Berle Mark Schiller passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, at the age of 81, at his residence in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Born on June 17, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York, to Morris and Edith Schiller, he pursued his education at Bowdoin College (earning a B.A. in 1965) and then at New York University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1968. His career began in private legal practice in Pennsylvania, interspersed with a tenure as Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania in 1971, followed by two decades in private practice from 1972 through 1993.
In 1994, under President Bill Clinton, Schiller was appointed Chief Counsel of the Federal Transit Administration in Washington, D.C., where he served until 1996, playing a significant role in shaping national transit policy and legal strategy. That same year he transitioned to the judiciary, serving on the Pennsylvania Superior Court from 1996 to 2000 before his nomination to the federal bench.
Clinton nominated Schiller to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 11, 2000. He was confirmed by the Senate on May 24 and received his commission on June 2, 2000, succeeding Judge Robert S. Gawthrop III ([Legacy.com][1]). On June 18, 2012, he assumed senior status and continued his judicial service until his death on July 22, 2025
Schiller was admired not only for his judicial career but also for his commitment to public service. He chaired PATH, Inc., a nonprofit focused on mental health, and served on various boards dedicated to expanding mental health support in Pennsylvania. He also contributed to legal ethics and procedural oversight via roles on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Criminal Procedural Rules Committee and the Disciplinary Board’s Hearing Committee ([Legacy.com][1]). At the community level, he remained active with the Lower Merion Home and School Association and contributed greatly to civic life.
A lifelong outdoorsman, Schiller was passionate about bowhunting and fishing. His chambers were decorated with trophies and tales from his global adventures pursuing both activities. Most importantly, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his wife Molly; children Jonathan (with Sonig), Joseph, Abigail Friedman (Harley), and Maggie Corrado (Chris); and grandchildren Isabel, Anabel, Sadie, Shane, Jude, Lily, Mason, and Amelia. Also surviving are his siblings Alan (Regina), Myles (Carol), and sister Joan.
Family gatherings are private, but communal mourning and remembrance took place via shiva services held from July 27 to July 31 at the homes of his children in Merion Station, PA, and Chappaqua, NY. A celebration of life is expected in the fall, and the family suggested memorial donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation, the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, or the Bowdoin College Scholarship Fund in his honor.