William Denton Ginn

William D. Ginn, 97, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, colleagues and friends on June 12, in the year of our Lord 2021. Born in Media, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, on December 17, 1923, to William James and Elizabeth Lantz Weddick Ginn, Bill was eldest of their four children and had one older half-brother.  He excelled in school and was an Eagle Scout.  In 1940 with encouragement from his Boy Scout leader he received a full scholarship to Bates College. Despite having his education interrupted by service to his country with the US Army in North Africa and Italy during World War II, William was consistently at the top of his class.  While stationed at Walter Reed General Hospital, he met Lt. Arlene Doris Domrese, a dietitian and recent graduate of the University of North Dakota.  They were married on April 28, 1945 in Washington DC and enjoyed 58 years together until Arlene’s death in 2003.

Ginn was a member of the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha honor debate society at Bates College where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1947.  He earned his law degree in 1950 from Yale Law School where he served as Editor of the Yale Law Journal.

After law school, Bill and Arlene moved their family to Warrensville Heights to Shaker Heights and eventually to a pastoral farm in Chesterland where they held beautiful dinner parties and grew apples, pears, and bountiful crops!  One of his colleagues said, “he had the hands of a farmer with a Yale mind.”

Bill joined the then small law firm of Thompson Hine where he had a 60-year career as a skilled corporate lawyer and passionate litigator, representing thousands of clients.  Bill successfully argued important cases before district, state, and the United States Supreme Court.  Bill was an audacious advocate for his many business clients, earning the nickname “King of the Sewers” for his leadership as the first at his firm to represent “dirt contractors,” launching the firm’s now celebrated construction practice.  He served on the board of Nordson Corporation from 1959 to 2010, recognized at that time as the longest serving member of a publicly held corporate board in the country; The Davey Tree Board of Directors from 1973 to 2001 and was instrumental in its conversion to an employee-owned company.

He was a passionate advocate for the environment and causes related to improving the plight of the poor, particularly children and the elderly. Ginn will be remembered for caring deeply about others and working tirelessly to create opportunities for needy communities.  During his lifetime he served on more than 100 nonprofit boards and committees in support of their missions, visions, and values. A tenacious leader for these organizations, Bill inspired each of them to make critical connections that lead to their growth and impact.  For instance, he served on the board of Eliza Bryant Village, Cleveland’s oldest black social-welfare institution, for 55 years as it transitioned from a small inner-city nursing home to a vibrant senior care community serving thousands.  Among his many achievements were his initiatives with the Geauga Park District to acquire, fund and create The West Woods, now a 902-acre park. For his work to pave the way, the entrance to the park is dedicated as the William Ginn Parkway.

His leadership in civic and charitable organizations is far too extensive to list and includes: Western Reserve Land Conservancy; Child Care Resource Center; MOCA; The Davey Foundation; The Federation for Community Planning; Great Lakes Science Center; Hopewell Inn; National Public Radio Foundation; The Nature Conservancy of Ohio; Gorlin Syndrome Alliance; and Vocational Guidance Services. Bill incorporated and helped to found the Foundation for Geauga Parks; BCC Nevus Syndrome Life Support Network; and DDC Clinic.

Love of the out-of-doors inspired Bill to become an avid gardener and gentleman farmer as well as a conservationist. Dahlia’s were his specialty.

He most recently attended St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio; previously attending the Community Church of Chesterland and Plymouth Church UCC of Shaker Heights. For the past 6 years, Bill has resided in a cottage on the South Franklin Circle campus, actively participating in the community, while tenderly nurtured by caring staff.

He is survived by four children; Anna Ginn of Portland, ME; Bill Ginn (June LaCombe) of Pownal, ME; Randy Ginn (Dianne) of Everett, WA; and David Ginn (Cheryl) of Houston, TX; 10 Grandchildren: Strand and Case Conover; Eliza and Will Ginn; Jason and JoJo Ginn; Andrew, Daniel, Emily, and Zachary Ginn; and 6 great grandchildren.  He also leaves behind business collaborator and trusted colleague Kristi Schmitt Burr; friend Jeff Burr;  many nieces, nephews, friends, and partners; and his remarkable caregivers Irena Saric and Biljana Abel. He was predeceased in death by his wife, Arlene Domrese Ginn in 2003 and his siblings Albert Ginn, Arthur Ginn, Mildred Pearson, and Anna Pearson.

The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 3:00 PM at the St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 6295 Chagrin River Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH. The family will receive friends following the Service.  There will then be a Celebration of Life Ceremony held on Sunday, June 27, 1:00 PM at The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road (Rt. 87) Novelty, OH. The family will receive friends following the Celebration.

Arrangements by Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Chardon, Ohio.

The family respectfully asks that friends consider donations to a cause near and dear to your heart or:

The Nature Conservancy of Ohio www.nature.org 6375 Riverside Drive, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017

Eliza Bryant Village www.elizabryant.org; 7201 Wade Park Ave, Cleveland, OH 44103

Homecare Education Advocacy and Resource and Team Support (HEARTS)  PO Box 474, Burton, Ohio  44021

Foundation for Geauga Parks www.foundationforgeaugaparks.org 12375 Kinsman Rd Ste H-10, Newbury, OH 44065

DDC Clinic www.ddcclinic.org 14567 Madison Rd., Middlefield, Ohio 44062

The family suggest donations of live plants, trees, shrubs, bulbs, or perennials to be planted in Bill’s memory throughout Geauga County.