Obituary: Jeff Belzer gave up law practice to sell cars

As a corporate lawyer, Jeff Belzer was intrigued by the business of car dealer clients.

His wife, Gloria, recalled that Belzer confided to his father that he was thinking of investing in a dealership. His father, a doctor, lauded his son's accomplishments -- established law firm, loyal clients -- then said, "you must be crazy."

Jeff Belzer followed his gut, and 30 years later, Belzer Chevrolet, Dodge, Kia in Lakeville is one of the region's largest dealerships.

Belzer, of Eureka Township, died Sunday. He was 70.

Minneapolis-born and raised, Belzer earned a law degree from Drake University Law School in 1968, then opened a law firm with partner Claude Loewenthal in Edina.

Gloria Belzer said his interest in cars might be linked to family history; his grandfather, a horse trader on Lake Street, started an early used-car enterprise.

In 1980, Belzer bought Todd Chevrolet in Lakeville.

He thought he could practice law and sell cars on the side. The first month, he lost "a significant amount of money," she said. It was a wake-up call.

He sold his stakes in the law firm and office building he and his partner built and focused on selling cars.

From then on, Gloria Belzer said, he worked six-day weeks, taking a bag lunch because he didn't like to leave the dealership.

In 1991, he bought a Farmington Dodge dealership but soon consolidated in Lakeville.

He loved to negotiate, his wife said, whether it was with a client out for the best deal or in his own purchase of a coat or a refrigerator.

"He expected people to negotiate," she said. "He expected them to shop around."

He had a head for the business.

"He marketed a lot of cars," said Scott Lambert, executive vice president of the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association. "He was a very strong businessman; he sold a lot of cars and he loved to compete with his dealers. But he was well thought of, he was fair, and he was a strong personality."

He didn't leave the law behind, his wife said.

"Dealers would call him and ask him for advice on many issues, even though they were in competition," she said. "He really was a business teacher."

The teaching extended to sons Jeff and Michael, who now run the dealership; both worked their way up, starting at the dealership's hot dog stand and its car wash.

Belzer never retired.

"He really felt they were interested in the business, and he felt he had a lot to teach them and a lot to offer," she said.

In addition to his wife, Belzer is survived by sons Steven, of Minneapolis, Michael, of Lakeville, and Jeffrey Jr., of Lakeville; daughters Kimberly Hanson, of Lakeville, and Anna Belzer, of Edina; brother Dr. Michael Belzer of Edina; sister Judi Belzer, of Hopkins, and two grandchildren.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Av. S., Minneapolis.

Maria Elena Baca • 612-673-4409