Michael Curwin, longtime assistant prosecutor, dies at 60

Michael S. Curwin, 60, of Sewell, who retired in 2014 as first assistant Gloucester County prosecutor, died of a brain aneurysm Saturday, Oct. 31, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

"Michael was the longest-serving assistant prosecutor in the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office" after it became a full-time office in 1981, a spokesman for Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton said.

Mr. Curwin joined the office as an assistant prosecutor in March 1985 and was first assistant since June 2010, a position now held by his wife, Audrey.

In a statement, Dalton said "the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office family lost a brother Saturday morning."

"A tireless advocate for victims of crime in Gloucester County," Dalton said, Mr. Curwin was "a true gentleman who sought justice in every case he handled."

"He will be sorely missed and always remembered."

Dalton said he had been the prosecutor "for over 13 years, but I've known Michael since I was a judicial law clerk in 1987."

"Other folks have come and gone," Dalton said, "but Michael was a constant in our office throughout the years."

Dalton pointed to Mr. Curwin's work as "a skilled trial lawyer" in the successful outcome of a decade-old cold case.

In 2012, Brian Mertz, 34, was found guilty of the 2002 Memorial Day weekend murder of 22-year-old Jennifer Whipkey near a West Deptford motel where Mertz lived.

Dalton said he oversees 19 assistant prosecutors, who do not lose that title while working on other assignments.

So from 2004 to 2010, Mr. Curwin was also deputy trial chief.

Until he retired, he had been the supervisor of Gloucester County municipal prosecutors since 2002, legal adviser to the county SWAT team and the internal affairs unit since 2007, and coordinator of the county Police Academy since 2011.

Mr. Curwin was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., his wife said, and grew up in Syosset, on Long Island. He earned a bachelor's degree at the State University of New York at Albany in 1977, and graduated from the Rutgers-Camden School of Law in 1980.From 1981 until 1985, Mr. Curwin was a criminal defense lawyer, handling cases in Philadelphia and its four suburban counties.

He became a prosecutor, his wife said, because "he realized he liked the other side better, he was more suited to the other side of prosecution. He loved his job."

After retiring, Mr. Curwin was an adjunct professor and taught criminal justice at Rowan University in the 2014-15 academic year.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Curwin is survived by parents Eileen and Ronald; son Benjamin; daughter Jillian; and three brothers.

A visitation is set for 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Platt Memorial Chapels, 2001 Berlin Rd., Cherry Hill, before an 11 a.m. funeral service there, with interment in Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill.

Donations may be sent to Little People of America at www.lpaonline.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.plattmemorial.com.

wnaedele@phillynews.com

610-313-8134 @WNaedele