, Riskin, Olson & Dellapelle
He was a wonderful friend and teacher.
Edward M. Stern (’72), Boston University
I was honored and privileged to have known Bill in many ways: as a teacher, then as a mentor and colleague when we were at the same law firm, but most importantly, that he and Bernice were my friends. I remember fondly the Passover seders at their house on Centre Street and even years later, getting together when I was in New York or they were in Boston. His speeches invariably began with “I’m reminded of a story …” to be followed by a parable or anecdote that left the audience marveling at the depth of his erudition and wisdom. He shaped generations of lawyers and the major donations he secured for the law school will continue to do so for many years into the future. There is a hole in my heart where Bill Schwartz used to be.
Jeffrey Woolf (’74), Board of Bar Overseers
I had Professor Schwartz for 1st year Torts. I had the pleasure of seeing him at the dedication of the Fineman Law Library and was astonished that he actually remembered me after over 50 years. It was a delight to see him again and speak with him. A true gentleman and a scholar.
Frank Richmond (’63)
PIP alumni
Peter W. Kronberg (’88), Proficio Capital Partners