Tampa, FL – Leslie “Les” D. Scharf, one of the founders of Trenam Law and a Distinguished Professorial Lecturer at Stetson University College of Law, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2024. He was 94 years old.
Mr. Scharf, along with a contingent of other partners, including John Trenam, left their previous firm in 1970 to form Trenam, Simmons, Kemker, Scharf, and Barkin, now known as Trenam Law, starting with only nine lawyers. The group clearly knew what they were doing as Trenam Law has more than 90 attorneys across its Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota offices today. Mr. Scharf led the firm’s real estate practice group for years before retiring from the private practice of law in December of 1993. He then went on to teach law, one of his professional passions, becoming a Distinguished Professorial Lecturer at Stetson University College of Law.
“Les was not only an exceptional lawyer and advocate for his clients, but an outstanding teacher, who had a scholar’s heart for working out abstract and difficult theoretical problems that sometimes concealed themselves in “routine” real estate transactions (and then explaining the answer and why it mattered to novice lawyers like me, in the 80s),” said Trenam Shareholder David Brittain. “While we are deeply saddened by the loss of a friend, colleague and leader, we are grateful for his role in founding the firm and to the continuing impact of his memory and teachings.”
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 25, 1930, Les attended The University of Chicago, enrolling at age 15, and graduating at age 18 with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. He engaged in post baccalaureate studies at Marquette University for a year, prior to commencing his study of law at the University of Wisconsin where he served as Executive Editor of Wisconsin Law Review and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1952.
At UW, Les met the love of his life, Anita Claire Kaufman. The two married in 1953, and shortly after moved to Washington, D.C. where Les, commissioned the same year as a First Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General Corps, United State Army Reserve, was stationed at the Pentagon, from 1953 to 1955. Les and Anita moved to Tampa in 1955 where Les began his legal career in the private sector with the Fowler White firm where he began to develop his practice as a real estate attorney.
Les was civic-minded, serving as a member of the Tampa Downtown Development Authority from 1984 to 1988, and on the Tampa Public Arts Committee from 1988 to 1991. He had a love for books and reading which led him to participate in the USF Radio Reading Service, reading publications to the visually impaired and to his involvement in teaching adults to read. He served as President of his synagogue, Congregation Schaarai Zedek from 1973 to 1975.
Les is survived by his sister, Margie Brown of Rialto, CA, sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Marsha Scharf of Worcester, MA, David Scharf, and Alan and Kelly Scharf all of Tampa; and grandchildren, Abram, Maren, Benjamin and Julie.
A memorial service will be held at 1 pm on November 1, 2024 at Congregation Shaarai Zedek, 3303 West Swann Avenue, Tampa. If unable to join in-person, you may stream the memorial service on the congregation’s website at: https://www.zedek.org/ondemand/streaming/. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Metropolitan Ministries or the charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolence may be sent to: Alan Scharf & Family, 4503 W Watrous Ave, Tampa, FL 33629-4231.
