May 26, 2011
Ohio, Judicial Community Mourn the Loss of Judge Charles “Chip” Henry
Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio joined the voices this week remembering the service and character of the Honorable Charles “Chip” Henry, the Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Judge who was killed in a bicycling accident on Monday.
“I considered him a friend, and I am deeply saddened by his untimely passing,” said Justice Robert R. Cupp, who previously served with Judge Henry in the Ohio Senate, along with Justice Paul E. Pfeifer. “As did his other Senate colleagues, I found him likeable, enjoyable to work with, and possessed of an unflagging personal integrity that could be completely trusted and relied on,” Justice Cupp said.
Geauga County was stunned by the loss of the highly respected public servant who was well known for his commitment to helping young people.
“He just really cared for the kids and making their life better,” Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Forrest Burt told the Geauga Times.
"Judge Henry was a strong leader among juvenile judges," said Justice Yvette McGee Brown. "We both started our service as Juvenile Judges in 1993. He cared a lot about children and the system of juvenile justice. Judge Henry was always willing to work toward making the system and our courts better. He will be missed.”
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2011, at Federated Church Family Life Center, 16349 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023. The Rev. Don Grauer will officiate services. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2011, at the Burr Funeral Home, 116 South Street, (Route 44, 500 feet south of Route 6/Chardon Square), Chardon.
The family requests donations be made to Friends of CASA Geauga County at Friends of CASA for KIDS, P.O. Box 21, Novelty, OH 44072, http://www.friendsofcasa.org/and Big Brothers of Portage County, 705 Oakwood St., Suite 103, Ravenna, OH 44266 or www.bbsportage.org. Information and online condolences at www.burrservice.com.
Judge Henry, 53, of Chagrin Falls, was born April 26, 1958, the son of Jeanne F. and the late Charles Eugene “Gene” Henry. He was raised in Geauga County in the Lake Lucerne neighborhood and graduated from Kenston High School in 1976. He graduated from Miami University in 1980 with a degree in finance.
Henry served in the Peace Corps from 1980 to 1982 and met his future wife, Linda Blommer, while working with village cooperatives in Lesotho in Southern Africa. (The couple later returned to visit the villages for their 25th wedding anniversary.)
After marrying in Idaho in 1982, Henry attended Cleveland State University's Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and practiced law for a short time with his father, Gene Henry.
In 1988, he was elected to the Ohio State Senate, where he served a full term, followed by a brief term in the public defender’s office.
“Chip had three qualities that soon became evident when he began his Senate service: he was a quick study, he worked hard, and he was principled,” Justice Cupp said. “Chip picked up on the difficult issues being considered by the legislature quickly. He plunged into the discussions with youthful enthusiasm, offered helpful insight in the crafting of new laws, and devoted much energy and intelligence to his Senate work. He had a personal courage that resisted being pressured by interests groups and partisan politics.”
In 1993, Governor George Voinovich selected Judge Henry as Geauga County’s new Juvenile/Probate Court Judge to succeed the late Judge Frank G. Lavrich. He was re-elected numerous times and served in that role until his death.
During his time on the Court, Judge Henry worked diligently to provide safe homes for abused and neglected children, bringing the court appointed special advocates program to Geauga County, and utilizing creative juvenile sentencing that emphasized restitution and community service.
Judge Henry and his wife Linda are the parents of two children, Charles Adam of Denver, Colo., and Kimberly of Columbus. He is also survived by his siblings, Dorothy Henry (Peter) Lee of Geneva, James F. (Grace) of Bainbridge Township, Polly Henry (John) Whiting of Naples, Fla., Patrick O. (Lori) of Anchorage, Alaska, Daniel Hawley (Cynthia) of Anchorage, Alaska, and was a "Big Brother" to "little brother" Mike, and a long list of beloved extended family.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.