MICHAEL DAVID KATZ's Obituary
Michael David Katz, 78, of Coconut Grove, Florida, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of March 16, 2025. Michael was the founding member and President of Katz Barron, a distinguished law firm in Miami. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1968 and the University of Florida Law school with honors in 1970. As an undergraduate, he was a member of Florida Blue Key and the Sigma Nu fraternity and graduated Phi Kappa Phi. As a law student, he won several book awards and won the Moot Court competition with his partner, former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Rosemary Barkett. Throughout his career, he was widely respected by his peers. He was a “lawyer’s lawyer”, who others turned to for guidance and collaboration. Having practiced for more than 50 years, he was accomplished in an extraordinary breadth of real estate and corporate transactions, business litigation, trust and estate matters, hospitality and private clubs. He mentored countless young lawyers over the decades, generously sharing both his knowledge of the law and his art of persuasion. He held himself and his colleagues to the highest standards of ethics and understood the crucial importance of reputation. Michael will be remembered as an honest, fair, and hardworking lawyer with a sharp mind that never overlooked a detail or event. He was a giant in his field and will be fondly remembered as an exemplary lawyer with a great sense of humor. Above all, he was deeply dedicated to his work, his clients, and his Katz Barron colleagues, whom he truly loved and who adored him. When he was not spending time with his family or enjoying time at his home in Colorado, his passion was tending to his tropical garden in Coconut Grove filled with orchids, staghorn ferns and bromeliads. Michael was also an accomplished marksman, enjoying skeet shooting and duck and quail hunting. He traveled extensively and was a gifted amateur photographer. In 2019, Michael was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He received a successful targeted treatment and miraculously remained cancer free until the day he passed. Throughout, Michael showed his grit and optimism and never stopped making plans for the future. He is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Annie; his son Matthew; daughters Michelle and Marissa; grandchildren Tyler, Cailey, Ashley and Nadine; his sister Priscilla; his brother Bill; and his beloved Wheaten Terrier, EmmaRose, and Chester, his faithful cat. A Celebration of Life will be held at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on Sunday, March 23 rd , at 2 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Baptist Health/Miami Cancer Institute in Honor of Michael
D. Katz.
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