Marwin Cassel, Miami attorney

Prominent Miami real-estate attorney Marwin S. Cassel, a community activist and partner in the firm of Broad & Cassel, died Saturday evening after a three-month battle with lung cancer. He was 74.

Cassel's involvements were numerous. A staunch Democrat, he served as a member of the National Judicial Counsel of the Democratic National Committee and raised money for the campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Dante Fascell, Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham.

``He was always very active in politics,'' son Jim Cassel said. ``He did it for fun.''

He also served as board chairman and president of the International Savings and Loan Association, vice chair of the Miami Beach Redevelopment Authority, president and director of the Downtown Miami Business Association, director of the National Board of Directors for American Women Composers, and director of Friends of the Arts Lowe Gallery.

He was a member of the Miami chapter of the American Technion Society -- Israel Institute of Technology, Miami Historic Conservation Board, Florida Hospital Cost Containment Board, Miami Beach Downtown Development Authority, Pinecrest Planning and Zoning Board and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

LOVE OF MUSIC

Cassel's love for music began as a child while listening to his mother, a composer and songwriter known as ``Mana-Zucca.''

``When he was growing up, his family's living room was the concert hall of Miami,'' Jim Cassel said. ``Every artist and musician that came through town stopped there.''

His favorite song: I Love Life.

Cassel tried to instill his love for music in his own children.

``He would make me and my brothers get up and perform all the time,'' Jim Cassel said. ``He would drag us down to Morton Towers when his mother was playing and make us get up there and sing. Those were good times.''

The memory also served as a lesson in work ethic. Not only was his mother a famous pianist and composer, but father Irwin Cassel was a clever businessman, owner of Kromer Cassel, a department store which became the predecessor to Richard's Department Store. His cousin, Alvin Cassel, founded the Miami law firm Broad & Cassel in 1948 with Shepard Broad.

UF ALUMNI

Cassel joined that firm in 1986, long after receiving his law degree from the University of Florida in 1967. His alma mater named him among a National Outstanding Alumni in 1979.

The law firm blossomed in the 1980s, paralleling the growth of American Savings and Loan, and expanded to include 140 lawyers statewide and additional offices in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Tampa, Stuart, Orlando and Boca Raton. It has the largest group of Florida-based health-care lawyers and has a niche in defending individuals and corporations accused of fraud and abuse.

``He was always straightforward and upright in all his endeavors, professional and personal,'' said developer Tibor Hollo, a close friend and client for 40 years. ``He was always championing the right causes. And he cared for all the people around him, whether they were his family, friends or clients.''

Added wife Leslie Cassel: ``He treated his clients as though he were a sole practitioner, from beginning to end. Even though he was a member of a big firm, he worked like an old-fashioned lawyer.''

Said Hollo: ``I will miss his friendship; he's always jovial and upbeat. I will miss his humor and of course I'll keep my duties as his youngest son's godfather.''

In addition to son Jim and wife Leslie, Cassel is survived by sons Bradley, Tommy and 14-year-old Michael. He was predeceased by his first wife, Phyllis.

DEVOTED FATHER

`He was so devoted to his son, Michael,'' Leslie Cassel said. ``He went to all of his son's games at Ransom Everglades, football, water polo, baseball. He was so happy to be alive for Michael's bar mitzvah in December.''

The CBS Morning Show featured Cassel and son Michael on a show about older fathers because Cassel was 60 years old when his youngest son was born.

``It just gave him a whole new lease on life,'' Leslie said. ``It kept him young.''