AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 59

ALAN E. 
SCHWARTZ, 97, 
of Birmingham, 
Michigan, died 
after sunset on 
July 27, 2023.
Alan was a founder and 
partner at Honigman LLP as 
well as a business, civic and 
Jewish community leader 
in Detroit for more than 
half a century. He created 
permanent, positive change. 
He was known for his 
brilliance, elegance, public 
service, ability to create 
consensus, sound advice, 
business acumen, and deep 
love of community, arts, 
the Jewish faith and family, 
especially his wife of 67 years, 
Marianne.

At age 27, Alan joined 
with Jason L. Honigman and 
Milton J. (Jack) Miller in 1952 
to create the firm, then known 
as Honigman Miller and 
Schwartz.
“Alan was in every sense 
of the word a gentleman. He 
treated everyone he met with 
kindness and dignity. Alan 
was a lawyer, businessman 
and friend to his clients, 
whom he served with 
integrity and intelligence,” 
said Honigman Chairman 
and CEO David Foltyn. “It 
was his vision for Honigman 
‘to be the best law firm for 
the best lawyers,’ which has 
inspired and guided our 
firm for over half a century. 
He was a selfless leader and 

volunteer in civic, cultural 
and nonprofit organizations 
devoted to improving 
Detroit from a business 
and a social perspective. 
He was involved in nearly 
every major development 
project in the city as an 
attorney and as a leader in 
business organizations. His 
commitment to the cultural 
treasures of Detroit is well 
known.
Alan was raised in 
Detroit and graduated from 
Cranbrook Schools and the 
University of Michigan. His 
undergraduate studies were 
interrupted by two years of 
service in Guam during World 
War II. After graduating, with 
distinction, from U-M, he 

earned an LL.B., magna cum 
laude, from Harvard Law 
School where he graduated 
second in his class and 
served as an editor of the Law 
Review. Alan began his career 
on Wall Street. In 1952, he and 
the love of his life, his wife, 
Marianne, decided to return 
to Detroit where they both 
grew up to raise their own 
family.
At the time of his death, 
Alan was an honorary board 
member of the Detroit 
Institute of Arts and a director 
emeritus of the Detroit 
Symphony Orchestra. Both 
organizations honored him for 
his generosity as a volunteer 
and as a donor.
He was a lifetime board 

continued on page 60

Judaism embraces all facets of life . . . including death.
Trust us to assist you with dignity and grace.

