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Longtime Youngstown solo practitioner remembered
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: June 20, 2019
Whether mentoring a new lawyer or advising one of his four children, Youngstown attorney Joseph W. Maxin provided profound encouragement, often citing his heartfelt belief in the power of the mind, which he said enabled individuals to achieve whatever they set out to do.
“My dad would often say, ‘Only you are the one who will make it happen’ and ‘you have to make up your mind to do it,’” said his daughter Patricia Maxin.
“The concept of being a victim was not in his vocabulary,” said Patricia, who serves on the board of The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation and coordinates the CholangioConnect program. “He believed in staying positive and working hard in all areas of life. He was strong and determined and you could not help but be motivated by him.”
Maxin’s son Joseph John Maxin said his father is the reason he decided to become an attorney.
“Growing up I watched my dad in the courtroom a few times,” said Joseph, an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor. “He had such a commanding presence. I knew I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and one day actually work with him. My father taught me to be respectful and treat clients the way you would want to be treated.
“My dad could help you navigate turbulent waters or a rough sky,” he said. “Once dad had your back, you knew it would be OK.”
Struthers attorney Alan Matavich said Maxin helped him establish his practice in Youngstown.
“I met Joe during my last year in law school,” said Matavich, who is also licensed to practice in North Carolina. “He found me office space in Youngstown and brought me on as second chair in an aggravated murder case after I had only been practicing for two weeks.
“It was an invaluable experience for me and afterward I continued to serve as co-counsel on cases with Joe,” he said. “He stressed the importance of preparation, being a straight shooter and above all conducting oneself in an ethical fashion.”
Not long before the 92-year-old passed away on April 29, his daughter said he reflected on his many blessings in life, especially his family.
“My father was an amazing man, who positively impacted so many lives,” said Patricia.
Born on Feb. 14, 1927 in the small town of Bardejov in the eastern part of Slovakia (then part of Czechoslovakia), Maxin and his parents Joseph and Suzanna immigrated to the United States when he was a young child.
When they first arrived, Maxin was an only child, but after settling into their new home in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, his parents had three daughters.
Maxin graduated from Uniontown High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and during World War II served aboard the light cruiser, USS Portsmouth (CL-102) as a radio operator.
He later decided to pursue a career in radio broadcasting. After undergoing training at the Central Technical Institute in Kansas City, Maxin embarked on his first communications assignment in Cairo, Illinois. In 1950, he returned to the Youngstown area to take a job as an engineer for WKBN radio.
It was while doing a broadcast from the former Idora Park amusement park that Maxin met his wife Lucille. She passed away in 1964 when their children were still very young.
“For years, my dad raised us as a single parent,” said Patricia. “He did a great job. I remember that he always took us for a ride in the car when he came home from work.”
During his years at the radio station, he began his college education, obtaining his bachelor’s degree, LL.B (Bachelor of Laws) and juris doctorate from the school now known as Youngstown State University.
Maxin later taught American history, business law and communications courses at the university.
He began his legal career as a Youngstown assistant law director and assistant city prosecutor. Maxin then started his own practice in downtown Youngstown, sharing office space with a number of attorneys over the years, including his son.
“Dad had a general practice early on, but he did a lot of criminal defense work,” said Joseph. “He cut his teeth on jury trials. He was tough, but always a professional. Everyone respected him, even the police officers that he cross-examined. At some point, dad was asked to represent the police union.
“Dad taught me to return all calls promptly and if you promise someone you will do something, do it, even if it costs you money. He stressed that failing to make good on a promise could cost you your name and credibility.
“We did have a few arguments when we worked together on cases, mostly because my dad was prepared for trial weeks in advance and I waited to the night before.”
Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum was a bailiff for Common Pleas Court Judge Clyde Osborne when he first observed Maxin’s trial skills.
“It was a really big case, which involved the kidnapping, rape and murder of a young girl by two young men,” said Judge Krichbaum. “Joe was a true warrior and champion for his clients, but he could not overcome the strong evidence in the case.”
In the early 1990s, Maxin came before Judge Krichbaum on multiple occasions.
“I saw him exhibit that same dedication and obligation to his clients while maintaining remarkable professionalism in the court,” he said. “Joe was a man who possessed an amazingly positive attitude and he inspired that in other people who were around him.
“He was a toastmaster and he loved the spotlight,” said Judge Krichbaum. “He gave a number of speeches and was quite good at it honestly. He cared about everything he did and was a credit to our profession.”
“My dad was a wonderful orator and fastidious about his grammar,” said Patricia. “He was truly a humble man though and he never felt better than anyone else. He taught the grandkids those principles.”
Retired plaintiff personal injury and domestic relations attorney Daniel L. Rossi became acquainted with Maxin many years ago.
“He was a very responsible lawyer, well qualified, respected and liked by his peers,” said Rossi. “He was a solid performer and a credit to the legal profession.”
Matavich shared office space with Maxin in Boardman.
“Joe always came in early and on Saturday mornings,” said Matavich. “He was in fantastic shape so he always parked in the back of the building and ran up and down the stairs. He never took the elevator in the courthouse either.
“Joe was supremely confident and a big believer in personal contact,” he said. “If he had trouble reaching another lawyer by phone, it would not be unusual for Joe to show up at the attorney’s office and sit in the waiting room until the attorney walked by.”
While Maxin never completely retired he did cut back on his office hours after breaking his pelvis in 2018. Until about ten years ago, he was a regular fixture on the handball court at the YMCA in downtown Youngstown. He also earned a second degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.
“Dad urged all us kids to be physically active,” said Patricia. “I have many fond remembrances of backyard sports.
“After his fall, he was determined to get back to his life and he believed he could will himself to do that,” said Patricia. “He came really close to that goal.”
Maxin was a member of The Mahoning County, Ohio State and American bar associations as well as the Association of American Trial Lawyers and the American Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
Maxin was extremely active in the Youngstown community and was the recipient of many awards. He was a longtime member of the Curbstone Coaches, where he served as president until his death.
He was also a former president of Toastmasters Club and a former president of the Dale Carnegie Alumni Association as well as a member of the American Legion Post 565, St. Michael Church in Canfield, Knights of Columbus, the Buckeye Elks, the Canfield Conservation Club, Canfield Kiwanis and the Slovak Catholic Sokol.
Military services were held for Maxin on May 9 at Calvary Cemetery, following a mass of Christian burial at St. Michael Church in Canfield.
He is survived by his children Mary Lou Maxin of Sacramento, California, Patricia Maxin of Houston, Joseph Maxin of Youngstown and Michael Maxin and his wife Marianne of Seattle. He also leaves behind grandchildren Nicholas, Alexander, Anthony, Abigail and Nina and sisters Margaret Manofsky of North Carolina, Bernadine Manofsky of Ohio and Martha Maxin of New York.
In addition to his parents, Maxin was preceded in death by his wife Lucille and son-in-law Mike Lu.