James J. Condit, Sr.

Fortified by the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, James J. Condit Sr., passed peacefully into eternal life on March 9, 2026 at the age of 95. He was proceeded in death by Rose Marie (Kenney) Condit after 63 years of marriage, his three brothers Jack Condit, Jerry Condit, and Joe Condit, his son James Condit, Jr, and his grandchildren Therese Condit, Brett Richard Peterson III, Josephine Jacobeen, Ezekiel Greve, Gabriella Starr, and Roger Condit. He is survived by his loving wife of 10 years, Mary Lou (Donoghue) Condit, his four loving sisters Joan Neuhaus, Janice Kennedy, Jeneane (Mike) Kandrack, and Judy (Jack) Peltz, and his brother Jeff (Kay) Condit. He is also survived by his ten children Carolyn Condit, Teresa (John) Schutzman, Tom (Kristina) Condit, Eileen (Paul) Ramstetter, Mary Condit, Ann (Dave) Winkle, Jenn (Dan) Giroux, Gina (Dave) Greve, John (Christine) Condit, and David (Monica) Condit. His surviving Grandchildren include: James Condit, III (Karina), Daniel Condit, Christina (Patrick) Jacobeen, Katie (Joe) Higgins, Stephen Condit, Matthew (Sara) Schutzman, Angela (Chase) Dressman, Caroline (John) Drury, Nicole (Ryan) Thompson, Brian (Emma) Schutzman, Megan (John) Balbach, Paul (Gretchen) Ramstetter III, Brian (Molly) Ramstetter, Nancy (Joel) Musser, Jennifer (Johnny) Meade, Lisa (Nick) Grandusky, Annie Ramsetter, Jacob Condit, John Henry Condit, James Winkle, Jennifer (Ryan) Rutter, Jeff Winkle, Jules Winkle, Joe (Sara) Thomas, Nick Thomas, Andrea Thomas, Maria (Tim) Harrigan, Lissa Giroux, Maggie (Gabe) Miller, Mary Clare Giroux, Patrick Giroux, Johnny Giroux, David Greve Jr., Rachael Greve, Patrick Greve, Jessica (David) Rummelhoff, Elizabeth (Scott) DeNoma, Mitch Greve, Jeff (Leah) Greve, Jack Greve, Maggie (Tommy) Froman, Joey (Annaliese) Greve, Jake (Emma) Greve, Katie Greve, Emily Condit, Julie (Ricky) Starr, Grace (Mike) Bishop, John (Rachel) Condit, Gina Condit, Greg (Catie) Condit, Sister Annmarie O.D.C., Michael (Anne) Condit, Mary (David) LaJoye, Seminarians Patrick and Joseph Condit, Katie Condit, Bridget Condit, Therese Condit, and Tommy Condit.

His Great Grandchildren include: Cecelia, Declan, Finnian, Maeve, Kathleen, Saoirse, and Joseph Higgins; Claire Jacobean; Mark and Luke Schutzman; Vincent, Jack, Maria, Emma, Grace, Anna, and Joseph Dressman; Alanna, Amelia, Ruth, and Joan Dury; Daniel, Juliana, and James Thompson; Eliza Balbach; Colin and Ella McGowan, Paul Ramstetter IV, and Maely Ramstetter; Pearl, Grant, Joy, Zeke, and Gus Ramstetter; Joel, Natelie, Brianna, Katie, and Maria Musser; Lucus, Nora, Ellis, and Eva Meade; Joseph, Claire, Kathrine, Grace, and Anthony Rutter; Michael, Andrew, and Anna Thomas; Graciella, Timmy, and Liliana Harrigan; Hailey, Lex, Evelyn, Lorelei, Liv, Isla, and Celeste Rummelhoff; Genevieve Greve; Lucy and Miriam Greve; Vincent Froman; Giovanni, Salvatore, and Isabella DeNoma; Ellie, John, Maria, and Anna Starr; Benny, Rosie, Peter, and Andrew Bishop; Theodore, Gianna, and Ruth LaJoye; Alanna, Clara, and Rosalie Condit. He is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Our Dad was born in Dayton, Ky in 1930 to the late Horace and Helena (Walsh) Condit. They loved their Irish heritage. The oldest of 9 children, he learned early in life how to selflessly provide for those around him. He began work at Albers grocery store at age 14 to help his parents, who had moved the family to the east side of Cincinnati. Dad attended St. Margaret of Cortona grade school where, in the second grade, he met his future bride, Rose Marie Kenney.

After graduating from Purcell High School in 1948, he enlisted in the Ohio National Guard and later served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He received an Honorable Discharge. In 1952 he married Rose and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Xavier University. In 1958, working as an accountant for a local construction company, and with five young children, Dad began night classes at Salmon P. Chase Law School. In 1962, shortly after the birth of their eighth child, Dad graduated and passed the Ohio Bar Exam in 1962. During those difficult years, he attended daily 5:00 am Mass. Once asked by his daughter if he ever wanted to “skip Mass” to sleep later, Dad replied, “Why would I do that?”

Later in life Dad revealed his prayer and promise to God that if God assisted him in passing the Bar exam, he would spend his life in the profession honoring God with his work. Dad kept that promise!

Shortly after passing the Bar exam, and in a great leap of faith, Dad quit his day job to open a law practice near our Madisonville home. He eventually partnered with attorney Jack Dressing, with whom he practiced for over 25 years. Deeply committed to the stated ideals of the legal profession, Dad voluntarily served on the Grievance Committee of the Cincinnati Bar Association for 42 years, dealing case-by-case with ethical lapses of attorneys and the complaints of their clients – all without pay and for the good of the profession. Dad always had an amazing balance of justice, kindness, and mercy.

Dad fought tirelessly in defense of the Catholic Faith, for the lives of the unborn, and for the rights of parents whose children attended Catholic schools. He was a co-founder of Citizens for Educational Freedom (C.E.F), a national organization which as far back as the 1960’s lobbied for public aid to parochial schools (School Choice). In 1968 he testified before a U.S. Congressional Committee in Washington D.C. in support of the cause. It is because of his efforts in 1965 that the Catholic and other non-public school children have received yellow bus service in the State of Ohio.

Dad was there in the earliest days of the pro-life movement, in and out of court. The most high-profile case was Planned Parenthood v. Project Jericho in 1986, when Planned Parenthood persuaded a common pleas judge to issue a sweeping injunction that effectively put a shield around the abortion clinic and criminalized even silent prayer by peaceful (and innocent) pro-life demonstrators on the public sidewalks. Dad, Jack Dressing, and a handful of other volunteer attorneys put everything on the line for four years to oppose what was viewed as judicial tyranny in our home town. For those and other efforts for the pro-life cause, Dad was later honored with awards of recognition by Northern Kentucky Right to Life and by Greater Cincinnati Right to Life.

Dad’s other notable cases of his 53 year law career included:

Walsh v. City of Cincinnati (1977) - nullifying unlawful attempt by Cincinnati City Council to rename Riverfront Stadium as “Taft Stadium.”

Hoskins v. Aetna Insurance (1983) - establishing for the first time a claim against insurance companies for “bad faith” in handling of insurance in Ohio. This case changed Ohio law to prevent Insurance companies from cutting off terminal, long term patients from insured coverage.

Schutzman v. Board of Education (1985) – finding by Hamilton County trial court that the Board of Elections did not have adequate safeguards for the integrity of computerized election results.

It was because of Dad’s efforts that the lights were added for safety to the Lytle Tunnel that is in downtown Cincinnati.

In 2009, Dad received the Prestigious Martindale-Hubbard Award. This award is the pinnacle of professional excellence. He earned the highest peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards for 25 years.

While there were many high impact cases in his career, those who knew Dad witnessed that his greatest successes were not a few high-profile wins, but in daily low-key representation of the little guy. Working for over 50 years in the Hamilton County Court House, he treated everyone with equal respect and dignity whether he was the custodian or highest ranking Judge. In short, when no one was looking, Dad’s true character was still there – the best combination of George Bailey and Atticus Finch.

Despite the many legal accomplishments, big and small, Dad’s greatest achievements and joys were his Faith and family, and his ability to remain “the Rock” when the going got tough.

In November 1966, our mother Rose collapsed at home from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm at the age of 36. With the oldest of the ten children being in the 8th grade, the doctors at Mercy Hospital gave our mother a “thousand to one” chance of surviving the surgery. Due to the countless prayers of so many Mom (and her unborn child, David) survived. Mom lived for 48 more years. This event had a defining effect on the family. His selfless example of love and devotion to our mother during her difficulties has had a lasting impression on his children and grandchildren.

Dad took a particular interest in every grandchild. His biggest smiles came with the announcement of yet another baby on the way. Dad and Mom, by words and actions, instilled in their children and grandchildren the belief that a new life, no matter the circumstances or “surprise,” was always a great gift from God. “Always room for one more”.

Dad was a member of the Knights of Columbus and very proud of his Irish heritage. He was an active member of the St. Margaret of Cortona Parish for most of his life but also attended Sacred Heart Church on Sundays (with mom) for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Dad was mentally clear until the end, which was a great blessing to all of us. He will be remembered as a constant giver and peacemaker in the most difficult of legal and personal situations. His kindness and gentle charity to all will forever remain an example to all of us.

God blessed Dad at the age of 85 with a ten year marriage to Mary Lou, Mother of Bill, Lisa, Mark, Annie. She has been a wonderful wife, companion, and caregiver.

We will all be forever grateful to our sister, Eileen, and her husband, Paul, for taking care of Dad in their home for 14 years.

In his final years Dad offered his suffering up for others, especially for the salvation of the souls of his 11 Children and spouses, and 147 grand and great grandchildren (with three more on the way!). Dad’s strong devotion to the Holy Rosary, St. Bridget’s Prayer, St Gertrude Prayer for souls in purgatory, and the truths of the Catholic Faith carried him through life’s trials and joys and comforted him in death. To all of us this is the closing of a great era. But we are comforted by the knowledge of Dad’s favorite and often spoken dogma:

“This life is but one second in all of eternity”.

Visitation will be Sunday, March 15th, 2026, from 3:00pm-8:00pm, at Gilligan Funeral Home, 8225 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

A Requiem Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, March 16th at 10:00am at Sacred Heart Church, 2733 Massachusetts Avenue, (Camp Washington) Cincinnati, Ohio 45225.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Cincinnati Right to Life and Villa Licci.