Page 28 - MayJune25 Report

MEMORIALS
Memorials honor the lives of deceased members of the local Bar. For more information, contact Lisa Quintanilla at (513) 699-1391 or lquintanilla@cincybar.org.
Robert “Bob” William Rack
1947 – 2024
Bob was an attorney who served as
the director of the Cincinnati-Ham-
ilton County Criminal Justice Regional
Planning Unit before being recruited in
1981 by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of
Appeals to develop and lead what was,
at the time, considered an experimental
system of exploring settlement possibil-
ities of cases before they reached the judges. Facing increased
caseloads, the Sixth Circuit Court’s goals with the new approach
was to bring opposing parties together immediately after notice
of appeal to strive for a settlement. There began a career dedicated
to breaking down conflict in favor of communication. Bob spent
29 years at the helm of the Sixth Circuit’s mediation office and
far from experimental, mediation is now an institution within
courts across the country. The program Bob led became a national
model.
Bob was committed to
educating the public and
bar about dispute resolu-
tion and would speak at
the CBA about mediation
in the Sixth Circuit, effec-
tive mediation advocacy,
and the value of media-
tion. On one occasion, Bob
delivered his speech to the
CBA from India. Bob was
invited to speak at state
court programs, served
on the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s dispute resolution
advisory committee, and
travelled internationally
to courts in Egypt, Bangla-
desh, and India.
After retirement, Bob
continued to put his values
and passions into practice.
In 2011, he co-founded
with CBA Past President, Bea Larsen, “Beyond Civility,” a
program designed to create safe spaces for constructive conver-
sations across political divisions.
Bob loved nature and was an avid hiker. He worked closely
with Cincinnati parks, using his tenacity, charisma (and contacts)
to develop and help implement a vision for the landscape at Mt.
Storm Park in Clifton. He and his wife were two of the founders
of the Clifton Deer research project, a highly successful citizen
science initiative.
Bob received the 2010 Director’s Award for Outstanding Lead-
ership from the U.S. Administrative Office of the United States
Courts, a national award recognizing outstanding judiciary
employees. Bob was nominated by his peers across the country
for this prestigious honor.
Bob is survived by his wife of 20 years Chris Lottman; sisters
Chris Rack, Jo Rack (Frank Gomer) and Kate Cantlon (Rob); sons
with prior spouse Sandy McClure, Greg Cottin-Rack (Myriam)
and Kevin Rack (Marieke); stepson Ben Lottman (Holly); grand-
children Alma, Vida, Lelia, Maeve, and Brynnlee.
Over 40 years have passed since U.S. Sixth Circuit Chief
Judge George Edwards first concluded that appellate cases could
be settled if no one had to be the first to ask. In 1981, Robert
“Bob” William Rack developed and led the mediation program
for the Sixth Circuit which
became a national model.
Bob would pull files from
a shelf and call attor-
neys saying, “I’m from the
Sixth Circuit and I’m here
to help.” The Mediation
Program was invented
from scratch and deliber-
ately developed over time
through trial and error
and in response to regular
self-evaluation. About
one in three cases settle
without further court
involvement.
March 20th marked
the one-year anniversary
of Bob Rack’s passing. He
received the Director’s
Award from the federal
judiciary for his national
leadership. In the office,
Bob was coined the “Chief
Doodler.” (see photo) Many of the same principles that took root
in sustaining the Mediation Program for over 40 years still serve
the Sixth Circuit well.
Bob was diagnosed with leukemia in 2023, and he spent his
last year documenting his thoughts and experiences living with a
terminal illness. Bob’s reflections have been published in a book
called Facing Mortality.
28 THE REPORT | May/June 2025 | CincyBar.org