Stewart Dalzell

Retired U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell, a consummate intellectual whose 25-year career on the federal bench made him an institution in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, has died at the age of 75 from Alzheimer's disease.

Dalzell was appointed to the federal bench in Philadelphia in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, where he remained until his retirement in 2016.

U.S. District Chief Judge Juan R. Sanchez of the Eastern District said the entire court mourned the loss of Dalzell.

“The judges of the EDPA are saddened to learn of the passing of our colleague, Judge Stewart Dalzell,” Sanchez said in an email late Tuesday. “He was a collegial and engaging member of our court, who relished intellectually challenging cases during his 25 years of service on the federal bench. The court extends its sympathy to his family and friends on his passing. He will be greatly missed.”

Dalzell was born Sept. 18, 1943, in Hackensack, New Jersey, according to his court biography. He earned a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business in 1965. After that, he worked at the National Broadcasting Co. in New York City before returning to the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a law degree, which he received in 1969.

Dalzell worked as a visiting lecturer in law at Wharton for a year before entering private practice in the city in June 1970, working at Drinker Biddle & Reath. He stayed there for the next 21 years until his appointment to the federal bench.

As a lawyer, Dalzell worked on several notable pieces of litigation, including the Penn Central bankruptcy case, as well as the Lumberman's asbestos-related cases.

Alfred Putnam, his friend and former law firm partner at Drinker Biddle, described Dalzell as intelligent and industrious.

“He was a great judge and he was a great partner,” Putnam said.

“As a judge he was very demanding, he did not suffer fools and he was always very well-prepared,” Putnam said. “Good lawyers thought he was a pleasure and bad lawyers would have been happier with an easier judge.”

However, Putnam said it was the litigants who benefited most from appearing before Dalzell because of his speediness.

“Sometimes cases drag on, frankly, for the convenience of the lawyers,” Putnam said. “But Stewart ran a very tight ship. Cases didn't drag on with him.”

At one point, Dalzell had a docket populated by cases less than a year old, an achievement in efficiency, Putnam said, adding “he was very proud of that.”

Dalzell is survived by his wife, Kathleen Regan Dalzell; two children, Andrew and Rebecca Dalzell; and one grand-daughter.

A memorial mass is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Feb. 23 at Saint Mark's Church, located at 1625 Locust St. in Philadelphia.