Linton loved law, his family
70-year-old founded college fund for kids

By Tracy Wheeler
Beacon Journal staff writer


Published on Sunday, Feb 10, 2008

Most people knew Robert F. Linton as an attorney, the managing partner of Akron's oldest law firm.

Law was certainly a passion of his, as was his family, which included a wife of 27 years, four children and six grandchildren.

Mr. Linton, 70, died Friday
after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.

But nearly a decade ago, a new passion blossomed — to give some of Akron's most disadvantaged elementary school students the chance to attend college.

In 1999, 20 third-graders were selected for Collegescholars Inc. with the promise that they would maintain good grades and good conduct through high school. If they could do that, their college would be paid for.

The first of those students is set to graduate from North High School at the end of this school year.

''That's probably the thing that bothers me the most'' about his passing, said law partner Stephen Pruneski, ''that he won't get to see those kids graduate.''

The managing partner at Roderick, Myers & Linton for the past 30 years, Mr. Linton specialized in business law and complex litigation. He represented such high-profile clients as FirstEnergy Corp., Dominion East Ohio Gas, the University of Akron, and Kent State University, along with many smaller businesses in all types of litigation, according to the firm's Web site.

He met his wife — Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Deborah Cook — at the law firm, where she became the firm's first female partner.

A major supporter of Republican candidates, Mr. Linton was also involved with the Zips Advancement Council, the University of Akron Foundation, and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mr. Linton's memory to the University of Akron Foundation or the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.

Though Mr. Linton devoted much of his later years to the Collegescholars program, he never sought recognition for it.

''It was never about him,'' said his law partner Kurt Weitendorf. ''He felt the need to give something back to the community.''

And he didn't just make the scholarship offer, then wait nine years until graduation. He mentored some of the children, and found mentors for others. He took them on field trips to museums, Cedar Point, or University of Akron basketball games.

''Bob was like a second father or a big brother to these children,'' Weitendorf said.

Mr. Linton and his wife were the creators and primary funders of Collegescholars. The goal of allowing poor students to attend college likely sprung from his own childhood, said sister-in-law Nancy O'Connor.

''He was working at 13 and pretty much never stopped,'' she said. ''He had to support his mother and his siblings. He always viewed education as a way to a better life.''

A now-expired Web page for Collegescholars relayed the thoughts of one 16-year-old participant, who said his favorite two things about the program are that ''he gets to go to college . . . because everyone wants to go to college,'' and he ''enjoys having Mr. Linton make him get good grades.''

The boy added that his career goal ''is to become a lawyer because he wants to take over Mr. Linton's law firm.''


Most people knew Robert F. Linton as an attorney, the managing partner of Akron's oldest law firm.

Law was certainly a passion of his, as was his family, which included a wife of 27 years, four children and six grandchildren.

Mr. Linton, 70, died Friday
after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.

But nearly a decade ago, a new passion blossomed — to give some of Akron's most disadvantaged elementary school students the chance to attend college.

In 1999, 20 third-graders were selected for Collegescholars Inc. with the promise that they would maintain good grades and good conduct through high school. If they could do that, their college would be paid for.

The first of those students is set to graduate from North High School at the end of this school year.

''That's probably the thing that bothers me the most'' about his passing, said law partner Stephen Pruneski, ''that he won't get to see those kids graduate.''

The managing partner at Roderick, Myers & Linton for the past 30 years, Mr. Linton specialized in business law and complex litigation. He represented such high-profile clients as FirstEnergy Corp., Dominion East Ohio Gas, the University of Akron, and Kent State University, along with many smaller businesses in all types of litigation, according to the firm's Web site.

He met his wife — Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Deborah Cook — at the law firm, where she became the firm's first female partner.

A major supporter of Republican candidates, Mr. Linton was also involved with the Zips Advancement Council, the University of Akron Foundation, and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mr. Linton's memory to the University of Akron Foundation or the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.

Though Mr. Linton devoted much of his later years to the Collegescholars program, he never sought recognition for it.

''It was never about him,'' said his law partner Kurt Weitendorf. ''He felt the need to give something back to the community.''

And he didn't just make the scholarship offer, then wait nine years until graduation. He mentored some of the children, and found mentors for others. He took them on field trips to museums, Cedar Point, or University of Akron basketball games.

''Bob was like a second father or a big brother to these children,'' Weitendorf said.

Mr. Linton and his wife were the creators and primary funders of Collegescholars. The goal of allowing poor students to attend college likely sprung from his own childhood, said sister-in-law Nancy O'Connor.