Robert S. Glazier's Obituary
GLAZIER, Robert S. died on Saturday, February 17th, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 59. Robert was born in Miami on September 20, 1958, and remained a life-long Floridian. He attended the University School of Nova University, New College, and then Nova Law School, where he was Executive Editor of the Law Review and published two law review notes. During law school, he was inspired by Professor Bruce Rogow, a leading appellate lawyer. Partly as a result, Robert clerked for two respected judges of the Third District Court of Appeal, Daniel S. Pearson and Gerald B. Cope, Jr. After his clerkship, Robert began a distinguished and successful career as an appellate lawyer. He was the co-author (with Prof. Michael Graham) of Handbook of Florida Evidence, and wrote many articles on the practice of law. He taught a seminar on Advanced Torts at the University of Miami. As a lawyer, Robert handled many notable cases. Early in his career, he handled the legal issues in State v. Fijnje, a noted child abuse case. He argued in the U.S. Supreme Court in Krupski v. Costa Crociere. He argued many appeals on behalf of the City of Miami, the City of Coral Gables, churches and synagogues and individuals suing for personal injuries or wrongful death. He was particularly proud of his representation of victims of the tobacco industry's fifty-year conspiracy to mislead smokers about their products. The love of Robert's life was his husband, Alan Mason. They met in 1998, and were legally married in 2010. They shared a wonderful life together, traveling, raising dogs, and enjoying the passage of time. They shared a love of Jewish music. Alan, a leading accompanist to Jewish singers, worked with Robert to create the Winter Jewish Music Concert, which became one of the leading Jewish music concerts in the country. Robert and Alan's life together was changed in June 2013 by Robert's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. Although the road was not easy, Robert was able to live almost five years with the disease, a time far greater than the median life expectancy of less than a year. During these years, Robert wrote a widely-read blog, which appeared at CaringBridge.org. He was able to use his knowledge of medical issues and the medical profession to help others. Robert also created a group for pancreatic cancer survivors in South Florida the first such group in Florida. In recent years, Robert and Alan created the Mason-Glazier Fund for Jewish Identity, which supports Jewish programs in Miami-Dade County, and the Mason-Glazier Charitable Fund at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. They were instrumental in creating Base Miami, a pluralistic center for Jewish young adults. They donated the Mason-Glazier Music Room, in Honor of HaZamir Miami to the new Cultural Arts Building at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center, and donated the Bliss Hebert and Allen Charles Klein Stonewall Loft & Lounge at Pridelines. Robert served as President of Temple Israel of Greater Miami from 2005 to 2007, and held many other officer positions at the temple. Among his accomplishments at the temple was helping to create Ru'ach, a havurah for the LGBT community. Robert was also a long-time member of the board of the temple's foundation, the Joseph R. Narot Endowment Fund. Robert was and Alan is particularly grateful for the love and support of their close friends David Pollack, Mark Nedlin and Marc Lamb. They were also grateful for the expert, compassionate care that Robert received from his doctors and nurses at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Robert was predeceased by his beloved mother, Sylvia Glazier Foster; his father, Nathan; his brother, Bennett; and his step-father, Louis Foster. In addition to Alan, Robert is survived by his sister Sue Cannon, her children Gregory Cannon (Nicole), Mara Brooks (Gil), Hanna Cannon, and Bennett Cannon, and Sue's grandchildren, Alek and Nate Brooks, and Andrew and Olivia Cannon; his sister Ina Glazier Barr; and his stepsisters, Kim Foster Cosner (Chris, and children Chelsea, Zac and Zoe) and Lori Foster Weiss (Steve, and children Josh, Eric, and Adam). In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Base Miami, c/o University of Miami Hillel, 1100 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, the Zamir Choral Foundation, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1948, New York, NY 10015, or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Funeral Service 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 19th in the Bertha Abess Sanctuary at Temple Israel of Greater Miami, 137 NE 19th St., Miami. Arrangements by Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel (305) 865-2353
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