Russell Allen Moorhead

Russell Allen Moorhead passed away on September 1, 2025 after an extended illness.

Born on June 2, 1959 to Russell and Esther Moorhead, of Lorain, Ohio, Russ graduated with honors from Admiral King High School in 1977. The summer after graduation, Russ earned his FCC Third Class license. While touring the University of Akron campus, Russ decided to attend when he heard a distinctive female voice on WRHA, the dorm radio station, being broadcast through the quad. During his fall quarter, majoring in Marketing, Russ joined WRHA. There he met the woman whose voice he'd heard on the air that would ultimately become his wife of nearly 43 years, Gretchen (nee Burke).

Russ married Gretchen in 1982, while he was still in law school. Having completed his coursework early, Russ sat for the February Ohio State Bar exam in 1985. When he received his Juris Doctor, from the University of Akron in June of 1985, Russ had already been admitted to the Ohio State Bar Association. Russ immediately established his private practice in Lakewood, Ohio. In 1988, he fulfilled his lifelong ambition to practice law in downtown Cleveland, when he moved into the Rockefeller building. He would remain there until the building closed December 30, 2022. In 2003, Russ moved his office to the suburbs on Rockside Road.

Russ was an active member of the Cleveland Bar Association, as part of the Bar Admissions committee. There he interviewed prospective lawyers, which is required of all candidates before they take their Bar Exam. Russ was a volunteer judge for many years for the Bar-sponsored Mock Trials, where local high school students competed for academic honors and awards. Russ was active on the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPOL) committee, protecting the community from those unqualified to perform legal representation. He chaired the committee a total of 3 times.

Russ and Gretchen spent their life together, happily childless, supporting the community and arts as Founders and Charter Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. In 1989, they began working for the WVIZ Televised Auction, soliciting donations. In 1996, they rose to the rank of Auction Coordinators, managing the largest region into the most consistently productive for over 10 years. Russ could be found during the Auction in bid checking, verifying the legitimacy of the bids for the many high-end items, and as a guest auctioneer. He actively supported the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the National Aviary and the Early Television Museum.

Russ will be missed for his intellect, humor, honesty and steadfast commitment to his many friends, clients and family. Russ enjoyed his life and was just as comfortable in a suit and tie with his wingtips as he was in a Hawaiian shirt and jeans with sandals. He loved fine wines, antiques, Nikon photography, cooking on his Big Green Egg, restoring vintage radios and especially his wife, Gretchen and his poodle, Coco.

Russ' memorial will be on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 2-5 PM at Little Birdie Wine Nest, 6060 Broadview Rd, Parma, OH 44134

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the Parma Animal Shelter or The Early Television Museum