In Memoriam: Former U.S. District Court Judge Stewart Dalzell

Our friend and former partner, retired U.S. District Court Judge Stewart Dalzell, passed away on February 18 of Alzheimer’s disease at his home. He was 75.

Stewart was a partner in the Philadelphia office and joined the firm in 1970. He handled several notable cases during his Drinker Biddle career, including the Penn Central bankruptcy case and Lumberman’s asbestos-related cases. In 1991, Stewart was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania bench. He retired in 2016.

Stewart graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in 1965 with a degree in economics. He worked at the National Broadcasting Company in New York City before returning to the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a law degree, which he received in 1969. Stewart was a visiting lecturer in law at Wharton for a year before entering private practice with the firm. Stewart had a great love for movies and often mentioned films in his court opinions. He enjoyed classical music, literature, history and spending time with family.

Stewart is survived by his wife, Kathleen Regan Dalzell; two children, Rebecca and Andrew; and a granddaughter. A memorial mass is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2019, in Philadelphia.

More information on services is available in his Legal Intelligencer obituary here.

The Philadelphia Inquirer also published an obituary on Stewart’s life here.

Our thoughts are with the Dalzell family during this difficult time.