Brian Berkowitz

Brian David Berkowitz, 67, died March 28, 2022 in the hospital due to complications from multiple myeloma. At the time of his death, he was surrounded by his loving family. He was an attorney and a lifelong resident of Tallahassee.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Carol Anne Bettman Berkowitz, and two sons, Adam Marshall Berkowitz of Boston, Massachusetts, and Robert Henry Berkowitz of Tallahassee. He is also survived by two sisters, Ellen Berkowitz (Jerry Altman) of Tallahassee, and Lynn Reese, (Bert) of Marietta, Georgia, and many nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews. Brian was preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Irene Berkowitz of Tallahassee.

Brian was a dedicated member of Congregation Shomrei Torah Synagogue in Tallahassee where he had served as President for two years.

Brian was born in Tallahassee on March 21, 1955, and graduated from Leon High School in 1973. He was a graduate of the University of Florida in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He was also a graduate of the Florida State College of Law, receiving his Juris Doctorate degree in 1982. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983. He and Carol were married in Jacksonville on June 16, 1985.

Brian had recently retired from the position of General Counsel to the Department of Juvenile Justice after 22 years of service. He had worked for the Department as General Counsel since 2014. He began his work there as an Assistant General Counsel and was appointed Chief Deputy General Counsel before assuming the position of General Counsel.

Prior to working at the Department, he had been Vice President of the Collins Center for Public Policy, Executive Director of the Florida Corrections Commission, and Executive Director of the Florida Task Force on Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Other positions in which he served the State of Florida included seven years as a member of the staff of the Florida House of Representatives. While there he served as General Counsel for the House of Representative under Speaker Tom Gustafson, Staff Counsel for House Committees on Criminal Justice, the Committee on Corrections, Ethics and Elections Committee, and Redistricting. Prior to working at the Florida House of Representatives, he was an Assistant Public Defender.

Brain’s top priority was always Carol and his two boys. Brian loved to travel with his family, including trips to Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and Norway. He also loved visiting his and Carol’s large family throughout the United States and England for special family occasions. Most recently the family had visited Iceland together. He loved Indian food, fine dining, and having cookouts at his home. He was known as “the master griller” and boiled peanut maker. Brian loved being on the water and was contemplating a new sailboat in his retirement. He enjoyed skiing, golfing with a group of friends and for many years he played city league softball, and pickup basketball. He also loved theater, reading, concerts, crossword puzzles, and listening to show tunes. He was fondly called “Papa B” by Adam and Robby's friends who loved hanging out at the Berkowitz home and talking with him.

Through his many years of service in the public sector, Brian was a well-known figure among administrative lawyers and governmental agency attorneys. He was widely respected for his knowledge of juvenile justice laws and public policies, juvenile law procedure, and criminal law. Brian brought his lifelong love of Florida and Tallahassee, his history of service to the state and a love of learning to his community and friends. Brian received his passion for public service from his mother Irene who taught elementary school for almost 40 years at Gilchrist Elementary school in Tallahassee and from his father Gene Berkowitz who was a former City Commissioner and Mayor of Tallahassee.

Services will be held graveside, on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 3:30 P.M. at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312.

Contributions to his memory can be made to Congregation Shomrei Torah, 4858 Kerry Forest Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida 32309, or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation – MMRF, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851, Phone 203-229-0464.