Obituary: Carl Richard Zwerner

Carl Richard Zwerner, banker, businessman and family leader, died peacefully on May 9 with family and friends beside him.

Carl was born March 13, 1927, in Yonkers, N.Y., spending his childhood in Atlanta, Ga., where he attended Tech High as an All-State basketball player and competitive swimmer. He earned his bachelor’s in Business Administration at Georgia State University.

After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he began his lifelong business career, starting with National Container Corporation.

In 1958, Carl moved to Miami, Fla., with his wife and three children to join Perrine Industries with his father, Jack. Following his father’s passing, Carl started the first of many flat glass companies, importing and selling glass from around the world, eventually listing on the NYSE. Later, he expanded into glass processing and tempering machinery with his son Joshua.

He was an avid traveler, visiting Europe, Asia, South America and Israel for both business and pleasure. In addition to his glass businesses, Carl was an investor, often helping friends start their own ventures. Carl was also a director of First State Bank of The Florida Keys for over 30 years.

He was a founding member of Temple Beth Torah and a Pacesetter with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. He established the Carl R. Zwerner Chair of Family-Owned Enterprises at Georgia State University. One of the highlights of his later life was the naming of Lake Zwerner in Dahlonega, Ga.

Carl always greeted everyone with a warm smile and a ready joke at hand. Though sometimes corny, he knew how to make people laugh and put them at ease. He thought it most important to remember people’s names, along with their family members, and to ask about their well-being. He believed in helping others, and in many circumstances he did so anonymously. He was quite generous with his cousin Dolfy, setting an example for his family to follow. He always believed in showing kindness and compassion.

Of all Carl’s accomplishments, his family was his greatest pride. He planned multiple family reunions to keep the family close. It was important that his children, grandchildren, his brother, sister and many nieces and nephews got together frequently.

Carl was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Herbert Zwerner. He is survived by his sister, Margery Wolff; his children, Josh Zwerner, Janna Zwerner, Jolie Kisber (Michael), Michael Zwerner; his grandchildren, Cody Zwerner, Jarron Zwerner, Olya Zwerner, Zachary Kisber (Gabby), Jordanna Denson (Brandon), Gabriel Kisber; three great-grandchildren, Solomon, Jeremy and Hannah and many nieces and nephews whose lives he graciously touched. Mr. Zwerner is also survived by his loving companion of many years, Adriana Vega.

The family kindly asks that any memorials be sent to the Miami Jewish Federation in Memory of Carl R. Zwerner.