Michael E. Moritz, law school benefactor, dies

COLUMBUS – Michael E. Moritz, for whom The Ohio State University College of Law was named last summer, died Tuesday afternoon of complications following a car accident Feb. 23 in Naples, Fla. He was 68.

The Columbus attorney was a partner in the Columbus law firm of Baker & Hostetler and a former director of Cardinal Health Inc. He was a dual Ohio State graduate, earning a B.S. in business administration in 1958 and a law degree in 1961, graduating at the top of his class. He also was a 1951 graduate of Columbus North High School.

Mr. Moritz made the single largest gift to the university last June, a $30 million contribution to the College of Law, according to Jerry May, vice president for development. Mr. Moritz also had supported the Fisher College of Business, the Wexner Center for the Arts, the Department of Athletics, and the WOSU Stations.

Ohio State President William E. Kirwan expressed his “profound sadness” at Mr. Moritz’s passing. “We have lost a truly exceptional friend, an exceedingly generous and caring person who made the gift of his time and talents to serve others and his extraordinary philanthropy an important priority in his life. He is a man who always stood for integrity, quality and excellence. I will always remember him for his great intellect, the principled manner by which he lived his life, and the warmth and humility that characterized his daily interactions with people. He truly was an inspiration to all who were privileged to be his friend. The legacy of his gift to Ohio State will touch the lives of people for as long as this university exists,” Kirwan said.

The law school’s dean, Nancy H. Rogers, said Mr. Moritz “lived the values that we seek to instill in our students.

“He cared deeply for his family. As a lawyer, he had high standards of excellence and unshakable integrity. He sought to mentor and support those who followed him in legal careers. He was an unassuming man who found joy in contributing to the lives of others. His example and his legacy will inspire future lawyers for decades to come.”

Mr. Moritz’s law school gift created a scholarship fund, which offers full tuition and a stipend for 30 Ohio State law students; finances leadership awards to three students each year; and established four endowed faculty chairs. The gift also established the Gregory H. Williams Dean’s Fund for Excellence, named for the college’s former dean.

Mr. Moritz had been a partner at Baker & Hostetler since 1980, when it merged with his firm, Moritz, McClure, Hughes & Kerscher. In addition to Cardinal Health, he was a director for Pharmacy Systems Inc., and the Pickett Hotel Co. He was a past president of the Capital City Young Republicans Club, trustee of the Kenyon Festival Theatre, and commissioner of the Ohio Elections Commission.

At Ohio State, he served as a director of The Ohio State University Foundation since 1990 and, since 1994, on the Campaign Committee of the Max M. Fisher College of Business, where he established the Moritz Family Scholarship Fund.

He was a member of St. Brigid of Kildare Parish in Dublin, and had served as chairman of its fund-raising campaign to build a parish educational center.

Mr. Moritz is survived by his wife, Lou Ann, four children: Cathy (Dave) Presper of Columbus; Jeff (Pam) Moritz of Lakewood, Ohio; Molly (Doug) Tyger of Mason, Ohio; and Ann (Philip) Airey of Winnetka, Ill; and eleven grandchildren.

Many members of his family are alumni, including two of his brothers: C. Roger (Suzan) of Dayton; and Timothy (Antoinette) of Las Vegas, Nev. A third brother, Jeffrey A. (Sandy), lives in Rohnert Park, Calif.

Funeral arrangements are pending.