William Earls "Bill" Santen

William Earls "Bill" Santen obituary

William Earls "Bill" Santen

William Santen Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Gilligan Funeral Home - Kenwood on Aug. 25, 2025.

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William (Bill) Earls Santen, 97 passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy of 65 years. Bill is survived by three children, Bill (Kirsten), Tom (Betsy) and Libby (Jay Gohman), six grandchildren, Will (Jackie) Santen, George Santen, Matthew (Megan) Santen, Maggie Santen, Catherine Gohman, and Christine Gohman, and two step-grandchildren, Alec (Katie) Ahrens, and Celia (Kevin Barry). He is also survived by four siblings: Harry (Ann), Richard ( Kathy), Sally (Tom). His older sister Ann (Lincoln) previously passed away.

Bill was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1928 to Herman (Harry) and Margaret Mary Santen. The second oldest of five children, he grew up in Cincinnati. Bill graduated from St. Xavier High School and Georgetown University. After college, he worked for Procter and Gamble in Chicago Illinois. Bill served as a Medic in the 6th Tank Battalion of the U.S. Army's 24th Infantry Division during the Korean War, which was the first division to respond to the Korean War outbreak. Following his service, Bill earned his Juris Doctor degree from The University of Cincinnati College of Law and practiced law in his father's firm. In 1958, he and his brother Harry formed the law firm Santen & Santen, which evolved into Santen & Hughes. His practice areas included dispute resolution, eminent domain, medical malpractice, intellectual property, real property, admiralty and aviation.

Along with his law practice, Bill served in a number of roles including Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio under William Saxbe, Assistant City Solicitor, and Trial Counsel for the City of Cincinnati. During the 1970s Bill was appointed as an advance man for three U.S. Vice Presidents, Spiro Agnew, Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller, and was involved with planning and managing their travel in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service and the White House Communication Commission. Bill was appointed to the International Maritime Communications Conference in London England by President Nixon and also assisted with George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns.

In 2010, he was honored for his philanthropic work with the Cincinnati Bar Association's, John W. Warrington Community Service Award. In 2013, he was the recipient of the John L. Muething Lifetime Achievement in Law Award given by the Cincinnati Bar Association for outstanding legal service. In 2019, he was honored by the USO for his service during the Korean War.

Bill often said that charitable work had been a true gift to his life and gave all credit to his faith and marriage. He served on numerous boards and organizations, including Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, Tender Mercies, the Health Resource Center, the United Services Organization (USO) Committee, St. Gertrude Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development, Little Sisters of the Poor and St. Xavier Church.

In addition to his busy schedule, he loved writing and painting and sharing his love for northern Michigan with his family and friends. He also really enjoyed traveling which included trips skiing and places around the world. And, most importantly he had a strong faith and zest for life as a dedicated friend to many.

A visitation, open to all is scheduled for Friday, September 5 (4-6) at Gilligan Funeral Home, 8225 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45236.

A Mass is scheduled for Saturday, September 6 at 10:00 am at St. Xavier Church , 611 Sycamore St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (downtown). Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Donations can be made to St. Xavier Church, 611 Sycamore St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William (Bill) Earls Santen, please visit our floral store.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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