Page 27 - MarchApril26 Report

Thomas G. Cody
1941 – 2025
Tom Cody’s life was a life well lived.
He was born in the Bronx, New York City
in 1941. Tom and his wife, Mary Ellen,
were married in 1966 and had four chil-
dren: Thomas (Deborah), Mark (Justine),
Anne Texter (Len) and Amy Sprong
(Nate), as well as 11 grandchildren. Tom attended Xavier High
School in New York City and Maryknoll College. After college,
Tom attended St. John’s University School of Law, graduating first
in his class in 1967.
Tom began his legal career at Simpson Thacher in New York
City before returning to St. John’s to teach tax law. He then joined
the legal department at Pan American World Airways, ultimately
rising to the level of general counsel. In 1982, he was recruited to
Cincinnati by Ralph Lazarus to become senior vice president for
law and public affairs at Federated Department Stores, Inc.
It was the beginning of a 28-year career that helped guide the
company through a take-over, bankruptcy, mergers, acquisitions
and ultimately its conversion to the Macy’s nameplate nationwide.
During those years, Tom also lent his time and talent to bettering
the lives of countless Cincinnatians, serving on the boards of
Xavier University, St. Xavier High School, St. Ursula Academy and
Central State University, among others; and chairing the annual
United Way campaign and the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of
Commerce.
But it was in the aftermath of racial discord and civic unrest in
2001 that Tom Cody, a man proficient in facing down challenges,
faced what was the city’s biggest in 40 years. He co-chaired the
Cincinnati Community Action Now committee (CAN), estab-
lished to address underlying racial issues that had boiled into
an outbreak of violence. The work involved hundreds of volun-
teers from all aspects of community life and focused on issues
ranging from health care and education to policing and the crim-
inal justice system. Its lasting impact includes the establishment of
community-oriented policing in neighborhoods throughout the
city, along with the creation of the Minority Business Accelerator
and the Success By Six program.
After retiring as vice chair of Macy’s Inc. in 2010, Tom
continued to serve as chairman of the board of Cincinnati Chil-
dren’s Hospital Medical Center. During his eight-year tenure
there, he involved himself in all aspects of one of the nation’s
premier research hospitals.
Tom Cody will be greatly missed, not only by his loving family,
but by the many friends and colleagues whose lives intersected
with his over the years. For them and all who knew him, none are
likely to forget this man from the Bronx who made Cincinnati
better by making it his home.
Carol Sanger
Ralph P. Ginocchio, Esq.
m e m o r i a l s
William H. Eder, Jr.
1938 – 2025
William H. (‘Bill”) Eder, Jr. passed
away at his residence at the age of 87.
After graduating from high school, Bill
attended the University of Cincinnati
where he received his B.A. degree in 1959,
and his law degree in 1963. He spent his
entire career at Wood, Lamping, Slutz & Reckman (now Wood +
Lamping) where he chaired the Business Practice Department for
many years, until his retirement in the year 2000. Throughout his
career he devoted his professional life to the practice of law with
unwavering integrity and dedication.
Bill was known for his love of buying and selling cars
and trucks, eventually leading to the legal representation of
many of greater Cincinnati’s automobile and truck dealerships.
His expertise in car dealership mergers and acquisitions, floor
plan financing, and real estate leases was well recognized. His
business acumen took him into the bankruptcy arena wherein he
distinguished himself representing debtors, creditors, and credi-
tors committees. He was part of the legal team that argued for the
dischargeability of the monetary judgment related to the infamous
Chem-Dyne toxic waste site ultimately decided in the Supreme
Court landmark decision, In re Kovacs. Among other claims to
fame, was his mention in Ann Hagedorn Auerbach’s “Wild Ride,”
a book that chronicled the death of the famous breeding stallion,
Alydar, misuse of company assets, and the resulting downfall
and demise of the legendary Calumet Horse Breeding Farm in
Lexington, Kentucky. Bill led the legal team that, on behalf of
the Creditors’ Committee, pursued Calumet’s board of direc-
tors which included bank officers, for breach of fiduciary duty,
resulting in a multi-million-dollar settlement and payment to the
bankruptcy estate for the benefit of creditors.
Bill dedicated his life to service, faith, and community. He
was a long-time parishioner and usher at Corpus Christi Cath-
olic Church, and served on the North College Hill City Council
during the 1970’s, contributing his time and talent to the place
he called home. He also served as chairman of the Bankruptcy
Committee of the Cincinnati Bar Association from 1982 – 1984.
A man of kindness, humility, and steadfast devotion, tempered by
a wonderful sense of humor, he will always be remembered for the
deep love he had for his family, and the respect he always showed
toward his clients and colleagues at Wood + Lamping.
A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he is
survived by his second wife, Maria Eder; his sons, William H.
Eder III and Robert F. Eder; and his grandchildren, Kristina M.
Kidwell, Jeanette P. Bauer, Jacqueline M. Brougham and Robert
“Bobby” Eder Jr. He was also the proud great-grandfather of
Sutton Bauer. His first wife, the late Patricia (née Stout), preceded
him in death.
His Partners, Friends and Colleagues at Wood + Lamping
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