In Memoriam

Honoring our legacy:
Remembering those who paved the way

DONALD A. POWELL

Don graduated from Stow High School in 1958. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Bowling Green State University in 1962 and his Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1965.

Immediately after graduating from law school, Don began his legal career at Buckingham Doolittle and Burroughs, where he eventually held several management positions. While working there, he also served as the mayor of the city of Stow in 1975 and 1976. Don left Buckingham with eight fellow partners in 1999 to form Hanna Campbell & Powell, LLP, where he practiced until his untimely death from lung cancer in 2009.

Don began his career defending individuals and businesses in civil litigation. Over the years, his practice expanded to include the representation of plaintiffs, defendants, insurers, insureds, manufacturers, distributors, and other commercial and institutional clients in a wide range of matters. He represented both employers and employees in wrongful termination and EEOC cases. In the final decades of his practice, Don served as national counsel for several corporations for cases involving alleged exposures to asbestos and chemicals. His courtroom skill was legendary in the minds of many of his fellow trial lawyers throughout Summit County.

Don was mentor and, in many ways, almost a father figure to many of us. Though he was widely acknowledged to be one of the finest trial lawyers in all of northeast Ohio, he was even more widely known as a compassionate and kind man who was always quick with a smile and who always had time for his friends, co-workers, and family. Integrity in the legal profession was his goal, and he led by example.

Don lost his battle with lung cancer on December 1, 2009. He will always be lovingly remembered by all of us who knew him and worked with him in the legal profession.

JEFFREY E. SCHOBERT

If you are very fortunate, a special, one-of-a-kind person may enter your life and change it forever. Jeff Schobert was that kind of person. He dedicated his entire life to tirelessly serving others and his kindness and generosity knew no bounds. His unselfish spirit, keen mind, and love of life were readily apparent to all who knew him.

Jeff graduated from Firestone High School in 1974 and attended The University of Akron before transferring and finishing his undergraduate degree at The Ohio State University in 1982. He then proceeded to obtain his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron, where he graduated with honors in 1986.

Jeff’s strong work ethic led him to become one of Ohio’s most preeminent lawyers. Since 1987, Jeff represented physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers throughout the state of Ohio, and argued a number of cases before the Ohio Supreme Court dealing with medical malpractice.

In recognition of his success in the courtroom, Jeff Schobert was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates as an associate member in January 2003. He was also named one of Ohio’s Super Lawyers from 2005 to 2011 and had been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America since 2006.

Jeff also dedicated his time and resources to helping local groups and organizations. He served as a former board member of the Akron Rotary Club, a camp for children with special needs, and continued to dedicate scholarships to children who could not afford to attend the camp. Jeff also shared his legal experience and knowledge with students at Archbishop Hoban High School by serving as a coach of one of its Mock Trial Team, and was a former mentor for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Jeff was married for 28 years to his wife—and our co-worker—Peg. Both Jeff and Peg passed from this life to the next on April 2, 2013.

MARGARET “PEG” SCHOBERT

Margaret (“Peg”) Schobert was born and spent her life in Akron. She graduated from Garfield High School in 1971, and attended the University of Akron. Peg’s toughness and her willingness to “challenge the system” is evidenced by the fact that she was the first female who was permitted to take auto mechanics at Garfield High School.

Peg once owned her own business, Technical Resource Services, where she met many of her early connections to the legal community. After HCP opened its doors in 1999, she worked tirelessly in handling many of the administrative tasks that are vital to the smooth operation of any law firm.

Peg and her husband Jeff volunteered their time working with special needs children at the Akron Rotary Camp. She spent many hours at Archbishop Hoban High School working with young men and women who participated in the Mock Trial Program, as well as co-chairing the school’s Annual Extravaganza. Peg was involved with the Junior League and many other local charities. She sponsored children in Africa and dedicated her life to serving others.

Peg is sorely missed by all of her friends and coworkers.

ROSEMARY “ROSIE” COSTIGAN

Rosie was born in Akron and was a 1978 graduate of Our Lady of the Elms High School. After high school she completed her paralegal studies at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania; continuing to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master’s degree in History from Cleveland State University. Rosie’s 32-year career in the legal field began at the Central Intelligence Agency. From there, she worked at various law firms and organizations throughout Northeast Ohio including Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue; the Climaco Law Firm, Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs; the Medina County Courts; the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cleveland; and Hanna, Campbell and Powell, LLP.

Throughout her life Rosie gave happily and generously of her time and talent by volunteering at Red Cross bloodmobiles, teaching adults how to read through Project LEARN, delivering books to the homebound for Cuyahoga Falls Library, and volunteering at Summit County Metro Parks.

She was an active member and past president of NALS of Northeast Ohio, which is a non-profit association of legal secretaries, legal assistants, and paralegals who live and work in the Cleveland/Akron area. Rosie loved to read, garden, hike, nap, travel, bake, and eat. She was a person of integrity who quietly did what was right; she had a heart of gold.