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Dr. Ovid C. Lewis

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Case Western Reserve University

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T. M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home - Plantation

7001 NW 4th St.

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Ovid Lewis Obituary

Lewis, Dr. Ovid C., 78, passed away January 26, 2011. He is the beloved husband of the late Claire Lewis and a beloved brother, uncle and friend. Dr. Lewis was American Academic, former President of Nova Southern University, former Dean of Nova's Law School, Dean of Northern Kentucky Law, a Professor at Case Western Reserve, and a Judge for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. He was an accomplished concert violist and a pioneer in the fields of artificial intelligence and distance learning. Dr. Lewis is survived by his sister Barton Johnson and his nieces Kim Johnson and Kirsten Fleming. Graveside services will be at 1:00 PM on Monday January 31st at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home, 7001 NW 4th Street, Plantation, FL 33317 (954) 587-6888 On-line Condolences may be made to the family at www.tmralph.com

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Published by Sun-Sentinel from Jan. 27 to Jan. 29, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Ovid Lewis

17 Entries

Robbie Shamet

January 26, 2020

Sure miss Dr Lewis very much I was his Dental Hygienist for 20 years and he was responsible for me teaching at Nova Un Dental School !!! Love Robbie Shamet!!!

George Sapir

July 12, 2018

Ovid Lewis was not only an outstanding, motivating & dynamic professor (Con Law) at CWRU Law School in Cleveland, but he is probably the primary person that motivated me to actually practice law (and really enjoy it) for the better part of 50 years now. He was not only brilliant but he also possessed the people to people skills that pushed me & I am confident many others to drive themselves to a new & higher level of excellence in the practice of our chosen profession. May you rest in peace Ovid Lewis, I will always remember you with fondness and respect.

Suzette Bonfiglio

September 22, 2017

I recall his undergrauate constitutional law class vividly and how it inspired me to go to law school so many years ago. It still makes me smile, remembering how he walked briskly across the front of the class as if he was propelled by our fascination. Like all of his students, I will never forget the man, his words, his light, or his love of law.

My condolences.

Ronald Rogers

November 16, 2011

To the family of Dean Lewis,

When I first met him, he was climbing out of the ceiling tiles having just fixed the air conditioning unit for our new law school in 1979. He taught me many things, including constitutional law. As his intern for a couple years, I had an opportunity to see into the future, as it related to the influence technology would have on the law. Now I am a judge in the federal system. Everyday I use what I was taught by Dean Lewis. I know I am not the only one. His legacy lives on. We will all miss him. Ron Rogers

Gary Hurvitz

November 16, 2011

I just happened to come across news of Dr. Lewis' passing, and I wanted to let you know that I am one of the many persons whose lives he affected. I had the good fortune to take a course he taught on law for undergraduates at Case Western in the early Seventies, and it inspired me to pursue law for a career. He wrote a recommendation for me that helped me get into an excellent law school (Washington U - St. Louis) and put me on the path to a very successful and satisfying career. He was a brilliant, wonderful man, and I enjoyed observing from afar his career successes after he left Case Western. I know he is missed by so many people.

Kenny Raupple

July 5, 2011

Ovid Lewis stepped into my life at a critical time during my first year of law school at Case Western University Law School, and provided a warm, unconditional loving friendship when I really needed it. Besides his mental brilliance, he had a compasionate heart. My love and condolences to his surviving family and friends. The world has lost a great man. Hopefully I'll see him again in heaven.
Kenny Raupple Dallas, TX

David Walbert

July 5, 2011

Dear Family of Ovid's, I am an old friend of Ovid's who just happened to learn that he has passed, and I wanted to make this entry to say what a wonderful person he was. I met him as a law professor at Case Western Reserve University in 1969. I used to comment to people that I had studied under 4 Nobel physicists when I was at Stanford, before I switched to law, but I probably learned more deep science from Ovid than all of them together. He was wonderfully stimulating intellectually, with an encyclopedic knowledge of so very much. A fabulous professor. He was also a great friend and a great person, and he helped many people who needed advice or support for any reason. We spent a lot of time shooting the breeze, playing badminton (he was a ferocious competitor and extremely skilled), and collaborating on various projects -- like freeing an innocent man from a life sentence in Ohio. I am sorry our paths did not cross later on, as I left Ohio for the West Coast and later Atlanta, but I have certainly thought of him many times. He is greatly missed.

Sue & George Spahn

February 4, 2011

Claire, I was so sorry to hear about Ovid's death from the NSU newsletter. I very much enjoyed Ovid's whit and his gentleness. I have fond memories of being at your lovely home helping with the computer and email.

We will say some extra prayers for you and your family.

God Bless... Sue & George Spahn
(www.suespahn.com)

Lunch Friend

February 2, 2011

Dear Family of Dr. Ovid Lewis,Please accept my sincere sympathy of the loss of Dr. Lewis. I was saddened today to learn of his passing. I knew Dr. Lewis and his wife from having lunch at the Little Mermaid Restaurant at Neiman Marcus. For years I would see Dr. Lewis and Claire come in for lunch. I was especially touched by their love and devotion to each other. They would hold hands and say a brief prayer before enjoying their simple lunch of soup and sandwich. Without realizing it, they made a quiet, positive impact on each person they met.

February 1, 2011

Dear Family, Please accept our sincere sympathy on the loss of Ovid Lewis. We were so sorry to hear this sad news. Ovid and Claire were very special people. Bill and Janet Hardigan

January 31, 2011

To the family of Ovid Lewis, I want to express my sympathy to you. Dr. Lewis was a remarkable person--He provided leadership, support, and innovation to NSU that I believe created the foundation for the university today. His commitment to education and higher learning served to inspire many young academicians! Sharon Boesl

walter finnegan

January 30, 2011

Loved him -- so much more than great leader/teacher/humanist; also a trusted mentor; impelled to read Will Durant by his frequent allusions.
No single event in law school more thrilling than book award from Dean Lewis! Cherished his advice in non-legal spheres. RIP; WFinnegan ['86]

January 30, 2011

Dear family of Dr Lewis,
I send my sympathy and prayers to you, Dr Lewis and Claire were patients' in our dental office, I was his Hygienist for 15 yrs, and also teach at the Dental School at Nova University, we loved them both so very much. Love to you Robbie Shamet

January 29, 2011

Ovid's devotion to his wife, Claire, was moving and inspirational. He was also one of the most brilliant minds and enjoyed engaging anyone in an in depth discussion on any subject. His visionary leadership as President of Nova Southeastern University raised the institution to a entirely new level. He will be sorely missed. Claire Thuning-Roberson (Plantation, FL)

Harriet and Paul Berg

January 29, 2011

Ovid will definitely be missed by us. He and Claire were so inseparable. He never really adjusted to her passing. A very nice man whom we knew from the Plantation Diner. Our sincerest condolences to his sister and the rest of his family. He is at peace now, I'm sure, and with Claire again.

Doug Buck

January 28, 2011

Ovid was an inspirational man and was one of Nova Southeastern University's most incredible presidents who stepped in at a critical time in the university's growth. More importantly he was a good human being who cared about people and how is decisions affected them during that growth period. He lost his Claire last year who was his inspiration and love of his life and has gone on to be with her in eternity. Ovid was a unique individual and will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Marilyn Cane

January 27, 2011

I was saddened to hear of his passing. He was a remarkable man

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