In loving memory of Richard Berkowitz June 28, 1941 – December 31, 2021

Richard Berkowitz (1941-2021): Attorney, Philanthropist, Coach and Mentor.

Richard (Dick) Berkowitz passed away on New Year’s Eve 2021, after a hard-fought battle against a rare blood disease. He was 80 years old. Dick was born on June 28, 1941, to humble beginnings in New Haven, CT to Elihu and Ruth Berkowitz, hard-working members of the community. He was a student athlete playing football and basketball. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1963 and from University of Connecticut Law School in 1966.

Over the years, in addition to being profoundly committed to his family, he was involved in many philanthropic initiatives and an ardent supporter of youth activities. He was a mentor at Champions for Learning in Naples, Florida. He was a founder and major supporter of New Heights Youth, a New York-based non-profit organization which creates opportunities and provides support to educate and empower promising underserved youth to be leaders, champions and student-athletes. The Richard Berkowitz Student-Athlete Award at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut provides tuition grants for student athletes.

Known to most of his friends and colleagues as Dick, he commenced his 55 year-long legal career in Westport, Connecticut where he soon established his own firm which eventually became Berkowitz, Trager and Trager. During his career, Dick represented multiple high-profile individuals, leading executives of Fortune 50 companies and members of the media and entertainment industries. For many years, Dick was the managing member of our Firm.

Among his many accomplishments, Dick has perennially been recognized and honored as one of the “Best Lawyers in America.” He was profoundly committed to practicing law at the highest degree of excellence and he endeavored to surround himself over the years with lawyers who met his high standards. To those he represented, he was a committed, fiercely loyal and tireless advocate. To his members, he was a coach urging them to be the best version of themselves and a deep resource of experience and wisdom.

Dick played an extraordinarily important role in the life of our Firm and his commitment to ethical practice, meticulous attention to detail and always, always putting the client first continue to be the guiding lights of our Firm.