Robert Schirn ’63

Bob died April 12, 2025.

He was born at sea to Jewish refugee parents on one of the last passenger ships leaving Europe during World War II. His father, the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust, had just been released from a French internment camp. The family settled in Los Angeles.

Bob came to Princeton from Beverly Hills High School. He majored in politics and was a member of Cannon Club and the freshman football team. He earned a law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1966 and was hired by the Los Angeles DA’s office the following year.

Bob prosecuted, with a 90% conviction rate, more than 60 felony jury trials involving crimes such as murder, robbery, aggravated and sexual assault, and narcotics trafficking. He assisted with the prosecution of Sirhan Sirhan following the assassination of Robert Kennedy, as well as the Charles Manson and O.J. Simpson cases.

Bob was the longest-serving head deputy in the history of the office, supervising units handling general trials, training, organized crime, and gangs as well as the major narcotics division that he headed for 15 years. He wrote California’s first search warrant and wiretap manuals, both of which are still considered the leading legal authority on the topics. Earlier this year, the California Narcotics Officers Association announced that it has named its annual Prosecutor of the Year Award after Bob.

He is survived by sons Brian and Jason and five granddaughters. Zanda, his wife of 56 years, predeceased him in 2022.