Shepard Broad

Shepard Broad
Born	Template:Birth date Pinsk, Russia
Died	November 6, 2001(2001-11-06) (aged 95)
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, banker, philanthropist
Known for	Founding Broad and Cassel law firm; founding Bay Harbor Islands; philanthropy

Shepard Broad (July 8, 1906 – November 6, 2001) was a Belarusian-American lawyer, banker, and philanthropist.

Early life and education

Born as Szmuel Bobrowice in Pinsk, Russia, in 1906, Broad lost his father during World War I and became an orphan by the age of ten. Initially trained as a tailor’s apprentice, he emigrated to North America at 14, arriving first in Quebec before moving on to New York with assistance from Adolph Stark of the Canadian-Jewish Immigration Society. After adopting the name Shepard Broad, he rapidly acquired English skills and progressed from third grade to high school within a single year.

Broad earned his law degree at New York Law School in 1927 and gained admission to the New York State Bar the following year.

Career

Between 1928 and 1940, Broad practiced law in New York City. In August 1940, he was admitted to The Florida Bar and relocated with his wife Ruth to South Florida. He established a law practice in Miami Beach, Florida in 1941. On January 1, 1946, Broad founded the law firm Broad and Cassel, which continues to operate today with multiple offices throughout Florida.

In 1946, Broad played a key role in founding the Bank of Hollywood Hills and the North Shore Bank of Miami Beach. The following year, he co-established the American Savings and Loan Association of Florida and later served as president of Mercantile National Bank of Miami Beach. He also contributed to the creation of the Bank of Miramar in Florida.

Broad was instrumental in founding Bay Harbor Islands, Florida in 1947 and became its inaugural mayor.

Support for Israel

In 1945, Broad joined a group of twenty-one Jewish men—including future Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion—in New York City to strategize support for a Jewish homeland. Following World War II’s conclusion, they developed an underground network dedicated to fundraising for Israel, supplying arms during the 1947–1949 Palestine war, and assisting Holocaust survivors migrating to then-Mandatory Palestine.

Development of Bay Harbor Islands

Also in 1945, Broad acquired two undeveloped mangrove islands near Miami Beach. Using personal capital combined with down payments from lot sales, he reclaimed the land and partnered with Benjamin N. Kane. Broad planned Bay Harbor Islands as two distinct zones: one for single-family homes and another for multi-family residences.

The town was officially incorporated in 1947, with Broad elected as mayor. He held this position continuously for 26 years until his retirement in 1973. Reflecting on his first election victory, he humorously noted it was "the easiest election I ever experienced—Seven hundred and fifty lots elected me unanimously."

The so-called "Shepard's Folly"

In that same year, legislative approval allowed Broad to construct a causeway at 125th Street and Biscayne Boulevard. Funded through self-liquidating bonds costing $2.5 million without imposing taxes on residents, critics dubbed it "Shepard's Folly." Completed in 1951, this bridge is now known as the Broad Causeway.

Contributions to education

Broad was deeply involved in advancing education and healthcare initiatives. He served on the Board of Governors at the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University. Honored with honorary degrees from both Nova University and Barry University, he also supported leadership programs at multiple hospitals. Additionally, he endowed the Shepard and Ruth Broad Center for the Performing Arts at Barry University.

Through The Shepard Broad Foundation, Inc., Broad and his wife Ruth generously funded numerous prominent universities and medical centers worldwide, including Florida International University, Barry University, University of Florida, Florida State University, as well as Nova Southeastern University's law school.

In 1995, Broad donated $174,350 to equip the Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor Elementary School—named in memory of his late wife—with computer technology.