Kay Bittner Schwartz 1956-2011

IN MEMORIAM
We celebrate the life and mourn the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Kay Schwartz, who died on June 9, 2011.

Kay married partner Tim Schwartz in 1989, and she joined the firm as an attorney in 1996, after graduating at the top of her law school class. At the firm, Kay continued her existing work helping elderly clients with estate planning, financial, and elder law issues. At the same time, she took over responsibility for the firm's billing and financial operations, bringing both her legal and accounting skills to bear in the process. Kay was always a pleasure to work with, and she was a bright and positive influence on all of us. She brought great professionalism and cheer to every task that she undertook, and she was fair and kind to all.

Kay leaves behind her husband, Tim, and their three daughters, Kathryn, Natalie, and Chloe. She also leaves behind our family at this law firm. The blessing of a firm such as ours is that we are a family, but that makes losses like this one harder to bear. On June 9, 2011, Kay lost a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Kay confronted her illness and treatment with unmatched courage, and she faced the end with grace and dignity. At all times she remained optimistic and cheerful, but above all, in typical fashion, she exhibited far more concern for the welfare and happiness of others than of herself. She was generous and giving to the last, and she served as an inspiration to all of us. She will be greatly missed.

Mrs. Schwartz joined Bregman, Berbert & Schwartz, L.L.C., as an attorney in 1996. Prior to that time she worked with the firm for several years as a law clerk and legal assistant. However, she has been involved in the field of law since 1976 when she began working as a legal secretary and later as a paralegal for other firms in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

Mrs. Schwartz obtained her J.D. from the George Washington University's National Law Center in Washington, D.C., in 1995 where she graduated with highest honors. At her graduation from George Washington's Law School she was awarded with the following prizes: the Anne Wells Branscomb Prize (awarded to the graduating evening division student who obtained the highest g.p.a.), the Willard Waddington Gatchell Prize (awarded to only three members of the graduating class who have attained the highest g.p.a. in the last year of law school) and the Jennie Hassler Walburn Prize (awarded to the outstanding student in the field of civil procedure).

Prior to transferring to George Washington for her J.D., Mrs. Schwartz attended the University of Maryland's School of Law, in Baltimore, Maryland, where she received the American Jurisprudence Prize for Property I.

Mrs. Schwartz earned her B.S. degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she graduated summa cum laude.