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lawyers, who inspired a generation of Ulmer
attorneys to become involved in civic activities
and the life of the Jewish community. He
served for nine years as the president of the
Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and in 1945
received the Charles Eisenman Award for his Leading the way.
outstanding contributions to the city’s social
and civic betterment. He also was the founder
of the Cleveland chapter of the American
Jewish Committee, and served as the president
of the historic Oakwood Country Club in
Cleveland Heights.
Joe’s vast impact on Cleveland is noteworthy.
In addition to serving in several community
roles, including as a Cleveland Heights City
Council member, president of the Euclid
Avenue Association, and a trustee of Mount
Sinai Hospital, the Cleveland Community
Chest, and Cleveland Bar Association, Joe
played a significant role in the development
and planning of Cleveland. In particular, he led
the initial development of Playhouse Square
by persuading the president of the Keith’s
Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit to build the Palace
Theater, which was at the time and still is one
of the most beautiful theaters in the country. In
the early days of the century, Joe also worked
on some of the city’s first zoning ordinances
and served as chairman of the Chamber of
Commerce’s City Planning Committee. For his
public service to the community, he received
the distinguished service certificate of the To the talented women in law and everywhere
Cleveland Community Fund. who continue to do extraordinary things and
Yank Ulmer had an equally fascinating
impact on the world through his devotion to shape the world: Thank you.
promoting research on the causes of blindness,
which was inspired by a two-year period of
blindness he suffered as a result of cataracts. As
an avid reader of the city’s Daily Legal News, Our business begins with you. ®
he discovered his condition when he began to
believe the type of ink used by the newspaper
was deteriorating. When the editor assured
him that was not the case, he consulted an
ophthalmologist who diagnosed him. His great CLEVELAND COLUMBUS CINCINNATI CHICAGO BOCA RATON ULMER.COM
curiosity and insistence on knowing more on
this subject led to his extensive involvement
in the field of blinding eye diseases and to a better pension plan for retired federal judges, partner of the firm and who had an enormous
the creation of research funds, which prior who at the time were significantly underpaid. influence on Cleveland. On top of being an
to that time were not available in this area. Over the years, many talented attorneys excellent business lawyer, Robert was an
Yank’s dedication led him to assist with the and partners joined the firm, resulting in education activist who was vital in the creation
creation of the National Institute for Eye various changes to the firm’s name. It was in of Cuyahoga Community College. He served
Research and the National Institute of Health 1953 that Ulmer, Berne, Gordon & Glickman as the founding chair of the school’s board of
in Neurological and Blinding Eye Diseases. In merged with the firm of Laronge & Curtis. trustees and was known for his love of learning
addition to his medical research endeavors, he With that merger came the addition of Robert and passion for exploring civic responsibility
was also largely responsible for the creation of L. Lewis, who would later become a managing and ethics issues. In his retirement, he served
April 2019 Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal | 47