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Longtime Portage County attorney passes away
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: November 25, 2014
A knowledgeable attorney, family man and all around nice guy—those are just a few of the labels that come to mind when friends and colleagues look back on the life of Stephen "Steve" Miles Wilson.
The 60-year-old Portage County resident passed away on Oct. 29.
“He was a nice man who was very proud to be a lawyer,” said Cuyahoga Falls criminal defense attorney George Keith. “I met him in 1980 when I was working for the juvenile court in Ravenna during law school. He was a lawyer at the time. We never had cases together, but I would see him from time to time.
“He was very professional and dedicated to his practice. He also made it a point to give back to the community.”
Born in Ravenna, Ohio on July 15, 1954 to Paul and Lorayne Wilson, the longtime general practitioner graduated from Ravenna High School. As a young man, Wilson obtained the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop No. 555 and was active in the Great Trail Council of the Boy Scouts.
He received his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and his juris doctor from Ohio State Law School in 1979.
“Steve was very competent and smart,” said Richard Lombardi, a friend and former partner at Loomis, Poland, Wilson and Griffith (formerly Loomis, Jones, Poland, Wilson and Griffith). Wilson’s father, Paul, was the named partner in the firms.
“Steve joined the firm (Loomis, Poland, Wilson and Griffith) right out of law school,” said Lombardi. “He and I are both graduates of Ohio State Law School. I worked with him for a few years at the firm. I helped mentor him along with the other attorneys. He handled a lot of trial and real estate work. When he did a job, he did it right.
“Steve and Harry Griffith won a large personal injury case that resulted in a jury trial verdict in excess of $6 million, which was the largest verdict in Portage County at the time. The defendant was a truck company. The plaintiff in the case was seriously injured and paralyzed in a truck accident.”
While working together Wilson and Lombardi became friends. “It was a small office so we would often eat lunch together. After the firm broke up, we still stayed in touch and spent time together.
“He loved his family. I knew his wife Rosemary. I would see her at Christmas parties. Steve was very proud of his children, all of whom have done very well for themselves. He was also close to his grandchildren.”
After leaving Loomis, Poland, Wilson and Griffith, he became a partner at Wilson and Wilson in 1986, where he practiced with his father. From 1996 to 2009, he was a partner at Wilson & Masi.
At the time of his death, he was practicing with his son, Jared, at Wilson & Wilson, the entity which the two formed in 2009. Located on Prospect St. in Ravenna, the firm handles matters ranging from probate, estate planning and wills and trusts to real estate, personal injury, domestic relations and crime and traffic.
A member of the Portage County Bar Association, Wilson is a past chairman of the Portage County Probate Committee and a member of the Ohio Land Title Association. He also belonged to the Ohio State and American bar associations.
“I’ve known Steve since I was a child,” said Portage County Municipal Court Judge Kevin Poland. “My father and his father were in practice together.”
Judge Poland said Wilson was one of his mentors. “The nice thing about Portage County, especially when I started practicing is that you could go to any attorney and they would give you advice. Steve was certainly one of those attorneys. He would never hesitate to provide guidance to another lawyer, especially young attorneys.”
Years later, Judge Poland said Wilson appeared in his court. “Most of the time he was filling in for his son Jared. Steve was always prepared and pleasant. He was ‘old school,’ being a lawyer was not a job to him-- it was a profession.
“He was very committed to his clients, family and church and quite generous with his time and talents. He was the kind of guy that if you ever were to call him, he would never say no.”
Wilson was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ravenna, where he worshipped since birth.
Lombardi said Wilson liked the “outdoors,” where he rode four wheelers and tended to his vegetable garden.
“I can remember Steve telling me a story about how he got a black eye after he crashed his four wheeler,” said Lombardi.
Another one of Wilson’s passions was history, especially Portage County history.
“I saw Steve a few weeks ago at the Chase bank,” said Lombardi, a solo practitioner in Ravenna. “I would often see him around town or at the courthouse and bar functions. He seemed very happy and in good spirits. We talked about our kids. I was very surprised, to say the least, to hear about his passing.”
A memorial service was held at First United Methodist Church of Ravenna on Nov. 1. He was laid to rest at Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna.
Wilson is survived by his wife of 34 years, Rosemary Wilson, his children Stephanie (Eric) McLean, Jared (Ericka) Wilson and Lindsey (Brad) Cromes and grandchildren Austin, Hunter, Sydney & Ava McLean, Logan & Jaley Wilson, Joseph Debolt and Elliot Cromes.
He also leaves behind his brothers Greg (Barbara) Wilson, Bruce (Lynne) Wilson and many nieces and nephews. His parents and his daughter, Lisa Marie Wilson, preceded him in death.