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THE REPORT | July/August 2023 | CincyBar.org
MEMORIALS
Memorials honor the lives of deceased members of the local Bar. For more information, contact Leyla Shokoohe at (513) 699-1391 or lshokoohe@cincybar.org. R
John S. Stith 2-202
100%
1939 – 2022
CLUB
John S. (“Jack”) Stith lost his courageous Jack also served the greater Cincinnati community in other ways. battle with cancer on November 9, 2022 at the Jack was very involved in the Knox Presbyterian Church where he served age of 83. Jack’s life was filled with three things as an elder. He was Chair of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and was – a vibrant legal practice, a strong history of active in the Cincinnati Museum Center, Leadership Cincinnati, Dan leadership and community service, and devo-
Beard Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Stepping Stones Center, tion to his family and friends.
Cincinnati Arts Festival, Cancer Family Care and Hyde Park Center for Jack began his legal career at Frost &
Older Adults.
Jacobs following his graduation from Princeton University in 1961 and
As impressive as all of this is, it pales in comparison to Jack’s love from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1964 where he grad-
for and devotion to his family and friends. Jack and his wife Bette were uated at the top of his class. Jack had a remarkable legal career as one of
married in 1961. Together they raised their three children, Stephen, the most respected in his field of corporate and business law. He carried
Laura and Sarah. When their children married and had children of their this with him as he moved from F&J to Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur,
own, Jack and Bette became very involved in their grandchildren’s lives. where he stayed for the balance of his legal career.
Often the family would get together at their place on Norris Lake, a place But Jack’s love of the law and the legal community didn’t confine
that was very special to Jack.
itself to his practice. Jack served the Cincinnati legal community in many
Throughout his life, Jack set an example of the kind of person and roles, most notably as President of the Cincinnati Bar Association. Jack
lawyer we should all strive to be. While never one to shy away from had also been active in the Ohio State Bar Association, serving on its
expressing his belief or opinion on the topic being discussed, Jack always Board of Governors from 2002 – 2005. Then Jack did something that no
did so with respect and after listening to what others had to say. Jack one from the Cincinnati area had been able to do for forty years – he was
mentored untold numbers of lawyers, always cheerfully giving of his elected President-Elect of the Ohio State Bar Association in 2005. Jack
time and good counsel. Each time Jack was passing the baton to his assumed the role of President of the OSBA in 2006 where he left his mark
successor, he took the time to provide his own sort of orientation, as as a leader of the state-wide legal community and as the one who opened
well as continuing counsel. For Jack, this was just part of the way he the door for other Cincinnati lawyers to follow his footsteps into lead-
lived his life.
ership of the OSBA
We all miss Jack’s leadership, the twinkle in his eye, his hearty laugh Jack went on to become a member of the Board of Directors of the
and good humor. But we will always keep close those life lessons he Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company where he served as Chair of the
taught us, not by preaching, but just by being Jack. The world is certainly Board from 2008 until 2020. During that time he oversaw the implemen-
a better place for Jack having lived among us.
tation of sound corporate governance policies, and led the Company in a
— Barbara J. Howard period of unparalleled growth. Jack also served on the Board of the Ohio
State Bar Foundation.
Gene I. Mesh 1931 – 2022
Gene Mesh lived a confident life that reflected his character and beliefs. After graduating from the Business College at the University of Michigan, Gene delayed his own ambitions to go to law school in order to help preserve his family’s business in Cincin- nati. At age 34, he entered Chase Law School and graduated in 1964. A short time after he began the practice of law in a small firm, he left that firm and estab- lished his own practice. He did not look back. Gene frequently talked about his belief that he should protect and defend the little guy against large institutions and businesses. It was undoubtedly an important moti- vating factor in his extraordinary legal career. In the course of his years in practice, Gene successfully pursued complex cases on behalf of share-
holders and individuals who had been injured by the acts or omissions of large companies. Complex litigation is almost always done by large firms which have substantial resources and personnel. Gene undertook such cases as a sole practitioner. He enjoyed success and an excellent reputa- tion for obtaining good results for his clients. More important than his success in his profession, Gene was a devoted husband to Elise Mesh and father to Charles Mesh, Sydney Harris, and Larry Mesh. When he passed away at the age of 91, Gene left behind a full and meaningful life.
— Thomas L. Cuni