Charles Ault

Surrounded by family, Charles Rollin Ault passed away on August 31st. For over a half a century he was a lawyer first with the firm of Falsgraff, Reidy, Shoup, and Ault and then was a partner at Baker and Hostetler. Known as "Chuck" or "Charlie" to friends, family, and colleagues alike, he lived life with will and determination from his first day to his last. Charlie was as devoted to community and civic service as he was to generations of his family. For many years Chuck was a member of the congregation of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights. He worked with the church in the 1960s to establish a housing restoration program serving underprivileged families that continues to the present. His legal voice promoted school integration and fair housing during the civil rights struggles of the 60s and 70s in Cleveland. As a trustee of the Cleveland YMCA, he took special interest in advancing its camp programs. His faith was essential to these accomplishments. Chuck served as the president of the board of trustees of Meyer's College in Cleveland as it transformed itself from a two-year to four-year school. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law, he became president of its alumni association in 1982. Sadly, his youngest son, Jonathan, who also graduated from Case Western Reserve University, suffered an untimely death. In his memory and in turning to his longtime business associates, Charlie worked with the school to arrange an endowed scholarship program that offers a financial prize to the winners of the annual Jonathan McLeod Ault Moot Court Competition. As an infantry Captain and fluent in German, Charles Ault entered the army in World War II and served in Berlin during the occupation. As a reservist, he was called into active duty during the Korean War where the army put his incisive legal mind to work in Japan. He developed a respect and interest for both cultures, leading to his family's hosting of international exchange students on several occasions. A long-time resident of Northeast Ohio, Chuck and Janice enjoyed several years of retirement in Tucson, Arizona, before returning to Ohio and an active life at Laurel Lake in Hudson. Chuck will be interred in a private family gathering in Lake View Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at First Congregational Church of Hudson, 47 Aurora Street, Hudson, OH on Friday, September 14 at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the Jonathan Ault Moot Court scholarship fund of Case Western Reserve Law School, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106.


PDF Printable Version