Gerald Robert Leipply

Gerald R. Leipply
July 17, 1934 - January 4, 2018
Jerry, as he was known to those who knew him best, left this world on a cold January evening to go riding on his Harley with his good buddies, Jack Rose and Rick Parson. At age 83 he lived a full life and was a gentleman lawyer, and true friend to all he met. A humble and kind man, who never believed he was worthy of the accolades he received; and generously gave of his time and treasure to those in need.
Born in Western Pennsylvania, he moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio at the young age of 8, where he made his home, raised his family, and served his community as an attorney, former Cuyahoga Falls law director and later councilman, and also served as an acting judge. He was a graduate of Heidelberg College and the University Of Michigan School Of Law.
In his younger years, he played for a men's traveling fast-pitch softball team, and coached women's fast-pitch softball; and in recent years he volunteered his time as a commissioner for the Akron Amateur Softball Association. In November 2017 he was inducted into the Akron Softball Hall of Fame and was presented with the Miktarian Award. Later in life, he took up motorcycling and taught Motorcycle Safety for the State of Ohio.
In addition to softball and motorcycling, he enjoyed trap shooting, attending coin auctions, all things World War II, and dealing casino table games for casino parties. An avid sports fan, in the spring Jerry would frequently stop and watch a few innings of the Cuyahoga Falls High School softball games; and in the fall he took an active interest in his law partner James Armstrong's daughter Alexis high school tennis, frequently attending her matches.
In the summer Jerry could often be found in Wooster attending the Ohio Light Opera, in which the last show he saw was the performance of the Student Prince, which Jerry had suggested to the Light Opera's artistic director, and ironically is set at Heidelberg University in Germany where Jerry did course work.
Professionally, he was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 1959, and continued to practice law until a few weeks before his passing. He was a member of both the Ohio State Bar Association and Akron Bar Association; and in 2013 was honored by the Akron Bar with the Professionalism Award. For almost 50 years, he represented his firm in the Akron Executives Association, serving as past president, and legal adviser. He also served as legal advisor to the International Executives Association from 2000 until 2010.
Jerry is survived by his daughters, Etola Leipply, and Tarla Perdew; son-in-law, Mark Perdew; wife of many years and best friend, Annemarie Leipply; her daughter, Martina Bruno; and grandchildren, Chandler and Kyler Leipply-Simbeck, Austin Perdew and Max and Antonia Bruno.
Pursuant to his wishes, he has been cremated. A service to celebrate his life will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, 2220 2nd Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 3:30 p.m., with a reception to immediately follow until 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Akron Amateur Softball Commission, c/o Bernie Factor, 466 S. Firestone Blvd, Akron, OH 44301 or Mark Yakubowski, 798 Phoenix Avenue, Akron, OH 44310 or Vintage Wings, Inc., PO Box 414, Washington, PA 15301. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)