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Richard Hamilton - Partner of Baker & Hostetler

13303 Lake Shore Boulevard
J. Richard Hamilton
J. Richard Hamilton

Richard Hamilton joined the law firm of Baker Hostetler & Patterson in 1956 and became a partner in 1966. He became managing partner in 1980, shortly after the firm name changed to Baker & Hostetler. Hamilton became partner in charge in 1986.

He served on the board of directors of Preformed Line Products, The Standard Products Co., and Cloyes Gear and Products Inc. He was a long-time supporter of Bratenahl Village.

J. Richard “Rich” Hamilton was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, and grew up in the small town of Leroy, Ohio (now called Westfield Center), where his father was an executive of the Ohio Farmers Insurance Company. In high school, he was voted “All Medina County” in basketball. Also, during his high school years, he attended Culver Summer Naval Academy, where he played baritone in the navel band. He received a B.S. degree from Ohio University. Following two years in the U.S. Air Force, he received a law degree from The Ohio State University.

Rich married Rae Indoe. They had four children: Jeffrey, Thomas, Susan (Kremer), and Nancy (Abbott).

Besides family and business, his focus was on his trombone, playing jazz and Dixieland appearances throughout the greater Cleveland area. He was a member of the Hermit Club and a founding member of its Jazz Orchestra. He was also a member of the Night Owls band. For many years, he was active in the Court of Nisi Prius. He wrote skits, directed and served as judge of the Grand Assize, a gathering of Cleveland’s most influential political and business professionals.

Rae died on July 16, 2005, at her summer home on the Upper French River, Ontario, Canada. Rich retired in 2007 and died at the Cleveland Clinic on February 14, 2010, after a long battle with cancer.