Page 24 - May June24 Report

MEMORIALS
Memorials honor the lives of deceased members of the local Bar. For more information, contact Lisa Quintanilla at (513) 699-1391 or lquintanilla@cincybar.org.
Timothy P. Heather
1955 – 2023
Timothy P. Heather passed away on Saturday October 7th, 2023, at the age of 68 following a brief hospitaliza- tion. He obtained his B.F.A. degree from the University of Cincinnati, where he majored in broadcasting. Tim also obtained his law degree from the Univer-
sity of Cincinnati. While in law school, Tim was a member of the National Moot Court team and was the recipient of the Best Orator Award and Best Brief Award in the Ohio Tri-School Moot Court Competition.
As senior counsel at Benjamin, Heather, Iaciofano & Bitter, LLC, Tim left behind many devoted colleagues and friends. He concentrated his legal practice in bodily injury defense litigation. He regularly represented insurers who had been sued in unin- sured/underinsured motorist claims, bad faith claims, and other actions. Tim also served as counsel of record in four reported Ohio Supreme Court decisions and a plethora of reported and unreported state and federal appellate decisions.
Tim had been a long-time member of the Cincinnati and Ohio State Bar Associations, the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attor- neys, the Defense Research Institute, and the Cincinnati Claims Association. He was a frequent author and speaker on negli- gence and insurance law topics and served on the Common Pleas Court and Negligence Law Committees of the Cincinnati Bar Association.
As a lover of history, particularly American History, Tim was inspired by Abraham Lincoln. He was a man of integrity, kindness, politeness, and will be remembered for his attention to detail, unwavering optimism and fortitude. Tim’s excellence as a lawyer earned him the achievement of holding the Martin- dale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent” rating and the Thomson Reuters “Ohio Super Lawyer” rating.
Tim was a positive mentor for many and a man of deep faith. He was involved in his community at Monfort Heights United Methodist Church and generously gave of his time. He also enjoyed supporting Cincinnati sports teams like the Bengals, Reds, and his beloved UC Bearcats.
Above all, however, Tim loved spending time with his family. He prioritized his family and took greatest pleasure in the times when they could all be together. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and proud Papa. Tim will be missed tremendously by all who were blessed enough to have known him.
Tim is survived by his wife, Paula, his son, Philip (Jessica) Heather, his daughters, Stephanie (Kevin) Lincoln and Diana (Talmadge) Zipperer, his 7 grandchildren, his mother, Gloria Heather, his brother, Christopher Heather, and his sister, Lynne (Tom) Toensmeyer.
— Paula Heather and Lisa Bitter
Stephen L. Richey
1946 – 2023
Before he was an attorney, Stephen Richey was, for more than 20 years, a teacher. The qualities that made him a wonderful educator of children served to then make him an extraordinary lawyer and a much admired leader. His colleagues describe Steve as someone who remained calm in difficult circum-
stances, and a person who possessed the qualities of civility and kindness in every situation.
His path to the profession of law began at Salmon P. Chase College of Law from which he graduated summa cum laude in 1993. Steve often expressed his gratitude for the time he spent clerking for Judge Arthur Spiegel following his graduation. At Thompson Hine LLP, he became the leader of the labor and employment section of that firm. He was regarded as a mentor by many of the attorneys with whom he worked over the year.
His service to the legal community included serving as the president of the Cincinnati Bar Association and also serving on its Board of Trustees. Over the years, he devoted considerable time to other non-profit organizations. It is not surprising that a picture of his family always had a prominent place on his desk. He lived a life which was devoted to family, to his professions, and to the community in which he lived. It is also not surprising that Steve attended the music festival at Woodstock and that pottery was a consuming interest to him.
— Thomas L. Cuni
Robert P. Gettys
1945 – 2023
Robert P. Gettys, 78, passed away October 19, 2023 after a lengthy illness. He was a graduate of Boone County High School, Western Kentucky University, and Salmon P. Chase College of Law.
He was a naturally talented trial lawyer in both criminal and civil prac- tice. His proudest accomplishment was singularly defending the only corporate defendant remaining at trial call to a successful defense verdict against the battery of lawyers representing plain-
tiffs in the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire case.
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THE REPORT | May/June 2024 | CincyBar.org
He will be remembered.
— Submitted by Ken Peller