I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I haven’t been in touch with Bert for a couple of years, but I loved him dearly. I worked with him as his secretary for many years. In 1994 I got pregnant with my first child, As I had no family to leave him with I decided to stay home with my baby. I called Bert when my two month maternity leave was up. It was a Saturday and I knew he would be working. I told him I wasn’t coming back and he later told me that after that phone call he just left the office because he was so upset. I hated leaving him. We finished each other sentences.  We were very good friends as well as having a terrific working relationship. Once again, I am so sorry for your loss.

Suzanne  Irwin Webb (or Sue or sly as Bert used to call me)

My condolences to Rebecca, Jessica, Danny, Melissa and the Ocariz family. 

When my brother Junior and I became orphaned to both mother and father in the early 90’s, Bert stepped into our lives as a father figure. As I shared with Rebecca over  dinner  with Bert some months ago, Bert showed up to my middle school band recital, he took my brother and I to Dolphins games, invited us to his office downtown, and taught us that hard work pays off. He invited us to his home to take a dip in the pool, and even for Christmas where Jessica  gifted my brother and I with some cool hand soaps she crafted that year, which she was so proud of. 

As a young adult, I referenced Bert in my application letter to law school, writing about the man who inspired me to follow in his  footsteps. Bert was there for both mine and my brother’s weddings. 

That was Bert, extremely generous with his time and love. Always inspiring, extremely witty and wise. Hard working, a faithful hometown sports fan, a respectable litigator and professor, a great husband, an amazing friend, and father to his own children and to those who were fatherless who lovingly referred to him as Poppa Bert. 

I thank my Heavenly Father for Bert’s precious light, in Jesus name,

Hoy quiero recordar con mucho cariño a Humberto Ocariz, quien nos acompañó junto a su querida esposa en uno de los días más importantes de mi vida: mi boda. Este recuerdo quedará siempre en mi corazón, porque refleja la alegría y la amistad que compartimos en aquel momento.

Su partida nos deja un gran vacío, pero también el legado de un hombre íntegro, noble y lleno de bondad.

A su esposa y familia, les envío mis más sinceras condolencias y todo mi apoyo en este difícil momento.

Descansa en paz, querido Humberto.

What can one say about a person you cared so much for?
It is sad to mourn a good man. Perhaps it might be better to celebrate a life well lived. 
The day I met Bert we were getting together for an "interview lunch". As I crossed the street I saw a tall man in a suit and, I kid you not, there was a glow around him. I thought that must be Bert - can't be a bad guy. So we had lunch. Then we worked together for 12 years.
He shared that light with all he came in contact with. He was so much more than an excellent attorney. He was a gentleman who treated everyone with respect and kindness. He loved his children. He was extremely proud of them. He felt true joy in their accomplishments and sorrow in their pain. A husband who joyfully planned his first date with Rebecca (who he knew he would marry).  I'm glad they had this time together. He was a mentor and teacher giving insight and support. He offered his heart with his friendship. He was a man of honor and integrity. 
Rest in peace my friend. (Luz y progreso para tu espíritu.) 
I am blessed to have known you.
 Love and light.

Bert hired me while I was still in law school, giving me my first chance to prove myself. His belief in me shaped my career and led me to where I am today. I will always be deeply grateful for his kindness. Bert’s legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone he touched. Rest in peace, my dear friend.

I'm very sorry to hear about Bert's passing. Bert was my opposing counsel on a case a few years back. He was a fierce advocate for his client but was a true gentleman in his dealings with me and the other lawyers on the opposite side of the V.  That speaks volumes for the kind of person he was, and he clearly represented the gold standard for how lawyers should comport themselves in an out of the courtroom. 

Sincerely,

John R. Byrne

AI enhanced  photo memory of our teenage years

Bert was my baseball coach and a father figure. I have too many great memories. Love you and miss you! Thank you for everything you did for me.

I have always admired Bert’s ability to bring his family together, to celebrate each other, to hold space and create these beautiful memories. I am so grateful to have known him, to have had meaningful conversations with him about life, to listen to his funny stories growing up with Hiram and Helen, and most importantly, I’m so forever grateful and honored to call him family. His spirit will be missed every day and we will remember and remind future generations to come about the kind of person he was and the legacy he left behind.

Bert was a paternal figure to so many people. Whether it was taking my husband Anthony suit shopping when we could not afford it to being there for us when we needed advice or giving us the truth when we needed to hear it. He was always there and willing to listen. His words, those moments and those memories will continue to echo in our hearts to remind us that although he is not here, he is not far, guiding us in quiet, subtle ways from above.

A Poem In Loving Memory of Bert —my lifelong friend 

From Havana’s sunlit, 1960 tender start.
Two mothers met, Gina and Esther and two families lives took part.
In childhood’s arms, our bond was sown,
Through exile’s trials, that love had grown.
We were fortunate to leave in time ,  
while our parents waited in a lone line.
With faith and work, our parents dreamed,
And gave us more than life had seemed.
Though distance stretched from state to state,
Each visit proved what time can’t break.
Laughter, music, Cuban food and ocean skies…
Friendship shining in our eyes.
A brother not by blood, but soul,
You filled my life, you made it whole.
Your voice, your jokes, your steady care…
A gift beyond what words can bear.
With Rebecca’s love, your joy was clear,
A life fulfilled, held close and dear.
Your pride in family, pure and strong, 
Siblings Hiram , Helen , and kids Melissa and Jessica and Daniel .
A melody that lasts lifelong.
Now silence falls… yet still I find,
You walk beside me, in my mind.
Bert, mi amigo, through all we’ve known,
The seeds you planted still have grown.
Forever grateful, I will be—
For memories shared, for shaping me.
Though parted now, love does not end:
You are my my soul brother… my lifelong friend. 
Luis Esquenazi

To Rebecca, Danny, Melissa, and Jessica, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Bert was one of the most special people I have ever met and I was so proud to know him. I started at SHB when I was only twenty, and I will never forget the first day I saw Bert and Rebecca walking through the halls. They carried such presence and power, I knew that if I was going to truly learn anything there, I wanted to learn it from them.

I was fortunate to work closely with Bert for nearly fifteen years. Over that time, the line between work and family disappeared. We shared countless long nights and trials that stretched on for months, and we faced them together. Rebecca never let us do it alone, helping in any way she could. She was always by our side, and together they showed us what it meant to be a true team. Even in the toughest battles, we always found a way to make it fun, and Bert had a lot to do with that.

Bert was like a father to me, I worked at the firm during the most important part of my life, throughout my entire twenties and early thirties, and in many ways Bert raised me during those years. I grew up there, becoming an adult under his guidance. As a mother and a wife now, I know the life I created for myself was greatly influenced by him and I hope he was proud of me. When Bert and I reconnected this past year, those lunches and talks meant the world to me. They felt like therapy for us both, and I will miss them dearly. I know I’ll find myself at Versailles more often, hoping to feel his spirit there.

To the entire Ocariz family, even those I have not met but still know so much about, I want you to know that I will always be here for you. The last time I saw Bert, I joked that even after twenty years, I was still dropping everything to rush to him. I will always be ready to do the same for you. Please keep me in your lives, and as Bert would say, trust the process. ♥️

Bert was an amazing mentor. He always stood up for what was right, regardless of whose feathers were ruffled. You were a lucky client if Bert was your lawyer. He was incredibly protective of and loyal to his clients. 

As an associate, working with Bert was like working with a personal trainer who would push you to limits you didn't know you could reach, making the next challenge seem easy in comparison. 

Bert was a "do it all" lawyer - he could research, write, think, and speak so well, but he was a phenomenal business developer on top of it all. He had a great sense of humor. Such an entrepreneurial spirit.  It's so rare to find such a combination of qualities in the same attorney. 

I remember when I transitioned to becoming a partner and he noticed that the younger partners in the room were a little timid given their new role. He took me to the side afterwards and told me to speak up - "this is going to be YOUR firm in 5-10 years; the decisions being made now will impact YOU, not me."  

To this day, I often ask myself "what would Bert do in this situation?" But I know he would just tell me "stop thinking about what I would do; do what YOU should do." He will be missed by so many people and the world was a much better place because he was in it.

In Loving Memory of Bert 
— My Lifelong Friend
Part III - Grateful 

Earlier this year, Carol and I were blessed to spend time with Bert and Rebecca again. It was a visit I will forever hold close to my heart — sharing laughter, listening to his voice, and enjoying the warmth of his presence. At the time, I didn’t know how much those moments would come to mean,  I realize they were a true gift.
Bert lived his life with love and devotion. He was always so proud of his children, his siblings Hiram and Helen, and especially his beloved mother, whom he cared for with tenderness and respect. In Rebecca, he found a partner who brought him profound happiness, and it was a joy to see him so content and fulfilled over these past decades.
For me, Bert was more than a friend. He was a brother of the heart — someone whose presence shaped my life from childhood to now. To imagine a world without his calls, his texts, his jokes, or simply knowing he was there, is almost impossible. But the bond we shared, built across generations and nourished by love, will remain with me forever.
Carol and I are deeply grateful to Rebecca and the family for their kindness, generosity, and hospitality over the years. The love we have shared with Bert and all of you is a treasure we will carry always.

Bert, mi amigo — my lifelong friend — thank you for walking beside me through this life. I love you, and I will hold you in my heart always.
With all our love and prayers,
Luis and Carol

In Loving Memory of Bert 
— My Lifelong Friend
Part II - sharing memories 

Bert and I shared countless memories with our families: my sister Vicky’s piano concerts, trips to Disney World with our children, and sun-soaked days in Miami.  I remember the day I was severely stung by a jellyfish on a Miami beach, and how Bert and Gina came to visit me at the hotel bedside — small moments that showed the depth of care we always had for one another.
When Bert came to visit us in San Diego , we got to see Hollywood , Mexico , La Jolla, the California coastline and the California mountainsides . He loved visiting the art festival in La Jolla , and got Carol a beautiful handmade frog that is a centerpiece still in our garden . He even helped us with landscaping our front yard , he loved home decorating and landscaping . He had a real skill for design and architecture.
One of the most treasured times of my life was when my daughter Gabi, my parents, my sister, Carol, and I stayed at Bert and Rebecca’s home overlooking the Bay. We skied across the water, laughed together, and created memories that remain among my family’s most cherished.

Please see part III

In Loving Memory of Bert 
— My Lifelong Friend

In Loving Memory of Bert 
— My Lifelong Friend
Part I -  Our parents 

It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my lifelong  friend, Bert. Our bond stretches back more than sixty years, rooted in the friendship of our mothers, Gina and Esther, who first met as neighbors in Havana, Cuba, in 1960. From infancy, our families were connected — through love, resilience, and the shared journey of leaving behind a homeland in search of freedom.
When our families immigrated to the United States, life was not easy. Our parents struggled with poverty, uncertainty, and the daunting task of building new lives in a foreign land. Yet through hard work, faith, and a deep belief in the power of education, they gave us the opportunities that shaped who we became. We were fortunate to leave behind the clutches of communism, and even more fortunate to carry with us the bond of friendship that never wavered.
Though miles separated us when Gina and her family moved to Florida, our connection remained strong. Visits became rituals — from the time we were toddlers, through teenage years, and into adulthood. Each reunion was a reminder that true friendship endures across distance and time.

Please see Part II

Love you my lifelong friend 
Luis Esquenazi

Tew and Cardenas. Such great fond memories at the firm. Circa 1994. RIP Bert 🙏🏻

Jessica, Daniel and Melissa:  you may not remember me.  But over 35 years ago, I first met your father when we started work as lawyers together after he served as a judicial law clerk. I worked with Bert closely for 7 years, in two different law firms. But, as important as my work was with your father, what I will always remember was his devotion to you; his children. You were the reason he worked as hard as he did.  You were a big reason that he smiled as much as he did.  He was so proud of each of you. 

I know it is so very hard for you to have lost your father at a young age.  But, I also know that Bert will want you to live your best lives going forward. I absolutely know that he will be smiling that big smile from above as each of you continues to live your best lives, as you always remember him in your thoughts and your deeds. 

Joe DeMaria

The five of us in the 1970s. 
Luis, me (Vicky), Helen, Humbertico, Hiram
I sent this to Bert in November of 2024.

One of life’s greatest blessings was to have you as our brother.  The bond that we share will always be there. We love you and will miss you every single day.  RIP with Mom and Dad

Bert, you were not only office boss but,  a true and great friend!   I’m very lucky to have had you in my life.   You will be greatly missed but, great memories you left us with will always be with us.
Rest in Peace my dear friend.
 Olga

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Humberto H. Ocariz

9 avril 1960 – 17 août 2025

Caballero Rivero Little Havana

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