James Wilsman

Jim was born in Port Huron Michigan on October 7, 1939 to Fay and Leo Wilsman. He had a younger brother, Tom Wilsman. After moving many times with his family, Jim graduated from Howland High School near Warren Ohio in 1957. Jim then attended Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio where he majored in Political Science and graduated in 1961. Jim graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a Juris Doctor in 1964. After graduation, he joined the law firm Squire, Sanders and Dempsey. Jim was a partner in the law firms of Parks Eisele, Bates and Wilsman, and Wilsman and Schoonover in addition to working for many other law firms in the Cleveland area over the course of his career practicing family law. Jim lived in Shaker Heights, Ohio from 1967-2011, and was an active member of The Shaker Heights Country Club since the early 1970's. Jim was married to Sandy Wilsman nee Keith, and is survived by their two children, Sarah and David Wilsman, and three granddaughters, Julia Bartell and Maria and Victoria Wilsman. Professionally, Jim was an active member of the law community, particularly in the early 1970's and 1980's. In 1972 Jim was elected a Trustee of The Cleveland Bar Association. In 1972 he argued a case in the Cuyahoga County Court of Appeals to reduce the size of Cleveland's City Council. In 1973 he served as the President and Trustee of The Citizens League of Greater Cleveland. And in 1975 he was selected as one of the ten Outstanding Young Men of America. Jim also served as the Chairman of the American Bar Association's Ohio Committee to provide legal assistance to families of POW's and MIA's in The Vietnam War. Jim also served as the President of The Alumni Council of the Hiram College Alumni Association and was a member of the President's Forum and a member of The Garfield Society as a distinguished alum of the college. Sober since 1981, Jim helped others suffering from alcoholism, especially those in the legal profession. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in Jim's name to Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio 44234. Memorial Services will be held at Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights, 2860 Coventry Road, Shaker Heights at Weymouth Road on Friday, May 6 at 4 PM.


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