inspiring men

There are people in this world whose passions and acts inspire

all of us to give more; to do more; to step up. Greater Cincinnati

is blessed with a great many such individuals. For the first time,

Inspire presents eight great men whose lives make all of us want

to do more. From ensuring basic human rights to bringing about

an urban Renaissance, these men are making things happen. »

inspiring men

inspiring men

by stephanie a. creech portrait photos by peter mueller | group photo by deogracias lerma

inspire cincinnati28 january/february 2007 29

I am happy To play whaTeveR Role I Can. The GReaTesT pleasuRe Is To be Involved and GIve baCk.

harry fath

Looking at the view from his downtown office, harry fath, owner of fath Properties, exclaims, “Look at this view. it’s a great town. my passion is to make this city better.” this passion fuels his commitment to the community. despite his commitment and service to many boards, what he enjoys most is taking on their special projects. having just completed a four-year term as president of the cincinnati opera board and co-chair of the opera’s capital campaign, he’s proud to say, “through the tremendous dedication of its donors, board members and employees, the opera has been able to move from a budget of $2.6 million to $6 million and is now an internationally recognized opera.” having also served on the board of the taft museum of art during its renovation, harry is equally proud of what the taft has become. his newest project is the cincinnati art museum. he wants to ensure that the magnificent collections our museum houses are equaled in budget, endowment, education and exhibition space.

although he has a great appreciation for art, harry prefers not to be referred to as an arts patron, saying the motivation for his support is “to make cincinnati a better place.” recognizing the economic impact the arts have on our city, harry stresses that “we can’t attract high quality people to relocate here if we don’t have high quality entertainment. i’ve talked to dozens of people who have taken high-end positions in cincinnati who said cincinnati’s tradition of great arts was an important issue in their decision to live here.”

harry also places great value on social services and education. he says he was “shocked a number of years ago to learn that cincinnati had never had a $1 million donor to United way.” so he decided to be the first in hopes of inspiring others. it worked—there are now 13 others who have donated $1 million, making our United way one of the most successful in the country.

recognizing the educational needs of our community and how limited the options are for some children, harry is determined to help, focusing on two aspects. first, he

says, “there are academic kids who should not be denied the opportunity for the best schools.” to ensure these children have the option to attend one of these better schools, donating scholarship funds remains one of his top priorities. “next and equally important,” he continues, “are our most disadvantaged, at-risk kids.” to that end, harry is very involved and generous with catholic intercity schools education.

“cise has eight grade schools that give love and discipline to over 1,400 kids. what’s more amazing,” says harry,

“is there is scholarship money for all these kids to go to private high schools if they so choose.” when recognized for these contributions, harry says, “…the real heroes are the teachers of cise who dedicate their lives to these kids for significantly less pay than public school teachers.”

one of harry’s more recent projects is the first tee national school Program. founded by tiger woods, nsP’s goal is to establish a lifelong interest in golf by engaging children in a structured golf curriculum taught during physical education classes. nsP has a positive impact on the lives of “disadvantaged kids whom we want to provide discipline, love and hope,” says harry.

averse to praise, harry says simply that he’s “happy to play whatever role i can. the greatest pleasure is to be involved and give back.”

President of the Cincinnati Opera Board of Trustees and co-chair of Festival Capital Campaign

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees

Cincinnati Art Museum Board of Trustees

Taft Museum of Art board member

Catholic Inner-City Schools Education board member and chairman of Fundraising Committee and Executive Committee

American Rivers, Corps of Discovery Advisory Board member

Notre Dame Law School Advisory Council member

Boys Hope/Girls Hope Advisory Board member

First Tee National School Program

On-going fundraising for schools, politics and other community projects

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inspiring men

activities & affiliations

30 january/february 2007 inspire cincinnati 31

whaTeveR The ouTCome, we’ve done a publIC seRvICe. we have shown ConClusIvely, InnoCenCe oR GuIlT, one way oR The oTheR.

mark godsey

University of cincinnati Law Professor mark godsey has a long and distinguished career in the legal profession. his first three years out of law school included clerking for a United states circuit court judge in Utah and working for one of the world’s largest corporate law firms in chicago and new york city while performing pro bono work for indigent criminal defendants in federal court.

mark then worked for five years as a federal prosecutor in the United states attorney’s office in new york city where he tried felony cases including, among other things, organized crime, white-collar fraud, narcotics and corrupt political officials. with regard to organized crime, mark was involved in the investigation and prosecution of John gotti, Jr. and the gambino crime family.

a native of fairfield, ohio, mark knew he wanted to return to the greater cincinnati area and that he wanted to teach. while an assistant professor at northern kentucky University’s chase college of Law, mark was asked to work on the kentucky innocence Project. as a former prosecutor, mark was somewhat reluctant, but he accepted. what he soon learned was that this is something about which he is passionate.

ohio had no innocence Project until 2003 when mark and cincinnati city council member John cranley co-founded the Project. today, as a Uc law professor, mark serves as faculty director and lead counsel for the Lois and richard rosenthal institute for Justice and the ohio innocence Project. as such, he represents convicted ohio inmates for whom new evidence, such as dna, proves their innocence. the ohio innocence Project provides inmates, who are so often ignored, a voice, a chance to be heard. mark says he’s found that, “it’s not actually that different from prosecuting a case. Like a prosecutor, who only goes forward once there’s enough evidence to believe an individual is guilty, we start from scratch and slowly investigate, building a case.” Unlike a prosecutor, however, mark says, “we have the luxury of moving forward only when the evidence is conclusive.”

the information the innocence Project receives to suggest

a convict may be innocent generally comes word-of-mouth. inmates or family members often write to the Project seeking help. But according to mark, “it’s the students who do the work to determine whether there is cause to request dna. they roll up their sleeves, interview witnesses and visit the prisons.” what the ohio innocence Project does is simply pursue the legal course of action to obtain dna evidence, which perhaps was unavailable or insufficient at the time the case was originally tried.

“we often get back dna evidence proving that the convict is actually guilty,” says mark. “in these cases, we simply don’t go forward. whatever the outcome, we’ve done a public service. we have shown conclusively, innocence or guilt, one way or the other.”

two of the Project’s more high profile cases include the exoneration by dna of clarence elkins, who was released from a life sentence for murder and double rape; and, chris Bennett, who was released from imprisonment for aggravated vehicular homicide. Universal studios is currently making a movie based on the elkins case. for mark, the most rewarding part of the Project is “releasing an innocent man.” But the other thing he enjoys is “seeing the students and the inspiration they receive after seeing what a difference they can make. that’s what keeps me rejuvenated.”

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32 january/february 2007

inspire cincinnati 33

Goldman Prize for Teaching Excellence, University of Cincinnati College of Law

Parker/McFarland Award for Excellence, University of Cincinnati College of Law

Lukowsky Award for Teaching Excellence, Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law

Director’s Award for superior performance by a federal prosecutor, presented by Attorney General Janet Reno

Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

Law Alumni Recognition Award, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law



when i saw this evil, i always tried to deal not just with its manifestations but to go to the core.

hon. nathaniel jones

Thurgood Marshall, uniTed sTaTes PresidenTs Johnson and Carter, attorney general robert Kennedy, nelson Mandela—the list of those with whom the honorable nathaniel r. Jones has worked and the social change he has helped to affect are astounding. having devoted his life to justice and equality, Judge Jones says, “The resolve that i developed had a genesis that goes back even before i was a teenager.”

having grown up in 1930s Youngstown, ohio, Judge Jones says, “Certainly, i knew about segregation. Youngstown schools were integrated, but you still knew your place.” My mother used to take me with her to the segregated YMCa, which held forums of nationally known figures who spoke on civil rights matters. i would go and sit in the front row.” Judge Jones’s mother also introduced him to lawyer J. Maynard dickerson, publisher of the activist Buckeye Review. “it was Mr. dickerson,” says Judge Jones, “who took me under his wing.”

after his return from WWii and his experience in a totally segregated united states army air Corp, Judge Jones began his undergraduate studies at Youngstown state university. during these years, Judge Jones says, dickerson “served as a role model and a teacher, giving me self-confidence and self-expression. Mr. dickerson made clear to me the areas where i was deficient and offered help to me.” it was also dickerson who introduced Judge Jones to naaCP activists Theodore M. Berry, Miley Williamson, James h. Mcghee and a. leon higginbotham, and the naaCP’s chief lawyer Thurgood Marshall, who would later become a supreme Court Justice.

after practicing law privately for only four years, Judge Jones became executive director of the Fair employment Practices Commission. in 1960, he was appointed by attorney general robert Kennedy as united states attorney for the northern district of ohio in Cleveland. in 1967, Judge Jones was appointed to the position of general counsel to President Johnson’s national advisory Commission on Civil disorders (the Kerner Commission), which studied the causes of the urban riots of the 60s, including Watts, detroit, atlanta and Cincinnati.

in 1969, Judge Jones was asked by naaCP executive director roy Wilkins to assume the position of general counsel for the naaCP, which Justice Marshall once held. in 1979, President Jimmy Carter nominated Judge Jones to the united states Court of appeals for the 6th Circuit.

Judge Jones played a significant role in abolishing apartheid in south africa. he served as an observer of both trials and elections and consulted personally with nelson Mandela on the drafting of the south african Constitution. While observing a trial in south africa, Judge Jones also experienced arrest in south africa for violation of apartheid laws. he was traveling with Molly Blackburn, a leading white apartheid activist, and several others to attend the funeral of slain civil rights attorney Victoria Mxenge. en route, they stopped to visit a family without realizing the township had just that morning been declared off-limits. Without appropriate government documentation specifically granting them access to the township, the entire group was arrested and detained. When asked whether he found this whole ordeal terribly frightening, Judge Jones smiles and says, “at the moment, no.” one year after this experience, Judge Jones again returned to south africa to lecture at a symposium held for south african judges.

Judge Jones retired as senior Judge of the united states Circuit Court in 2002. on February 20, 2003, the u.s. Congress passed h.J.res.2, officially naming the nathaniel r. Jones Federal Building and united states Courthouse in Youngstown. Today, Judge Jones is of Counsel and Chief diversity and inclusion officer of Blank rome llP; an adjunct professor at the university of Cincinnati College of law; an instructor in the trial advocacy program at harvard law school; has taught at numerous law schools; and, holds 16 honorary degrees.

inspiring men

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, honorary co-chair and director

Knowledge Works Foundation Board of Trustees

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative director

University of Cincinnati College of Law adjunct professor

American Bar Association, Special Advisor to the Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice

National Bar Association

American Arbitration Association

Ohio State Bar Association

Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Great Living Cincinnatian


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i live and work in the city. it’s a part of me. and i’m driven to give back and help life in cincinnati continually improve.

bill kelleher

WhaTeVer Bill Kelleher does, resT assured he does it with heart. a vice president with PnC advisors, Bill is passionate about his connection and commitment to his community. his interests and involvement are as diversified as his clients’ investment portfolios. Bill says he likes his volunteer time to be given equally to “arts, health and human services and educational organizations.” Whether it’s a city council campaign, a Playhouse in the Park fundraiser or a board meeting for People Working Cooperatively, Bill gives it his all.

a resident of Cincinnati’s historic Columbia Tusculum neighborhood, Bill says he loves living in and being connected to the city. “i live and work in the city. it’s a part of me. and i’m driven to give back and help life in Cincinnati continually improve.” When asked why he is determined to give so much of himself, Bill defers to the late sir Winston Churchill, who said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

Bill believes strongly that one’s success is measured by the “individual contribution of service to others and to the community.” Certainly, Bill demonstrates this by donating his time and raising funds for the benefit of many of greater Cincinnati’s non-profit organizations. Bill believes it should be easy for each one of us to want to give back. “every one of our lives has in some way been touched by at least one of the many worthwhile organizations in town. We all know someone who has experienced some form of cancer; someone who knows a child with cystic fibrosis; or, someone who suffers with Ms. We all benefit from education and the arts. We need to support these causes.” and support he does. Bill has repeatedly been behind the fundraising endeavors of such organizations as the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Contemporary arts Center, People Working Cooperatively, the arthritis Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

leadership is a role Bill takes seriously. When asked what one thing Bill would like his two young sons to think of him, Bill says without hesitation, “That my dad is a leader, a giver and a genuine, caring human being, and that he makes differences.” Bill says he believes that to be a good leader, one has to “understand how important others are to the leadership equation.” Bill focuses on collaboration

inspiring men

and consensus building. When taking on a leadership role within any organization, he recognizes the importance of “building relationships within the community. some of my most meaningful relationships have developed through the organizations i’ve worked with. My life has been enriched by the people i’ve met.”

Bill was recently elected to serve as chair of the Board of governors at The Bankers Club. despite that he’s the youngest person ever to hold this position, the most exciting thing about this for Bill is the timing. “There couldn’t be a better time to be a part of Cincinnati’s downtown community,” he says. “There is so much exciting change taking place.” Bill is also making sure that he is a part of the change taking place in the city. he recently served as both campaign manager and treasurer for Cincinnati City Councilman Cecil Thomas. Bill has also served on the Cincinnati human relations Commission, a position that, again, is about building and improving relationships, specifically those between various racial, religious and ethnic groups. Bill’s ability to collaborate and build consensus dovetails perfectly into the ChrC’s commitment to foster mutual respect and understanding across cultures.

When he stops long enough to reflect on all that he does, the results he’s achieved and the relationships he’s gained, Bill says simply that they “inspire me to do more good work for the community.”


Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, commissioner and treasurer

People Working Cooperatively (PWC), board member

Xavier University Williams College of Business, Executive Advisory Board member

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Corporate Committee chairman for ABRACADABRA!

Contemporary Arts Center, Corporate Fundraising Committee

Valley Learning Center, board member

Chairman of fundraising events for the Arthritis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and PWC

Bankers Club, chairman of the Board of Governors

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no matter where i am, i get up and believe i have to accomplish something. i have to read, write, call a patient. it’s not work. it’s a way of life.

dr. dean kereiakes

When iT CoMes To a Career ThaT’s all hearT, FeW could hold a candle to cardiologist dean Kereiakes. who serves as medical director of The heart Center of greater Cincinnati at The Christ hospital; medical director of the Carl and edyth lindner Center for research and education; chair of the executive Committee of The ohio heart & Vascular Center; and, professor of clinical medicine at The ohio state university. he has been an investigator for most of the interventional technologies introduced in the last two decades, has performed more than 25,000 catheterization laboratory procedures and participated in more than 800 clinical research protocols.

With all of this under his belt, it seems dr. Kereiakes might simply put away his shingle and focus solely on research—less liability, greater income, more free time. But he doesn’t. dr. Kereiakes is very clear, “The thing that makes me most happy is making a positive difference in a person’s life.” Time and time again, he does just that. serving as testament to this positive difference is a bookcase filled with photos and thank you notes from not only patients, but also from their family members: “Thank you for those extra years with my mom,” or

“You gave my dad the chance to see his grandson graduate.” “i can’t throw them away,” he says. so there they all stay,

in a large wooden box on his bookcase. as he reads through some of these notes and cards,

dr. Kereiakes says, “i don’t recall ever telling someone that there’s nothing we can do.” What drives him is the determination to ensure he can always offer patients

“the best technology available and the best treatment methodologies available. i want to be sure we always have something else to offer hope.”

his intense drive and focus, dr. Kereiakes says, “Comes from my family. i had incredibly great role models who were very influential in making me goal-oriented.” Coming from a large greek family, dr. Kereiakes says he knew early that his combination of “first born and first male” came with responsibility. “i knew i would one day be the spokesperson for the family, the person on whom responsibility would fall. i’m fortunate to have great siblings.”

There was always a premium placed on education in the Kereiakes family. dr. Kereiakes says the message he received early on was, “realize your potential. Be the best you can be.” dr. Kereiakes always knew “by the time i was in high school that i wanted to be a doctor.” his father, dr. James Kereiakes is a national authority on radiology and medical physics.“The people my dad admired most were also doctors: Charles Barrett, Ben Felson and eugene saenger. he held them all in such esteem.”

dr. Kereiakes also recognizes those who mentored him professionally, among them the late dr. sam Kaplan, who during his tenure at Cincinnati Children’s hospital Medical Center pioneered use of the heart-lung machine. holding a note he received from dr. Kaplan’s wife Molly after the passing of dr. Kaplan, dr. Kereiakes says, “What a gentleman. sam Kaplan was the epitome of ‘a gentleman and a scholar.’ he had the attributes to which we all should aspire.” With such role models setting the bar so high, it’s no surprise dr. Kereiakes has become the renowned cardiologist he is today.

despite his many successes and accomplishment, dr. Kereiakes remains humble about what he does. he is also careful to point out that every day, “no matter where i am, i get up and believe i have to accomplish something. i have to read, write, call a patient.” But for dr. dean Kereiakes, “it’s not work. it’s a way of life.”

inspiring men

Fellow of the American College of Cardiology

Member of the Joint American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force committees for writing clinical practice guidelines

Outstanding Alumnus, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Who’s Who in America

Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare

Who’s Who in Science and Engineering

Best Doctors in America

Kaplan Visionary Award for Cardiovascular Research

Stella Feist Hoffheimer Memorial Prize for ranking first in class, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 1978


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take risks. stick your neck out. make things happen. you’ll have fun.

fred martens

Fred MarTens BelieVes in giVing BaCK. a TalenTed graphic designer and owner of Martens’ art, Fred shares his talents and time on numerous fronts. he views the opportunity to serve as “a privilege to take advantage of so many wonderful opportunities.”

his gifts and talents seem to come quite naturally. Fred’s mother was a pianist and a composer. his father was an architect and a sculptor. no surprise then that Fred should have such artistic skills. What Fred also has, however, is a drive and a focus that grew, in part, out of family hardship. When Fred was in high school, his father’s architecture firm began to suffer and had to close. Fred says, “it’s funny how things add up. seeing parents who had difficulties and recognizing life’s problems when i was growing up helped me solidify my own goals.” Fred firmly believes that such difficulties can help create drive. “it’s something you can work with,” Fred says.

Fred says his experiences at edgecliff College also helped shape him. it was at edgecliff that Fred received a life-changing opportunity—a job at the leBlond Boy’s Club in over-the-rhine teaching after-school and summer art classes. Fred not only admits to being scared, but also says, “They didn’t think i’d last a week.” But he did last and as a result says, “i now realize i learned pretty much all the critical tools i would need for my life during this amazing time at edgecliff and at the Boy’s Club.”

after his experience with the Boy’s Club, Fred taught art for nine years at several local private Catholic schools and at holmes high school. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor at Xavier university where he created a new three-year curriculum in computer graphics and web design. Fred says he is most proud that “during my time at Xavier, i initiated a student volunteer component in my advanced class, requiring students to cold call and volunteer their graphic gifts to a non-profit organization of their choice. i have heard from many of my graduates that they found this experience very valuable.” now that he is focused full-time on Martens’ art, Fred continues to support the Xavier art department by teaching summer classes and serving on a review committee.

Much of Fred’s volunteerism is devoted to human rights issues. For more than 20 years, he has volunteered his time creating logos and corporate images, designing invitations and programs and directories. Fred was active in the opening of the national underground railroad Freedom Center having designed the invitation, event logo and program books for three of their Freedom Conductor award galas, those honoring the late rosa Parks, desmond Tutu and dorothy height. he also served on the design committee for the opening night gala and the dedication of the Freedom Center.

other human rights organizations Fred serves include Citizens to restore equality, stonewall Cincinnati, lavender lights and Queen City Careers association. Fred’s human compassion and healthcare concerns have also made him an avid volunteer for aids Volunteers of Cincinnati. Fred has been largely involved in the aids Walks and other aVoC fundraisers, such as the diva dazzle and night in Bombay.

an avid musician, Fred loves performing. Fred plays clarinet and marches with the Queen City rainbow Band. he also plays professionally with the lebanon symphony orchestra and with the Cincinnati Metropolitan orchestra, which Fred describes as “more social.” When asked what his favorite song is, the answer reflects not only Fred’s taste in music, but also his attitude toward life—edith Piaf’s Je Ne Regrette Pas—no regrets.

inspiring men

Cincinnati Opera

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

University of Cincinnati—College-Conservatory of Music

Cincinnati Arts Association

Cincinnati Men’s Chorus

Carnegie Arts Center

Citizens to Restore Equality

Queen City Rainbow Band

Edgecliff College/Xavier University Sullivan Award

AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati Corporate Sponsor Award

Stonewall Cincinnati’s Outstanding Community Service Award


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if you go along without challenging anything or making any changes, the organizations you serve remain stagnant—or fold.

tom neyer, sr.

ForMer PresidenT oF al neYer inC., ToM neYer, sr. is one of those men for whom the word “retirement” doesn’t mean stop. Tom now works out of his home office in what used to be “the children’s playroom.” he sits behind his great big desk next to the fireplace evaluating yet another set of blueprints. With his commitments to the local performing arts and to his alma mater, st. Xavier high school, not to mention his wife Chris’s alma mater, st. ursula academy, Tom still has what many might consider more than a full plate. When asked whether he goes down to al neyer inc. at all anymore, he smiles and says, “oh, i go down once or twice a year, usually to borrow something, or on July 31, for our Founder’s day party, which is also my dad’s birthday.”

For most of his life, family and business have been not only his priority, but also strongly connected. Tom is the son of al neyer, who incorporated the family business, al neyer inc., in 1947, continuing the construction and carpentry tradition of his grandfather from 1894. Tom chuckles about being the “youngest son of an oldest son” and says his family was always very close, both in their professional and personal lives. like so many, Tom gives much credit to his family for the values he learned from them, not to mention a few construction skills. From the living room of his home, Tom says he “can see the spot where i built my treehouse as a kid.” he admits, sheepishly, that the treehouse was probably his first construction project.

Tom says as a boy growing up in Mt. lookout, “We were, by and large, pretty good kids. in those days, we were involved in parish work—washing dishes or delivering the church papers to people’s homes.” Clearly, this “goodness” and family work ethic didn’t end with his parish duties. “i’ve always worked,” Tom says. “i began straightening out nails. When i went to Xavier university, i paid half and my father paid half.” it is this work ethic that enabled Tom to later purchase the family business from his father. “My father didn’t give me the family business,” he is careful to point out,

“i bought the business.” Tom served as president of al neyer inc. until 1998.

appreciative of all he has achieved and eager to give back, Tom believes in community support and gives generously

of his time, talents and finances to support many worthwhile organizations. This generosity is also a family affair for the neyers. Tom says with pride, “one of us, or one of our children, either serves or has served on the board of every performing arts organization in town.”

as an overseer of the Cincinnati symphony orchestra, Tom co-chairs the facilities committee and hopes to soon see “collaboration from the organizations involved” so that we can see a remodeled Music hall. Tom also served as facilities chairman for the nKu Foundation of northern Kentucky university. he says he is “serving a second, or maybe third” term on the board of st. ursula academy. after the completion of st. ursula’s schott hall, the academy presented Tom with a shepherd’s staff to thank him for “shepherding the project.” having been on the board of st. Xavier high school, Tom now remains involved with the facilities committee. he smiles and says he serves as “a professional second opinion.” regardless of the organization he’s assisting, Tom says he loves to “challenge the status quo.” he says, “if you go along without challenging anything or making any changes, the organizations you serve remain stagnant—or fold.”

With all of his many projects and achievements, the thing Tom says he’s most proud of, without hesitation, is family. and why not? it was family that made Tom who he is today; and, it is family that will carry on his tradition.

inspiring men

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati May Festival

St. Ursula Academy Board of Trustees

St. Xavier High School facilities committee

NKU Foundation of Northern Kentucky University facilities committee


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when you’ve been helped, you realize what’s possible. you can’t ever repay the people who helped you, but you can give back.

joe pichler

Joe PiChler KnoWs The Value oF assisTanCe and work. From the time he was a young boy, Joe recognized the help he received from others and the rewards that came from working hard. having retired as Ceo of The Kroger Co. in 2004, Joe continues to work as hard as ever, giving his time generously to improving the world around him.

one of six children, Joe grew up in a family surrounded with love and support. The family’s dedication to hard work and education contributed significantly to who Joe is today. sadly, Joe’s parents both passed away when Joe was in high school. Joe says, “My family pulled together. We took care of each other.” his older siblings offered Joe great support, as did the Jesuit priests in the high school he attended, and later at the university of notre dame. it was this support and assistance that Joe says helped him see, “When you’ve been helped, you realize what’s possible.”

Joe Pichler is quick to say, “People have been helping me my entire life.” The people in Joe’s life demonstrated for him the Jesuit credo by which he still lives, “People for others.” as a result, Joe remains very committed to giving back, saying, “You can’t ever repay the people who helped you, but you can give back.”

Joe currently is devoted full-time to helping revitalize Cincinnati’s over-the-rhine. Joe co-chairs the over-the-rhine Work group of the Cincinnati City Center development Corporation (3CdC). From where he used to sit in the Kroger Building, Joe could look out his window at the sad plight that had befallen over-the-rhine. he was also able to see what the neighborhood could become. Today, Joe says, “The opportunity is incredible. Within the 110 blocks that make up over-the-rhine, there are 500 historic vacant buildings and 700 vacant lots.” 3CdC owns 100 of those buildings and 90 parcels, all of which are well within walking distance to downtown offices and retail. The vision according to Joe is,

“to create historic, mixed income residential properties.” These properties are also amid one of Cincinnati’s great

arts communities, just a stone’s throw from The ensemble

Theatre, the Know Theatre, Music hall and the newly relocated Cincinnati art academy. With generous support from Cincinnati’s corporate community, 3CdC has been able to invest more than $25 million into this project in three years. Joe beams as he points to one of the beautifully painted buildings saying,

“That’s the one i want to live in.” he is proud of the transformation over-the-rhine is experiencing and cites four reasons for his involvement: his wife susan volunteers at st. Francis seraph in over-the-rhine; Joe and susan used to worship at old st. Mary’s Church; Kroger’s adoption of Washington Park elementary school; and, the years he spent working at The Kroger Co.

Joe also works diligently to raise scholarship money for children graduating from inner city grade schools to help them attend Catholic high schools. From his experiences as a student in Catholic schools, and his years of teaching at the university of Kansas, Joe can’t stress enough the value he places on education.

“Knowledge is the most liberating force in the world, well, aside from love,” he says.

having initially moved to Cincinnati to accept his position with The Kroger Co., this city is fortunate that Joe has chosen to remain here following his retirement. he expresses his passion for this city succinctly, “We love Cincinnati. What a blessing. We’re never leaving.”

inspiring men

Cincinnati Opera Advisory Board member

Xavier University, chairman of the board

The Salvation Army

3CDC vice chair and chair of 3CDC Over-the-Rhine Work Group

Cincinnati Community Action Now (CAN), co-chair of the Economic Inclusion Committee

Recipient of the Tocqueville Award from the United Way

Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans

Board of Catalyst

Tougaloo College Trustee Emeritus

University of Kansas, Honorary Lifetime Member of the School of Fine Arts


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