Richard Donovan Emch

Richard Donovan Emch

Richard Donovan Emch, a highly regarded patent attorney, and, more importantly, an all-around good guy, died at age 89 from congestive heart failure on Aug. 7, 2024, at Ebeid Hospice Center in Sylvania.

Dick felt he was a lucky man. And he was. He was born to loving parents who valued education, came of age in post-World War II America, and enjoyed good health for most of his life.

But luckiest of all for him was meeting Suzie Marsteller when they were seniors at DeVilbiss High School. Dick and Sue were never far apart after that, ultimately marrying on April 4, 1956. During their 68-year marriage, they enjoyed a wonderful relationship enriched by having four sons – Brian, Gregg, Dale, and David, and having so many fun times with treasured friends who went back to their high school years.

Richard was born in Toledo on Dec. 1, 1934, and was the only child of Donovan and Hazel Emch. His early years were filled with Saturday fishing expeditions. His father, a political science professor at the University of Toledo, taught Dick to fish at age 5.

Fishing remained a passion for Dick throughout his life. As a father, he took each of his sons on separate fishing trips to Canada. Three of the four really enjoyed the fishing. The other, well, he still enjoyed getting away with his dad!

Dick graduated from the University of Toledo in 1957, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In college, he participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and upon graduation was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia, and served for several years on active and reserve duty.

While working as an engineer, Dick attended law school at the University of Toledo. After being admitted to practice law in Ohio in 1963, he joined the Toledo law firm of Owen & Owen. This firm later became Emch, Schaffer, & Schaub in which he was a senior partner. During his 40-year legal career, he oversaw patent, trademark, and copyright matters for clients in Toledo and around the country.

Three of his sons – Gregg, Dale, and David – followed in Dick's footsteps by becoming attorneys. Gregg practiced with his dad until Dick retired in 2003. Brian wisely avoided the practice by becoming an accomplished musician. (Dick always loved hearing Brian play the guitar.)

In addition to fishing, Dick's other favorite pastime was playing tennis, a sport he picked up in college. He made good friends through tennis, playing with many of the same guys for decades. Most of those matches occurred at the Toledo Tennis Club, where he served for a period as board president. Dick and his son Dale once teamed up to win a club championship in doubles in what might charitably have been dubbed the hackers division.

In addition to playing tennis, Dick was a sports fan who enjoyed watching his sons' games. He particularly had fun over the years attending David's basketball and baseball games.

Dick enjoyed participating in many organizations. He was a member of the Army Navy Club in Washington, D.C., and the Rockwell Springs Trout Club near Castalia, Ohio. He spent time as a leader in the Boy Scouts, his church, and served as president of the Toledo Patent Law Association.

Dick always enjoyed traveling, taking special trips with his son Gregg to Japan, Hong Kong, and various countries in Europe. He and Sue also traveled together frequently, with highlights including cruises with lifelong friends to Hawaii, Alaska, and the Mediterranean. They also enjoyed many wonderful years at their cottage at Wamplers Lake in the Irish Hills of Michigan and escaping the winter in Naples, Florida.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne; and sons, Brian, of Cincinnati, Gregg (Kelly) of Sylvania, Dale (Kim Bates) of Toledo, and David (Sharon Rim) of Atlanta; along with grandchildren, Matt Emch (Lauren) and Henry Emch, of Cincinnati, and granddaughters Claire, Chloe, and Gabrielle Emch, of Atlanta. He has one great-grandson, Benjamin Emch of Cincinnati.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Sallee Fry, who was Brian's wife.

The family would like to thank Dr. Don Vogel, Dick's longtime family physician, and Dr. Kelly Emch, his daughter-in-law, for their skilled and kind care over the years. The family also thanks hospice nurses Anita, Wendy, Sarah, and Kathy for their friendly and compassionate care both at home and at Ebeid Hospice Center.

In keeping with Dick's wishes, there will be no visitation and interment will be private. The family suggests donations to the Ebeid Hospice Center, Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 E. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551.