(RADM Richard B. Schiff, USN-Ret. Official US Navy picture, with thanks to Seymour “Sy” Brody and his excellent site featuring “ Jewish Generals and Admirals in America’s Military.” Rick had a close association with Naval Intelligence during the Incidents at Sea treaty and as special counsel to the Director of Naval Intelligence).

I have been writing in exhausting detail about the end of a great institution lately. There is a lot of that going around these days, but of course I am speaking about Tracy O’Grady’s fabulous Willow restaurant and bar. But there is a lot of other important and sobering stuff going on, and I was blind-sided by the way of the world earlier this week, when I got an email with an address that made me assume that it was from The Judge, whose informed commentary sometimes appears in the annals of The Daily.

I opened the note, expecting to read something acerbic about one of my various rants. It wasn’t The Judge, though. It was from his lovely wife Judi, who wrote that she had become concerned with his reaction to chemo and radiation last week. She said that the Doctors at the hospital who examined him said the course of treatment had not been successful. The family is coming to be at his side, including his sister and two kids, Karen and Daniel.

I was stunned at the news. Rick has been a good pal for decades, on active duty and in his post-Navy life. We used to lunch when he was at the Indian Gaming commission and in the Homeland Security business after 9/11. I had the chance to go skiing with him at Wisp Mountain near their retirement home at Deep Creek in Garret County, MD, me for the last time, which made the trip especially memorable. Then we drank our way around the lake at the various establishments he had grown to know.
We had a blast. He has always had an impish sense of humor and tremendous insight into how things really work.

I remember the satisfaction I had when at his retirement ceremony at the Navy Yard, after reading his orders, he slipped out of his blouse with the four stripes and replaced it one bearing the fat gold stripe of a Rear Admiral.

At the time of his retirement, Rick was Chief Judge of the Navy, which is about as cool a title as one could wish for.
He was had his 71stbirthday this week, born on September 14, 1944 to Harriet (Stern) and Leonard L. Schiff up in Joliet, IL. The family was constantly moving around and Rick recounted tales of going to many different elementary schools in multiple states.

He received a B.A. degree from the University of Michigan, in 1966, a JD degree from George Washington University, 1969, and a L.L.M. degree from the University of Virginia, in 1980.

The Wolverine connection is the reason we became pals. Back before I decided that the folks in Ann Arbor had lost their way in the thicket of political correctness and abandoned the smack-down football program of Co Schembechler, I used to fly the Block M flag out in front of the house.

One day, a guy in jogging clothes walked up to the door of the house in King’s Park West in Fairfax County, pointed at the flag and announced that he was ready for a beer. We were pals ever after.

Rick entered the U. S. Navy in October 1969, as a “direct commission” judge Advocate and with a commission as a Lieutenant. Through the years, he rose through the ranks: Lieutenant Commander, 1975, Commander, 1981, Captain, 1988 and hen he retired in December 1997, he was promoted to Rear Admiral.

I saw him around the District on his shore tours, and overseas when I was deployed to the Med. His Navy assignments:
● General attorney First Naval District, Boston, Massachusetts, 1979-1972
● Assigned to the Commander of the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, 1972-1975
● Military Judge, Transatlantic Judicial Circuit, Naples, Italy, which included traveling through Europe, the Mediterranean, Middle East North Africa and Marine Corps special court-marital, 1975-1979
● Base lawyer, Naval Station, Keflavik, Iceland, 1980-1981
● Legal Advisor to Commander of the Iceland Defense Force, 1981-1982
● Executive Officer, Naval Legal Service Office, Pensacola, Florida.1981-1985
● Office of Ocean Policy, Navy staff in the pentagon. This assignment involved Schiff with the “Black Sea bumping,” 1985-1988
● Commanding Officer, Navy Legal Service Office, in Naples, Italy, 1988-
1991
● Staff Commanding Officer, Naval Legal Service Office, Italy and supported U.S. personnel during Desert Storm, 1988-1991
● Staff judge advocate for Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Commander, U.S. Atlantic Command and Supreme Allied Command, Atlantic, in Norfolk, Virginia, 1991-1994
● Assistant Judge Advocate General (civil law), 1994-1997
● Served six months as Chief Judge, Navy Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, 1997
His Military Awards were impressive, and included the:
• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit (twice)
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Joint Commendation Medal
• Navy Commendation Medal

He had a marvelous career, but much more important than that, he was one of the best friends a man could have. His advice helped me navigate the rocks and shoals here in Washington, and his counsel was always wise.

My thoughts and prayers are with Judi, Karen and Daniel at this sad time, following so closely the High Holidays and the anniversary of his birth.

Copyright 2015 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com