Joseph Collins Oldham

OLDHAM, JOSEPH COLLINS, loving and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Sunday, June 4, 2006, while bicycling with friends. He was born October 26, 1942, to the late William Edward Oldham, MD, and Elizabeth Scott Oldham in Louisville, where he attended George Rogers Clark Elementary School, Barrett Junior High, and Atherton High School. He graduated from the University of Virginia and University of Louisville Law School, was a member of Phi Alpha Delta and worked for 39 years as an attorney, first as a member of the law firm Ewen, Mackenzie and Peden, and then as a member, and then managing partner, of Ogden, Newell and Welch (now Stoll, Keenon, and Ogden). He was a member of the American, Kentucky, and Louisville Bar Associations; a life member of the Judicial Conference of the U.S. court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit; a member and past president of the Louisville Bar Foundation; a member of the Best lawyers in America and the Association of Leading Business Lawyers; past director of the Small Business Council of America; past president of the Estate Planning Council of Louisville and Louisville Employee Benefits Council. Throughout his professional life he was a frequent lecturer and guest speaker at law schools and before professional associations on estate planning, small business, taxation, and employee benefits. He was an active lover of the outdoors who enjoyed bicycling (he was an active member/partner of the biking firm, The Ancient Bike Dogs), hiking, kayaking, and bodysurfing, among many other pursuits. He was also a talented photographer, working in his home black-and-white darkroom since the mid-sixties for many years before building a digital photography lab where he made new work and patiently worked on archiving and reprinting the old. He was director of the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation (and President in 2000) and remained instrumental to the renaissance of that park until his untimely passing. He was also a board member of several local metro and arts committees, including Actor's Theater of Louisville (1969-1980, 1981-1987). He was also a member of the board of directors of St. Francis High School. He is survived by many who loved and will miss him, his devotion, love and support: his wife, Joanne Will Tafel Oldham; three sons, Edward Collins Oldham of Baltimore, MD, Joseph Will Oldham and Paul Tafel Oldham, both of Louisville; two grandchildren, Adela and Sam Oldham, of Baltimore, MD; two sisters, Katherine Keller of Louisville, and Lisa McNair, of Toronto, Canada; as well as nieces, nephews, in-laws and many friends; and a dog, Gemini. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, at Bernheim Forest, which is located in Claremont, KY, about 30 minutes south of Louisville, with visitation to follow. Private burial will be held in Cave Hill at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Pearson's. Memorial gifts may go to the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation.