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Judge Thomas Teodosio receives St. Thomas More award
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 7, 2021
While in high school Judge Thomas A. Teodosio spent a lot of time in his father’s law office, helping with filings and often accompanying him to the courthouse, where he watched trials and talked to lawyers, judges and court personnel.
“Both my father (Alexander) and my Uncle (Ernest) were lawyers so I was exposed to the law early on and decided that was a profession I would like to pursue,” said Judge Teodosio, who sits on Ohio’s 9th District Court of Appeals. “In retrospect, I had tremendous mentors who instilled in me a respect for the law and the importance of integrity, honesty and professionalism.”
Fast-forward to today and Judge Teodosio has blazed his own legal trail through the Summit County community. He’s served as a trial lawyer, a county council member, a common pleas and appellate court judge and participated in numerous efforts aimed at improving the profession and the community.
Yet when he received a call from his parish priest, Holy Family Pastor Paul Rosing to inform him that he had been chosen as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious St. Thomas More award, it caught him completely off guard—so much so that he almost missed the chance to learn the news firsthand.
“I was in a Zoom meeting and I figured Father Rosing was calling concerning a church matter, so I gave the phone to my wife, Linda, to see if she could help him.”
A former St. Thomas More award recipient, Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio knew exactly what Father Rosing wanted.
“I was aware that Tom’s name had been submitted for consideration,” she said. “Father Rosing is the selection committee liaison to the Bishop of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, who selects the recipient, so when I spoke to him I said, ‘I’m not going to be able to help you am I?’ He said ‘no’ and I told him I would have Tom call him back so he could give him the news.”
“When I returned his call I couldn’t believe it,” said Judge Teodosio, who is receiving the award today, May 7, at the Red Mass at St. Bernard Catholic Church. “I was so humbled and honored. The Red Mass is such a beautiful service and a special part of Law Week. I have always had great admiration and respect for the Thomas More recipients. It never occurred to me that I’d be considered.”
Presented annually to a member of the legal community who has demonstrated outstanding personal integrity, community service and professional excellence at the Red Mass by the Cleveland Catholic Diocese as part of the Akron Bar Association’s Law Week celebration, the award pays tribute to St. Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers.
“Giving back to the community is something that both my parents stressed so it was always a part of my life,” said Judge Teodosio. “As an attorney, judge and community member I have always tried to make a positive impact. It is very nice to receive this type of recognition.”
“I am very proud of Tom,” said Judge Tucci Teodosio. “He is one of the hardest working, kindest people I’ve ever met. If you look at all the things he’s done throughout his career and in the community, it’s not a surprise that he was chosen. He is most deserving of the award.”
Their son, Christopher Teodosio said he was “thrilled” when he learned his father was selected.
“I was extremely happy to see my mother get the award in 2014 and it brings me a lot of joy to see that my dad was also chosen,” said Teodosio, a partner at Brouse McDowell, who focuses on estate planning.
“I feel extremely blessed to have two wonderful parents who have been great examples to me as to how I should conduct myself professionally and personally,” said Teodosio.
Born in Akron, Judge Teodosio received his undergraduate and law degrees from The University of Akron.
Judge Teodosio met his wife Linda during their first year at Akron Law.
They were married on July 23, 1983 and had two children. Their daughter Andrea was killed in 2011 in a skiing accident in West Virginia.
The family established the Andrea Rose Teodosio Foundation, which pays tribute to her memory by funding organizations that support causes and groups that she cared deeply about.
Judge Teodosio spent the first 25 years of his career in private practice at the law firm Teodosio, Cherpas & Manos, working his way up from clerk to associate and eventually partner.
Prior to running for judge, he served on the Summit County Council where he chaired the Predatory Lending Task Force and sponsored legislation that led to the creation of the county’s Office of Consumer Affairs.
“I think Judge Teodosio is one of the most generous people I’ve ever known,” said Summit County Council Member At-Large and former 9th District Court of Appeals Judge Clair Dickinson. “He has done a great deal for the legal profession and the community.
“We did not serve on the court of appeals at the same time, but I know he is the kind of judge you would want to have on your case,” said Dickinson, of counsel at Brouse McDowell. “He is intelligent, diligent, patient and he works hard to find the right answer on the issues.
“He’s an excellent choice for the St. Thomas More award,” said Dickinson. “He personifies the attributes that the Diocese seeks to recognize with the award. He is honest and trustworthy, whether practicing law, serving on the council or on the bench. We are very lucky to have him on the bench and as a member of our community.”
Judge Teodosio was elected to the Summit County Common Pleas Court in 2006 and remained on the bench until February 2017 when he began his current term as a judge on the 9th District Court of Appeals.
While on the common pleas court, he presided over the felony drug court, which he renamed the Turning Point program. “I am very proud of the role our Turning Point team played in saving lives at a time when the opioid crisis was exploding,” said Judge Teodosio.
Matthew Rich served as Judge Teodosio’s judicial attorney while he was on the common pleas bench and is now one of his clerks at the 9th District Court of Appeals.
“I was a relatively new attorney when I started working for Judge Teodosio,” said Rich. “Judge Teodosio has a broad spectrum of knowledge, which he was always willing to share with anyone who had a question, including newer attorneys like myself.
“I learned a lot from Judge Teodosio, who I consider to be a mentor,” Rich said. “What stood out to me the most was how much he cared about the issues and the people who appeared before him,” said Rich. “He was fair and treated everyone with respect and dignity, whether the individual was a victim, defendant or attorney.
“He conducts himself in the same manner on the court of appeals,” said Rich. “For as long as he’s been on the bench he has been fully engaged with the issues and the community, which I find truly impressive.”
“Judge Teodosio is a people person,” said C. Michael Walsh, court administrator at the 9th District Court of Appeals. “His concern for people and love for helping them is infectious.
“He’s been a fair, hard-working judge, who strives to do the right thing,” said Walsh. “He is a terrific boss, thoughtful and generous to a fault. We are lucky to have him on our bench.
“I am not surprised that he was chosen for the award. He is in many ways the definition of someone who should be recognized with the award.”
In 2019, Judge Teodosio was asked by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor to serve as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court.
“I was very honored. It was the most gratifying day I have had as a judge,” he said.
Judge Teodosio is a member of a number of professional associations, including the Ohio State, Akron, Medina County, Wayne County and Lorain County bar associations and the American Judges Association.
A member of the Akron Bar’s Access to Justice Committee, Judge Teodosio serves as chairman of the Ohio Supreme Court Capital Case Attorney Fee Council. He’s also on the Ohio Supreme Court Case Management Advisory Committee and the Ohio Judicial Conference Judicial Ethics, Professionalism & Diversity Committee.
In addition, Judge Teodosio sits on the board of the Akron Zoo and on the advisory board of Catholic Charities. He’s a past board member of the Akron Civic Theatre, Community Support Services and Rebuilding Together.
Over the years, he’s received numerous accolades, including the Akron Bar’s Liberty Bell Award; the Akron Law School Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Award; the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award and the Bishop Cosgrove Justice Award from the Catholic Commission of Summit County.
“I’ve been very blessed,” said Judge Teodosio. “I’ve had a wonderful career and have an amazing family. Other than the loss of our daughter Andrea, I would not change a thing.”