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Longtime Roderick Linton Belfance partner remembered
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 22, 2018
A dedicated lawyer, family man and community volunteer who never sought recognition for his efforts—that’s how Roderick Linton Belfance attorney Frederick Stroman Corns is being remembered.
Corns passed away peacefully on Dec. 23, 2017 at the age of 81.
“My father was a very humble man, who was always generous with his time, resources, knowledge and friendship,” said his daughter Jeanne Clayton. “He did so much for others, yet he never talked about it.
“He taught us to be the same way,” said Clayton. “He used to say there’s no need to talk about the good things you do, just live your life as if it will appear in tomorrow’s paper and never do anything you would not want others to read about.”
Roderick Linton Belfance partner Lawrence Bach described Corns as “one of the nicest people you’d ever meet.
“Everyone liked Fred,” said Bach. “He was a consummate professional and a very good mentor and friend. He was passionate about the law, the Cleveland Indians and enjoyed eating at dive restaurants.”
Born in Akron on July 16, 1936 to Doris Stroman Corns and Richard William Corns, he was the younger of their two sons.
Corns and his brother Evan grew up in Akron, where Corns was an Eagle Scout in Troop 11 under Robert Fergusson.
At Buchtel High School, he was captain of the swim team and became the state champion in his junior and senior years.
After graduating from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1958, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was a captain and served in Texas and at Wheelus Air Base in the Kingdom of Libya.
When he returned to Akron, he took a job at Dime Bank as a commercial loan officer. At the same time, he attended law school at night at The University of Akron.
In the late 1960s, Corns accepted an offer at the firm now known as Roderick Linton Belfance. He spent his entire legal career at the firm, representing National City Bank (now PNC) and individual clients in matters ranging from estate planning to bankruptcy.
Roderick Linton Belfance partner Kurt Weitendorf first met Corns in 1978 when he started as a law clerk.
“He was a mentor to me and everyone else who came through the firm,” said Weitendorf. “Fred was known as a ‘lawyer’s lawyer.’ He was the kind of attorney you would want to represent you if you needed something in his line of work.
“He was very humble and had a wonderful sense of humor,” said Weitendorf. “He was genuinely liked by everyone. You could not find anyone who would say a negative word about Fred.”
While he was no longer practicing at the time of his death, Weitendorf said Corns never truly retired.
“He gave up his license several years ago, but he would still come into the office until his health prevented him from doing so.
“Fred was a true gentleman,” said Weitendorf. “The world should have more people like Fred in it.”
Larry Poulos, former chief magistrate of the Summit County Probate Court, said Corns appeared before him a number of times over the years.
“Fred did a lot of probate work,” said Poulos, of counsel at Rischitelli & Poulos and Barry M. Ward Co. “He was always prepared and took a realistic approach to his cases.
“Around 1976 a group of attorneys started a fantasy football league and Fred was the commissioner of it.
“Fred was also an avid Indians fan and he and a group of lawyers would go to spring training every year,” said Poulos. “In all the years I knew him, I never saw him in a bad mood. Fred always saw the bright side of everything.”
His daughter said her father became a lifelong Cleveland Indians fan after listening to the 1948 World Series at Portage Path Elementary.
Corns was a founding member of the Sons of Geronimo, a Cleveland-based band of Indians loyalists and Tribe fanatics.
Roderick Linton Belfance partner Tim Truby said in the early 1980s, he, Corns and attorney John Riemenschneider started going to spring training on a regular basis.
“Our group grew over the years to up to 20 loyal Tribe fans,” said Truby. “Despite results we continued to have some of our group attend every spring training.
“Fred was an Indians fan through good times and bad.”
Truby said Corns life could be summed up in 40 words, also known as the Scout Oath: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”
Truby said Corns gave his time and money to a lot of organizations, but he never wanted any praise or recognition for it.
“He sat on the board of trustees of the East Akron Cemetery for years and he represented the Akron Better Business Bureau pro bono.”
When Corns received the Professionalism Award in 2001, Truby spoke at the ceremony.
“I will always have fond memories of Fred and what he meant to me,” said Truby.
John Riemenschneider, of counsel at Roderick Linton Belfance, said Corns was the “type of guy that would help you with whatever you needed whether it was legal or personal.
“Fred did a lot of collection work and he was one of the top trial attorneys in town,” said Riemenschneider. “You could always trust Fred’s word—he said what he meant and did what he said.
“He was a wonderful person and a good friend,” he said.
Riemenschneider said Corns organized baseball trips to see the Toledo Mud Hens.
“The trips lasted for about eight years and we had all age groups participate,” he said. “After the game we would go to Tony Packo’s in Toledo and have dinner.
“Fred went to spring training with us and was eager to be part of it.
“He believed that the Indians would again be world champions,” said Riemenschneider. “It’s too bad he did not get to see that happen.”
Corns was laid to rest at Rose Hill Burial Park on Dec. 29.
“Family was the most important thing to my dad,” said Clayton. “He was a great husband, dad and grandfather.
“I have never known a more honorable man.”
Corns is survived by his brother Evan; daughters Jeanne Clayton of Akron, Patricia Schemenauer of Luckey, Ohio and Maria Hogan of Tallmadge; his son Richard Corns of Purcellville, VA; grandchildren Laura, Sarah, Richard, Jack, Crosby, Johnathan, Ann Marie and Alexandra and great-grandchildren Claire, Catherine, Andrew, Maddie and Mitchell.
His wife Margaret preceded him in death.