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Former Akron Legal News reporter passes away
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 30, 2018
When former Summit County Probate Court Judge Todd McKenney launched his “Good Deeds Project” in 2012 to assist residents in identifying probate assets and educate them about how simple updates on their deeds could help them avoid probate costs, he was in need of volunteers to look up thousands of deeds.
While a number people were willing to help, he said there was no one more committed to the project than former Akron Legal News associate editor and reporter Benjamin C. White.
“Ben came to some of the meetings and spent hours looking up deeds on the Summit County Fiscal Office website,” said Judge McKenney, who now presides over the Barberton Municipal Court. “He did not receive any compensation for his efforts, but he was determined to do his part.”
His efforts took place at the same time that he was working full time at the paper and preparing to embark on the law school admissions process.
“Ben was an outstanding person,” said Judge McKenney. “I was very impressed with him.”
Those closest to him said White had a long list of goals and the motivation to achieve them. But on Jan. 1 he died unexpectedly at the age of 27.
“It’s been so hard,” said his mother Carol White. “He was such a wonderful person. Ben was bigger than life and a dedicated son. He called home every week.
“The only thing that gives me comfort is that I know he’s in a better place.”
“I was shocked and saddened by the news,” said Judge McKenney.
At the Akron Legal News, his loss has been hard on many of those who worked with him, especially editor Susan Gutierrez.
“Ben was such a remarkable young man,” said Suzie. “Not only was Ben incredibly smart and talented, he was funny, unassuming and a joy to be around.”
Stacie Pickett, graphic designer at the Akron Legal News, described White as an “eloquent writer and a really great kid.
“We had a lot of good conversations,” said Pickett. “He could strike up a conversation with anyone in the office, no matter the person’s age or demographic.
“He was smart and witty and did not have a malicious bone in his body.”
Born in Akron on June 1, 1990 to John and Carol White, he was their only child.
As a young boy, he attended Summit Christian School, where his mother said teachers and staff guided him through his spiritual and academic growth and encouraged his thirst for knowledge.
“When Ben first learned to read, he read everything,” said Carol. “He would read the cereal boxes and point out typos to me.
“He was always so precise and accurate,” she said.
As a senior at Firestone High School, his mother said White served as editor of the school paper.
“Ben always had a way with words and he was a very good writer,” said Carol.
It was in high school that White developed a number of close friendships that continued throughout his life.
One of White’s good friends was Alex Paul.
“We played football together at Firestone High School,” said Paul, a counselor for Stark County Probation. “Ben was the kind of person who made you feel better about yourself every time you spent time with him.
“He was very upbeat and I shared a lot of my goals with him, which he motivated me to work to achieve,” said Paul. “We had a lot of fun together over the years. He was an avid Browns and Cavs fan and we played a lot of golf together.”
After graduating from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2012, White got the job at the Akron Legal News.
He worked at the paper for two years, spending much of his free time studying for the LSAT.
“I had never seen anyone so determined to fulfill a dream,” said Gutierrez. “Ben studied so hard for the LSAT exam knowing that a high score would open doors for him to most of the top law schools and he hoped earn him scholarships as well,” said Gutierrez. “He scored a 175 out of 180 and Northwestern was all but too happy to pay his way through school.”
“Ben spent an entire year studying for the LSAT,” said Pickett. “He was so determined to do well.”
Pickett said during the time that White worked for the Akron Legal News, she decided to go back to school and was seeking scholarship money.
“I had to write an essay and after I completed it both Ben and Suzie looked it over,” said Pickett. “Ben changed the lead for me and made it so much better.
“After I got the scholarship money, I wanted Ben to have some money for his assistance. He turned around and bought me a gift with it. That’s how beautiful he was.”
In May 2017, White graduated from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, later accepting a job in the Cleveland office of Jones Day. He moved to Cleveland and began working at the firm as a law clerk in October. He was preparing to take the bar exam in February 2018. Had he passed the bar, he would have become an associate.
In an email Heather Lennox, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Cleveland office stated, “Ben was just starting his career and was well regarded by those he worked with at Jones Day. His loss has greatly affected his friends at the Firm. We extend our sincerest condolences to Ben’s family.”
High school friend JoZeff Gebolys, an associate at Brouse McDowell, lived in the same building as White.
“Ben and I have been friends for about 10 years,” said Gebolys. “Ben was a very caring person and a wonderful friend. If you went to him with a question or a problem, you always left the conversation with the feeling that he really cared and wanted to help. I’ll miss those conversations dearly.
“The Ohio legal community really lost out when Ben passed away,” said Gebolys. “He would have been a phenomenal lawyer and a great addition to the legal community.”
“We kept in touch during his time in Chicago and I was thrilled when he decided to move back to the northeast Ohio area,” said Gutierrez. “I looked forward to being able to watch him grow as a young attorney and spend more time with him socially.
“But sadly this was not to be and I will miss him terribly.”
“He loved his job at Jones Day and he loved his family,” said Carol. “He was such a good man and we lost him way too soon.”
There were no calling hours. His mother said instead she asked all those who knew and cared for her son to get together and share their memories.
“I think the best way to pay tribute to Ben is to show acts of kindness and love toward others,” said Carol. “Ben would have liked that.”