Stetson Law community mourns the loss of alumnus and longtime supporter Bernie McCabe
The Stetson Law community mourns the loss of alumnus and Board of Overseers member Bernard J. “Bernie” McCabe Jr., who died on Jan. 1, 2021, at the age of 73.
“His death is a tremendous loss for us and the community,” said Dean Michèle Alexandre.
McCabe was a “Double Hatter,” earning his BA in 1969 and JD in 1972. While at the College of Law he was chief justice of the honor court, on the editorial board of the first Stetson Law Review, and was elected president of his senior class. He also worked in Stetson’s first Prosecution Clinic, which helped cement his future career path.
After graduating from Stetson Law, he was hired as an Assistant State Attorney. He moved up the ranks in the office and ultimately was elected to State Attorney of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida in 1992, a position he held until his death.
Fred Schaub is a Stetson Law alumnus who worked with McCabe for more than 35 years in the prosecutor’s office and taught with him in the Stetson Prosecution Clinic for 28 years. He said McCabe advised young prosecutors to be mindful of their professionalism and ethics, to take the difficult cases and not look for the easy way out, and above all, to “always do the right thing and you can never make a mistake.”
“Bernie McCabe was one of the brightest people I’ve ever met” and a “tremendous trial lawyer,” Schaub said.
Through the years, McCabe earned a reputation as a diligent and ethical prosecutor with a concern for his community. He managed the State Attorney’s Office during a period of extreme growth and change and implemented several new initiatives to address specific community concerns, including domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, and family dependency.
“Bernie McCabe was an outstanding State Attorney who accomplished so much during his distinguished career,” wrote Bob Gualtieri, Stetson Law alumnus and Pinellas County Sherriff. “He dedicated his life to public safety.”
McCabe also served his alma mater in many ways. He joined the Board of Overseers in 1994, taught young law students as an Adjunct Professor, served as Prosecution Clinic supervisor, served as judge for various mock trial competitions at the law school, and hired and mentored several Stetson Law alumni, including current Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls.
“Among prosecutors and law enforcement officers, Bernie McCabe was a towering, heroic figure,” Sprowls wrote. “A true public servant, he led a life committed to justice, fairness and truth. Bernie was my mentor and my friend. I will miss him more than I can put into words, but I also know that I will carry the lessons I learned from him with me through all the days of my life.”
Christine E. Cerniglia, associate professor and director of Clinical and Experiential Education who worked with McCabe for years on Stetson’s Prosecution Clinic, said he was a fierce supporter of clinical education.
“He truly believed in mentoring the next generation of lawyers and dedicated time every Monday evening to provide guidance and discuss the law with students,” she said. “He was passionate about the law and guiding students in his clinic. To think about his dedication and the number of students he personally mentored is truly humbling. We will miss him on campus and our Stetson clinical community feels a great loss. We will honor his legacy in some way that showcases his dedication to student learning.”
McCabe received several distinguished alumni recognitions, including the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award for continuous support of time and gifts to the College of Law in 2003, induction into the Stetson Law Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Ben C. Willard Award for humanitarian achievements and efforts to benefit the citizens of Florida in 2015.
He was also active in a variety of local, state, and national non-profit and legal organizations, including the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the National District Attorneys Association, Past President of the First Step Corporation, Chairman, Pinellas County Substance Abuse Advisory Board, the Juvenile Justice Board, the S.A.V.E. Advisory Board, the State Advisory Board for the Network for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Students, and the Florida Sentencing Commission.
McCabe is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Denise, and their children, Jennifer and Patrick.
Post date: Jan. 8, 2021
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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