Login | April 26, 2024
Beloved Cuyahoga Falls attorney remembered
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 21, 2018
He spent the bulk of his legal career in Cuyahoga Falls, developing a reputation as a ‘gentleman lawyer’ who went the extra mile for his clients, reducing his rates and providing pro bono services to those who were struggling so they would not have to forego representation.
But on Jan. 4, Gerald R. Leipply passed away at the age of 83.
“My father believed that everyone should have competent representation,” said his daughter Tarla Perdew. “That was more important to him than getting paid.
“He was the kind of person who never did anything halfway,” said Perdew. “Once he made a commitment, he not only devoted his time, he actually participated. We were very close. I called him every weekend and now that he’s gone I am trying to get used to a new normal.”
Leipply’s former law partner James (Jaime) Armstrong described him as “an incredibly intelligent and unassuming person.
“I never met anyone who did not like Jerry,” said Armstrong. “He loved being a lawyer and never wanted to retire. He practiced right until his death. He was an incredible mentor and father figure to me.”
Born July 17, 1934 on a farm in Greenville, Pennsylvania, he was the only child of Margaret Ramp and Clyde Leipply.
His parents passed away when he was eight and he moved to Cuyahoga Falls to live with his aunt and uncle.
In an earlier interview with the Akron Legal News, Leipply said he knew he wanted to be a lawyer when he was a student at Cuyahoga Falls High School.
Leipply received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio and his juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.
In 1959 he began his legal career in Akron at Alpeter, Reed and Diefenbach. Three years later, he became law director in Cuyahoga Falls, a position he held until 1965.
Attorney Robert McDowall said Leipply hired him as a prosecutor while he was law director.
“That was the beginning of our very long friendship,” said McDowall. “We did not work together for that long, but we did practice in the same city.
“I thought of Jerry as a complete lawyer,” he said. “He was always prepared, had a strong work ethic and exhibited exceptional professionalism.
“We were co-counsel on a few matters and adversaries many times,” McDowall said. “He was very competitive, but fair and willing to work toward the best possible outcome.”
Leipply formed a law firm with the late Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Dave Sanders and Orval Hoover in 1966.
In 1977 attorney Steve Fallis was hired as an associate at Sanders, Hoover & Leipply.
Jerry not only mentored me, he became my law partner and my friend. I had the utmost respect for Jerry. I often referred to him as a ‘true gentleman lawyer,’” said Fallis. “He was a professional in all aspects of the word.”
When Sanders passed away in 1981, Fallis and Leipply opened Leipply & Fallis in Cuyahoga Falls.
“We practiced together until 1994,” said Fallis. “Jerry was very good to his clients. He always took time to explain their cases, the costs involved and how long things would likely take. His word was his bond, not only with his clients but with opposing counsel.
“I can’t say enough nice things about Jerry,” said Fallis. “We went through a lot together. I was fortunate as a young lawyer to have had the opportunity to get to know, learn from and practice with Jerry Leipply.”
Leipply’s daughter said while her father loved the law he always made time for his family.
“When my sister and I were little, my dad would attend our dance classes and take notes about our performances in case we could not remember the new sequences in our routines,” said Perdew. “He was such a good father.”
She said her father had many interests. He played for a men’s fast pitch softball team, coached women’s fast pitch softball and volunteered as a commissioner for the Akron Amateur Softball Association.
In November 2017 he was inducted into the Akron Softball Hall of Fame, receiving the Miktarian Award.
In addition to practicing law, Leipply was also an acting judge and served as Cuyahoga Falls councilman-at-large from 1986 to 1997.
Stow Municipal Court Judge Kim Hoover, Orval Hoover’s son, served on the council with Leipply.
“I first met Jerry as a child when he was my dad’s law partner,” said Judge Hoover. “He became like a family member.
“I managed his campaign for council and he was instrumental in getting me elected.
“He was a joy to be around,” said Judge Hoover. “His clients were well served. Jerry never left any stone unturned when handling a case. But he also had an adventurous side. He became a water skiing fanatic and would force me to go with him.
“He later got into motorcycles and then he became a safety instructor. Our relationship constantly changed over the years. While I was judge, Jerry ran unsuccessfully for judge. He later appeared in front of me and he was as respectful as anyone could be.
“I miss him terribly already,” said Judge Hoover.
Armstrong and Leipply became partners in 2003.
“I had worked as a Summit County juvenile court magistrate for a number of years,” said Armstrong.
“I was interested in joining a firm and coincidentally my dentist’s office was right next to Jerry’s office. My dentist mentioned Jerry did not have a partner so I called him up and he suggested we have lunch. The same day we became partners.
“We both had general practices but Jerry focused more on domestic relations and I handled a lot of juvenile court matters,” said Armstrong. “We became very close. We spent a lot of time talking about life, sports and other things.
“Jerry was an avid sports fan,” said Armstrong. “We went to Ohio State games together and he attended my daughter’s tennis matches. He also liked dealing casino table games for parties and attending coin auctions.
“I could not have picked anyone better to start my career in private practice.”
A longtime member of the Ohio State and Akron bar associations, Leipply served as chair of the Akron Bar Association’s former Probate Law Section and on the Akron Bar’s Commission on Judicial Candidates.
In 2013 Leipply received the Akron Bar Association’s Professionalism Award.
He was also an arbitrator for the Summit County Court of Common Pleas and former president of the Akron Executives Association.
“Jerry was a gentleman lawyer,” said Armstrong. “His passing has been tough.”
A celebration of life took place on Jan. 23 at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Leipply is survived by his daughters Etola Leipply and Tarla Perdew; son-in-law Mark Perdew; former wife and close friend Annemarie Leipply; her daughter Martina Bruno; and grandchildren Chandler and Kyler Leipply-Simbeck, Austin Perdew and Max and Antonia Bruno.