IN MEMORIAM JUDGE MANNY CRESPO

THE HONORABLE MANNY CRESPO PASSED AWAY.
WE MOURN HIS PASSING. (We will update and add the wonderful comments as they arrive, and we will print them out and send them to Judge Crespo's wife at the end of the week. Keep the memories coming)

We knew Manny Crespo from the time he was a defense attorney. Manny was a civic minded attorney who served his community with distinction and honor. Prior to becoming a judge, he served on many civic and bar committees.

An avid World War II buff, Manny was a proud patriot and true American.

As a Judge, Manny worked hard, putting in long hours. He was a frequently called upon by judges to handle their division during “plea” calendars.

Manny dispensed justice with common sense and a little bit of home spun Cuban humor and wisdom. Manny was a true Justice Building character, a true servant to this community, a highly respected jurist, and as we can see from the posts, a friend and mentor to many.
Judge Manny Crespo will be missed and fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

The viewing will be held Tuesday, January 10th from 5:00 p.m. to midnight at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn, 8200 S.W. 40th Street, Miami, FL, (305) 227-3344.

The mass will be held on Wednesday, January 11th at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Little Flower, 1270 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables. The burial will immediately follow at Flagler Memorial Park, 5301 W. Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33134.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the American Cancer Society in Judge Crespo’s name.

Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Aracely Crespo
3916 S.W. 62 Avenue
Miami, FL 33155


Judge David Young warmly writes:

Manny was one of the kindest individuals I have ever met. He was more than a colleague, he was a friend. The world needs more people like Manny.

Judge Jimenez remembers:

Manny invited me to my first CABA function when I moved down to Miami, and we have been friends for twenty-five years. I am very proud of the fact that he swore me in as a judge.About 20 years ago, Manny, Sy Gaer and I won a jury trial in a 15-yr drug trafficking case, and Manny insisted on taking us with our wives to dinner at Christie's to celebrate. We had the greatest time because with Manny you couldn't have less than the greatest time. He was full of superlatives.


Judge Scott Silverman writes about Manny Crespo fondly:

Manny was a special person and a friend to all those who met him. Even with all of his physical ailments of late, he continued to display a positive and jovial character which was his trademark. Anyone who knew Manny knows that he loved being a judge. However, he was never judgmental. Manny was a gentle man with a heart of gold. He was passionate about his work and about dispensing justice. The only reward he sought was the satisfaction of knowing that he was serving the public and the law which dearly loved. Though Manny was called Honorable, he was worthy of the title. I can think of no better description for him. Now, our dear friend sits as a fixed star in the universe of jurist. He is missed.

Judge Henry Leyte-Vidal writes:

I met Manny back in 1979 and he immediately won me over with his warmth and personality. We have been friends ever since. A man who did not know the meaning of no when asked to take on any task. A great judge but more importantly a great man who had touched thousands of lives. I will never forget him and his spirit will live on in this building he loved so much

Judge Katie Pooler writes:

Manny was genuinely kind and warm. He really cared for and respected people, no matter who they were, and shared his humor and interests with everyone. I've never known anyone who had so many close friends. I met Manny when I was a young ASA, and shared lots of coffee and plea negotiations with him in Cozzolli's (pre Pickle Barrel for the youngsters.)Manny was on the JNC when I applied, and he was my champion. There is tremendous sorrow in the world for his passing. Katie Pooler.

ASA Howard Rosen remembers:

I recall how on one particular occasion when I appeared before Manny Crespo after not being before him for a few months he called me up to the bench after my hearing was concluded, held out his arm to me, and said, “You always have a friend in this court.” And that is truly how Judge Crespo made people feel, that he was a friend. He enjoyed speaking with (and listening to) lawyers, jurors, Corrections officers, and anybody who came into his courtroom. Because we can all recall how he would step down from the bench to address jurors, it would be a nice gesture of remembrance if perhaps the main juror assembly room in the Gerstein Building or some other suitable location could be named in his honor. He will be missed.

ASA Howard Rosen



And Jason Grey remembers:

One of the best! He knew BS when he saw it, and was never afraid to get involved. The best jury selection on the planet. He was A friend and will be missed.

Phil Reizenstein remembers :

Manny Crespo took the time to pull me aside one day when I was a young ASA and tell me he thought I was doing a good job. His words meant a lot at the time. We both shared a love of history. One day after a Judge sitting in for him had denied a motion for a continuance at sounding, I appeared for trial. I again asked for a continuance and told Judge Crespo that the Judge covering for him had denied my motion. I qupted the judge as saying "a further delay would be too bitter to contemplate." Judge Crespo got a big smile on his face, recognizing that I was quoting General Eisenhower's famous words when he gave the go ahead for the D-Day invasion. Manny gave me the continuance I needed.

ASA Michael Grieco writes:

Was on the bench for selfless reasons and truly believed in justice. His tongue-in-cheek plea blitzes and colloquys took some of the monotony out of the courthouse and made practicing law enjoyably unpredictable. He has found a way into at least half of my more entertaining courtroom anecdotes (Can never forget him telling a sentenced prisoner that he'll never smell a woman again) and will be missed both as judge and a friend

Former ASA Aaron Dorfzaun writes:

I had the pleasure of being assigned to Judge Crespo's courtroom during most of my last year as an Assistant State Attorney. During this time, Judge Crespo became both a mentor to me as well as a dear friend. Like nearly all of those who appeared before him, my memory is full of many stories of the happenings in his courtroom. A large portion of the stories of share of my time as an ASA are from my time in his courtroom. Judge Crespo always treated me fairly, and with dignity and respect. That was the way he treated everyone who came into his courtoom--attorney, defendant, clerk, corrections officer, policeman, juror, civilian. I will never forget his personal thanking of jurors, and his shaking of each juror's hand after a trial. He took a strong and sincere interest in both my professional development as well as my personal life. Judge Crespo taught me a lot about being an attorney. But more importantly, he gave me many fine lessons about being a good person and a good father. Judge Crespo was a fine jurist, but an even better person. He balanced his love of the law with love for the community and his family. And he did it all with the humility that only someone like him could possess. Thank you, Judge Crespo, for all that you have done for me. I will miss you, and I will forever be proud to call you my mentor and friend.


Steve Talpins remembers:

Manny was a mensch. During my 12 years in the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, the biggest complaint I ever heard about him was that he slowed things down because he was so interested in what everyone had to say. Years ago, I visited his house so he could review a warrant (he was covering for another judge, as usual). He invited the detective and I in and offered us dinner (I half expected him to offer us lodging as well). LOL. Wouldn't it be great if all of us put so much time into our relationships? Manny always focused on what mattered most: people. Who can ever forget his coming out from behind the bench to address his jurors (or the standing ovations they gave him!)? He also tried hard to be fair and to follow the law. As a result, he was one of a handful of people liked by everyone; even the most tenacious lawyers on both sides of the bar. He is irreplaceable.

Ruben Oliva writes:

As a private attorney he was always willing to help the younger lawyers, ready to dispense nuggets of wise advice. As a Judge he always treated the lawyers as Officers of the Court and everyone else with dignity and respect. He was irreverent and funny when the situation was right but took his duties seriously. He will be truly missed. When he became a Judge many of us lost a mentor, now we've lost a Judge that set the example on how to wear the black robes.

Sharon Berger Cooper writes:

I appeared before Judge Crespo as a new lawyer, only a few months out of law school. Most Judges, especially Circuit Judges treated me with little regard or respect. However, after a bond hearig in Judge Crespo's courtroom, he called me to his bench. I was sure he was going to admonish me for something I must have done wrong. However, he smiled at me, and said that I was doing a great job. he then asked where i went to law school and how long had I been practicing. I never forgot that day. And, now several years later, I am a stay at home mom and am no longer practicing law. However I have always found myself paying particular attention to cases in which i saw Judge Crespo presiding upon, in the news. And, sadly I saw the news yeasterday of his passing. he was such a kind man, but never compromised his responsibilities as a Judge. Everyone will say that he was gentle and kind, but he was not a push over, nor was he lenient on the defendants that came before him. I could go on and on. What a terrible loss...


Anonymous writes:
Would that all judges acted with Manny's character.

Anonymous writes:
Judge Crespo was such a wonderful guy. He was loved so much by all sides, and knew when to be serious and when to be playful. He had a great sense of humor and was so caring. I will miss him a lot. We need more Judges like him, but more importantly, we need more people like him.