Life member L. David Shear of Gunster passed away on April 26 at the age of 79.
During his tenure as president of the Florida Bar Association, Mr. Shear was one of the original creators of the Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Program (IOLTA), which is now used throughout the country.
After graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Mr. Shear co-founded Shear, Newman, Hahn & Rosenkranz PA, and later joined the firm Ruden McCloskey PA. He joined Gunster in 2011, practicing in the corporate and real estate groups.
Mr. Shear dedicated himself to providing local legal aid and was especially devoted to defending the interests of children, ultimately lending his name to a center that provides free legal representation for children in Hillsborough County's foster care system.
Mr. Shear is survived by his wife, Casey, his sons Jeff and Steve, and four grandchildren.