Just as memories of the attorneys who passed away in 2014 have been etched into the hearts of those who knew them, so have their memorials been recorded in the minutes of the Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA), where they will forever be preserved.
Once a year, the members of the CBA gather in the County Commission Room of the Hamilton County Courthouse to memorialize the attorneys and judges who passed away in the last year. This year’s service was held Friday, March 6.
It was, as the Hon. W. Jeffrey Hollingsworth, the presiding judge, said, “a time to celebrate the lives and careers” of those who have passed on. It was also, as Rabbi Bill S. Tepper of Mizpah Congregation said in his opening remarks, a time of remembrance.
“One of the most treasured words in the Hebrew language is zakar, which, translated into English, means remember,” he said. “We remember family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues; we remember what we learned from our relationships with them; we remember the times we shared; we remember the meaning and the rewards they more often than not selflessly brought into our lives; and we remember that we are who we are ... because of the difference they made in our lives.”
Following Rabbi Tepper’s words, eight people took turns memorializing the eight attorneys who passed away in 2014, including Harold A. “Hal” Schwartz, Jr., Stephen Milton Goldstein, Fred Duncan Swindoll, Lorraine Raymond, J. William “Bill” Pope, Jr., Michael M. “Mike” Raulston, Shields Wilson, and Fred T. Hanzelik.
Here are portions of each memorial:
Hal Schwartz
Passed away March 5
“A loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, and a good friend and an outstanding lawyer, Hal was unfailingly upbeat and a joy to be around. He appreciated the staff at his firm, he was always interested in their families and activities, he had a great sense of humor, and perhaps unlike others in this profession, he never took himself seriously.” – Resolution prepared and presented by Hugh J. Moore, Jr.
Stephen Goldstein
Passed away May 6
“Stephen will be missed for his many and varied small kindnesses that were second nature to him, whether it was dinner on Friday night, a phone call on a holiday or birthday, or suggesting someone use a different kind of eye drop, and the eye drop worked. A dear mutual friend summed it up best when he said Steve was too gentle a soul for this world.” – Resolution prepared and presented by Mary Neill Southerland
Fred Duncan Swindoll
Passed away May 6
“Most likely few of you heard of or knew Fred Swindoll. He wasn’t a high profile trial lawyer, he wasn’t in the pages of our newspapers, and he probably never appeared before an appellate court. He was a real estate title specialist. But Fred lived an extraordinary life. A quiet, kind, and gentle guy, Fred loved his family, his dog, his cat, his yard, and his home, and he took loving care of all of them. His kindness and gentleness will be missed by all.” – Resolution prepared by Samuel R. Anderson and presented by Gerard M. Siciliano
Lorraine Raymond
Passed away May 27
“While Lorraine stalwartly refused to give up her battle against cancer during her final days, she began to focus on the people she cherished. During that time, she shared how deeply she treasured her family, her career, and the other attorneys in Hamilton County. A smile flickered across her face every time she talked about clients who believed they’d be unable to afford an attorney, yet desperately needed one. Never one to turn away from someone in need of an advocate, she proudly described with fondness in her voice the many fine folks who found solutions to their legal dilemmas in her office.
“Before she passed, Lorraine gave me a message for her fellow attorneys. It saddened her how easy it is to lose sight of the importance of our health, and she told me with great regret the hold smoking had over her, and how it had shortened her life. She shared her yearning to visit each of us and plead with us to be more aware and careful of our health, especially our eating and smoking habits, and for us to understand the real and devastating consequences shrugging off those consequences can have.
“Lorraine was not an attorney focused on wealth, fame, or power, but instead was the kind of attorney who will be forever remembered by the lives she brightened. Lorraine left a legacy of a long list of clients touched, championed, and protected with dedication, determination, and fierce loyalty.” – Resolution prepared and presented by Kenneth R. Lawson
Bill Pope, Jr.
Passed away July 8
“Bill was a true public servant with a deep desire to give back to his community. He was described by many of the attorneys who knew him as a tough but fair prosecutor. And, to say the least, he had a flair for the dramatic. He freely admitted he was a prima donna – a showboat – and he didn’t make any bones about it or care who knew. But Bill never let his flamboyance interfere with the solemn duty to seek justice.
“Bill was highly respected for his ability as a trial attorney by both friend and foe. One of his best attributes as an attorney was his ability to take the fight to his adversary with great vigor, but once the case was over, he’d shake your hand and be your friend.” – Resolution prepared by James W. Pope III and presented by the Hon. J. Michael Taylor
Mike Raulston
Passed away Sept. 5
“A member of this bar since 1971, Mike was a fierce advocate for those whom others would not defend. Truly, Mike’s practice was the stuff movies are made from. His advocacy, his keen knowledge, and his method of presentation were unique. Not only was he a tireless advocate but he also was a great thinker, not only in areas related to the law but also in areas involving humanity.
“Mike was a poet, a philosopher, and a caring person. He was always interested in what you were thinking, what bothered you, and what meant most to you. Most importantly, he always had time for you. This place will miss Mike Raulston.” – Resolution prepared and presented by the Hon. W. Neil Thomas III
Shields Wilson
Passed away Sept. 11
“Shields’s knowledge was vast, his stories were excellent, and you always left his office feeling uplifted. He was a family man in every sense of the phrase – he rarely missed a game or match in which a family member was playing. He also took great delight in his grandchildren, and never tired of hearing about their lives and what they were doing.
“He was a role model of unselfishness, generosity, and love for his family, as well as love for anyone who crossed his path. Those who knew him and worked with him knew he was a gentleman who never met a stranger.
“He was a man of great humility, patience, and forgiveness. People never saw him angry. He was a delight to all, and a treasure to those who counted him as family, friend, or partner. We are all better for having known Shields.” – Resolution prepared and presented by Rosemarie L. Hill
Fred Hanzelik
Passed away Oct. 24
“My life has been spent in the company of the greatest lawyer I know. He was brilliant, cool under pressure, and one of the toughest trial attorneys anyone has faced. He could strategically devour your witness and deconstruct any story to uncover the lies and expose its flaws. And he could drive opposing counsel to frustration while challenging every aspect of their legal intellect.
“Every vacation, he was reading his files; every car ride, he was dictating into his recorder; and in his later years, at every lunch, he was typing and emailing his pleadings. And somehow, amidst all his labor, he was always present in my life. He taught me life lessons that shaped me into the husband, father, lawyer, and man I am today.
“His legal wisdom was exceeded only by his love for his children. Fred Hanzelik was a great lawyer, but he was also a loving, challenging, and devoted father, and I am forever grateful for his time, love, and inspiration.” – Resolution prepared and presented by Ryan Hanzelik
In closing, Rabbi Tepper read a poem written by a colleague of his, Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn:
“In the rising of the sun, and in its going down, we remember them. In the blowing of the wind, and in the chill of winter, we remember them. In the opening of buds, and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them. In the blueness of the sky, and in the warmth of summer, we remember them. In the rustling of the leaves, and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.
“In the beginning of the year, and when it ends, we remember them. When we are weary, and in need of strength, we remember them. When we are lost, and sick at heart, we remember them. When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them. So long as they live, we too shall live, for they now are a part of us as we remember them.”