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Family, colleagues remember attorney Chris Cherpas
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: April 14, 2023
A fierce advocate for his clients, longtime Akron attorney Christopher Theodore Cherpas made a name for himself as a top trial lawyer early in his career, becoming known for his hard-fought efforts to have the state’s guest statute declared unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court.
The statute granted immunity from liability to drivers whose actions resulted in the injuries or death of a nonpaying passenger during transport “unless such injuries or death are caused by the willful or wanton misconduct of such operator, owner, or person responsible for the operation of said motor vehicle.”
The July 23, 1975 Ohio Supreme Court decision in Primes v. Tyler which overturned the statute was unanimous, with the justices finding it violated the Ohio Constitution by denying “equal protection and benefit of the law to the people of this state by its grant of a special privilege and immunity to negligent drivers who injure nonpaying passengers” and by closing the courts and precluding “a remedy by due course of law to some but not all the people of this state.”
The court further determined the statute violated “the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, in that it denies due process of law and equal protection of the laws to the people of this state.”
At the time of the case, attorney Larry Poulos was an associate at Cherpas, Manos & Syracopoulos.
“Chris knew the timing was right to overturn this statute and together with several other attorneys worked tirelessly to present it to the Ohio Supreme Court,” said Poulos, of counsel at Barry M. Ward Co. and Rischitelli & Poulos. “The decision has helped countless passengers to pay their medical bills in situations where through no fault of their own they were injured.
“He was honored by the state and national trial lawyers associations for the part he played in this case,” said Poulos. “Chris loved being a lawyer and analyzing and presenting cases that ultimately helped solve people’s problems.”
But there was another side to Cherpas, who cared deeply for his family and friends, devoted countless hours to community endeavors and was very involved in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron.
“My dad was a loving father,” said his eldest daughter Maria Eliason. “He was strict, but understanding. He was very soft-spoken and had a great sense of humor. He stressed self-reliance and giving back to the community.
“He and my mom participated in numerous philanthropic efforts together.”
On March 1, Cherpas passed away at the age of 98.
“My dad lived life to the fullest,” said Eliason. “He actively participated in everything that crossed his path. He loved opera, art and classical music. I remember that he took us to the museums.
“He wanted to do it all, so he took advantage of every chance he could to have a new experience,” said Eliason. “He didn’t retire until he was 90.”
“Chris was an amazing mentor and friend to me,” said Poulos. “He taught me how to choose a jury and present a convincing case.
“He was always willing to learn and try new things,” said Poulos. “He was also very proud of his Greek heritage. He had an Evzone uniform, which is a costume worn by an elite Greek soldier. He would wear it every year when the church celebrated Greek Independence Day. All the kids looked forward to seeing him in it.”
Born in Toledo, Ohio on March 23, 1924, he was the eldest of Theodore Cherpas and Mary Veronie’s four children.
Cherpas’ family moved to Akron in 1930, where he graduated from Garfield High School.
He enrolled at The University of Akron but postponed his studies to serve in the U.S. Navy.
Cherpas fought in the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. He was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart for his service.
When the war ended, he returned to Akron and married Ortha N. Mollis, who was also a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron.
The couple had two daughters and a son.
“My parents were a great team,” said Eliason. “They did a lot together, golfing, traveling and hosting a number of festive fundraising events for the performing arts, namely the Weathervane Theater in Akron.”
In 1949, Cherpas received his bachelor’s degree in political science from The University of Akron.
He then attended several law schools, enabling him to carry a heavier course load and earn his law degree faster than would otherwise have been possible.
After obtaining his juris doctorate from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1951, he joined the U.S. Army, this time serving during the Korean War.
He achieved the rank of captain in the 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division.
Upon returning to Akron in 1953, Cherpas opened a general law practice, serving as legal counsel for the local United Rubber Workers union, among other clients.
In 1958, Cherpas, George Manos and Nick Syracopoulos started the law firm Cherpas, Manos & Syracopoulos.
Later, Cherpas and Manos merged their firm with Al Teodosio to form Teodosio, Cherpas & Manos.
The firm evolved into Teodosio, Cherpas, Manos & Ward after retired 9th District Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Teodosio and attorney Barry Ward were added as partners.
“I first met Mr. Cherpas in the spring of 1982,” said Ward, owner of Barry M. Ward Co. “I was a law clerk at the firm. I worked for Al Teodosio and George Manos, but I spent the most time with Chris.
“I attended depositions and hearings with him,” said Ward. “I learned a great deal from him, especially the importance of integrity and hard work. After I graduated from law school, I became an associate at the firm and later a partner.
“Chris was a very special person,” said Ward. “He was larger than life and during his heyday, he truly was the lion of the plaintiff’s bar.”
Thomas Teodosio also has fond memories of his colleague.
“Chris was extremely intelligent and a very good man,” said Teodosio. “He stood up for what was right and was an excellent attorney.
“I had the pleasure of trying cases with him as co-counsel and watching him in action, which was a great learning experience for me. Chris, George and my father Al were wonderful mentors for a young attorney like myself.
“Chris also had a way of making you feel comfortable,” said Teodosio. “If you couldn’t get along with Chris, you’d have a difficult time getting along with anyone. He was such a giving person. I was very sad to learn of his passing.”
Cherpas left the firm in 1998 to take a position as an in-house attorney at Quality Mold Inc.
A member of the Akron, Ohio State and American bar associations, the Ohio Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice, Cherpas sat on numerous boards over the years.
He was a trustee and board member at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for eight years and served as supreme president of the Pan Arcadian Federation from 1957-1958.
The Pan Arcadian Federation of America is a national philanthropic organization of Greek Americans that donates funds and expertise to Greece, including building the Pan Arcadian Hospital in Tripolis from 1949-1951.
“Our family visited Greece to commemorate a kidney dialysis unit at that hospital,” said Eliason. “At the time, dad was Arcadian supreme president and while we were there he placed a wreath upon the grave of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, Greece.”
Cherpas was elected to a two-term chapter presidency at the AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) and spent 14 years as a trustee of the District 11 AHEPA Scholarship Committee and as supreme youth counselor for the Pan Arcadian Federation of America.
He was a member of the local Masons and Shriners lodges and an active supporter of the Democratic Party.
Cherpas also coached Pee-wee Football and Little League Baseball and was a Boy Scout Master.
An avid golfer, he served as director and co-director of the Greek Orthodox Church Men’s Club Golf League from its inception in 1969 and as district director of the AHEPA golf league.
He won many championships at Fairlawn Country Club and in the AHEPA. He was also a five-time winner of national AHEPA golf championships and is said to have been very proud of his six hole-in-ones.
Funeral services were held for Cherpas on March 7 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, followed by interment at Mount Peace Cemetery.
Cherpas is survived by his daughter Maria Eliason (Jerry), son Chris Cherpas, Ph.D., granddaughters Melissa and Madison Cherpas as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ortha, daughter Professor Patricia Cherpas, brothers James and Peter and sister Catherine.