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Akron attorney remembered for his courageous & dignified battle with cancer
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 22, 2015
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Friends and colleagues of Akron attorney Matthew Paul Gaeckle say he proved his true character, fighting his cancer with all he had, while enjoying and making the most of his life in process and even setting up an organization to help others with Melanoma.
Gaeckle passed away on June 25 at the age of 45 at HMC Hospice of Medina County.
“I’ve known Matt since he was in law school and we also shared office space on South Main Street for a few years,” said criminal law practitioner Paul Grant.
“No matter what the situation Matt always had a great sense of humor. He handled a very difficult and devastating health situation with humor. Matt never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him.
“I saw him in hospice recently and while we were talking the nurse came in and asked if she could get him anything. He replied, ‘yes a cure for cancer.’ He had a smile on his face when he said it.”
“I saw Matt about two months ago when he had a jury trial in my court,” said Barberton Municipal Court Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger, who once shared office space with Gaeckle. “He did not look well, but he still had a smile on his face even though he was really sick.”
Born April 29, 1970 in Fairview Park, Ohio, Gaeckle spent a portion of his life in Clarksburg, West Virginia before settling in Medina.
A graduate of Walsh Jesuit High School, Gaeckle received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Kent State University, devoting the early part of his career to teaching. While he was a student at The University of Akron School of Law, Grant said Gaeckle was an intern in the Akron City Prosecutor’s office. After Gaeckle graduated, he went into private practice.
Around 2008, he opened the Gaeckle Law Office, where he handled criminal defense, drunk driving cases and civil matters.
“Matt has many siblings and my wife’s family married into his family,” said Grant. “I knew his sister and his older brother. They had talked about me to Matt and I got to know him that way.
“I thought a great deal of that man long before his cancer diagnosis. He was a hard working attorney, who loved his children and loved having a great time.”
“Matt was a tenacious fighter both as a lawyer and a person battling cancer,” said Akron Municipal Court Judge David G. Lombardi.
Judge Lombardi first met Gaeckle in court while still a sole practitioner, recently sharing office space with him at 209 S. Main St.
“Matt really loved his family and spent a lot of time with his four children,” said Judge Lombardi.
“He was a very colorful guy and a wonderful advocate for his clients. He thought very well on his feet and came up with some creative arguments.
“I recall one story where the prosecutor was cross examining Matt’s client about the client’s tattoos,” said Judge Lombardi. “After the prosecutor finished, Matt, on redirect, asked his client if he had noticed that the prosecutor herself had a tattoo. That created some fireworks.”
Medina Municipal Court Magistrate Diane Dougherty discussed a drug trafficking case in which a client of Gaeckle’s had been found with small packets of drugs.
“Before the closing arguments, Matt went to the cafeteria and bought small bags of potato chips to make the point that they were for his own personal use, just like the small bags were for his client’s own personal use,” said Magistrate Dougherty.
“He was very quick on his feet. His argument was one that I would not have thought of.
“Matt was a wonderful, courageous person. He never let his illness get him down. We’re really going to miss him,” said Magistrate Dougherty.
Noah Munyer, a partner at Keith Godward & Munyer in Cuyahoga Falls, said Gaeckle always made himself available to help other criminal law attorneys who had questions or needed assistance with a case.
“Matt gave of his time freely,” said Munyer. “He was a well respected trial attorney because he was not afraid to challenge judges’ rulings when fighting for his clients.”
In June 2011 Gaeckle started the Sunflower Melanoma Foundation to fund education and research and help people pay for early screening for Melanoma skin cancer.
Grant said in 2014 Gaeckle went on a quest to raise money for the organization.
“He was a big runner and he was in really good shape,” said Grant. “Last year, he pledged to run a half-marathon every month. He ended up completing 14 half-marathons and one full marathon.
“He has four children and recently we were talking and some of them have decided to participate in all those races again to honor him. I think it’s a great tribute.”
“My brother Tom and I are active runners and we’re hoping if we do half-marathons in the future, we will be doing the same ones my dad has done,” said Gaeckle’s oldest child Amanda.
“My dad was always there for everything that we did, every activity. If we had a small interest in something, he would make a big deal out of it and try and push that idea into a reality.
“For example, when he saw I was into photography, he looked up equipment, gave me pointers and contact numbers for some of his friends who were into it.”
Judge Lanzinger recalled seeing Gaeckle at some of his races. “Matt was an avid runner especially after he was diagnosed with cancer. He made it a point to live life to the fullest.
“He was very encouraging to other runners like myself. If I ran a race and posted my time on Facebook, he would always congratulate me,” said Judge Lanzinger. “For me running made me feel alive and I think he got the same high from running.”
“One thing people did not know about my father is that he really liked making bread, especially in the last two years,” said Amanda. “I can remember that very often the whole kitchen would be filled with flour and the oven was always on. He would get really creative and make bread bowls. My brothers and I loved it.
“My father was definitely the best dad anyone could ever ask for,” said Amanda. “Everyone makes mistakes, but he was the one to try and fix them and put a smile on your face. I think the things that I will miss the most are his laugh and his being there for us.”
Gaeckle was laid to rest on June 29 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Medina.
He’s survived by his children, Amanda, Timothy, Thomas and Nicholas; his siblings, Richard (Shara), John (Julie), Ruth Clay (Mark), Jim (Mary), Edward (Lori) and Andrew (Lynn). He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Joan Gaeckle.