In Memoriam: UM Law Mourns the Passing of Alumnus C. Lavon Ward
The University of Miami School of Law mourns the passing of C. Lavon Ward, who
died on Sunday, September 13 at his Fort Lauderdale home. He was 76.
Ward was active in public service, with a career dating back to the 1960s. Born in North Carolina and raised in Ohio, Ward moved to Florida in 1958. He graduated from the Law School in 1961, and in 1966 was appointed Broward County Public Defender. He was the first Republican to hold that post. Two years later, Ward was elected to the state House of Representatives, where he served until 1970.
That year, former Governor Claude Kirk appointed Ward to a Broward Circuit Court judgeship, which he resigned in 1973. For the next 15 years, Ward served as attorney for the Broward Republican Party. He also represented the North Broward Hospital District and the city of Dania. In 1989, Governor Bob Martinez appointed Ward to another Circuit Court judgeship. He served in that position until 1996.
Regarded as a family man, Ward traveled a lot and made a hobby out of researching the Civil War. “He was extremely interested in and devoted a lot of his life to studying the Civil War,” son Brad Ward said in a Sun-Sentinel article. “He had a vast library of Civil War books.”
Brad Ward said the interest is what spurred his father to public service. “He really was motivated by Abraham Lincoln,” he said. “He felt an obligation to give back to the community.”
Ward was predeceased by his wife, Laura, longtime administrator with the city of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. He is survived by his sons Brad and Andy, his daughter, Amy Kirschbaum of Portland, Oregon, and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be September 25 at 4:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 401 SE 15th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Newman Scholarship Fund at the church.
posted 23-September-2009
