Richard retired from the practice of law in 2021 after a distinguished legal career. He proudly served for many years as Law Director for the City of Mentor as well as legal counsel to the Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority. His private practice focused on handling probate litigation, estate administration and estate planning matters.

Richard’s eclectic legal background ranged from transactional experience with the City of Mentor involving residential, commercial and industrial developments worth tens of millions of dollars to attending to the details of qualifying indigent nursing home patients for Medicaid benefits.  Further, as a long time member of the Florida Bar, Richard completed many Florida probate estates from his Ohio office. Richard provided clients his utmost commitment. His professional philosophy and expectation of letter-perfect work product paid dividends to all of the clients to whom he provided services.

Richard is a lifelong fourth-generation Mentor resident. In his spare time he enjoys taking care of his lawn or riding his Harley through the roads traversing the scenic Holden Arboretum.

Prior Legal Positions:

Law Director City of Mentor (retired, 2018)

Assistant Law Director City of Mentor

Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority Legal Counsel

Law Clerk Judge Fred V. Skok, Lake County Probate Court

Past Political Positions:

Councilman at Large, City of Mentor, Three terms
Council President/Mayor City of Mentor

Education:

Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Juris Doctor
Miami University, B.A.
Lakeland Community College, Associate Degree
Mentor High School

Recognition:

Mentor High School Alumni Hall of Fame
Mentor High School Athletic Hall of Fame
Lakeland Community College Alumni Hall of Fame

Admitted to Practice:

State of Ohio 1983
State of Florida 1984

Past and Present Community Organizations/Service:

St. John Vianney Church, Member
Parish School of Religion Teacher
Music Mentors (Mentor schools band booster organization), Volunteer