Lawyer known for philanthropy

One of the major forces of philanthropy in Newark for decades, J. Gilbert Reese, died Tuesday morning at the age of 93.

Reese was born in Newark in 1925. He served in the United States Army Medical Corps during World War II before receiving his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University, where he earned a varsity “O” in men’s gymnastics, according to his family. He received his law degree from Ohio State’s College of Law, as it was known at the time, in 1952.

Reese went on to be a founding partner at the Newark law firm Reese, Pyle, Meyer and was a director at Park National Bank, among other corporations, but he is better known for his philanthropic efforts.

Newark City Council President Don Ellington said Reese was a class act who did not want credit for his philanthropy and other actions on behalf of the community.

“There are so many things he did that were behind the scenes,” Ellington said. “That’s just the kind of guy he was.”

“He has certainly changed the landscape of Newark and Licking County in a very big way,” Reese’s daughter, Sarah Wallace, said.

Reese also made sure his five children and 12 grandchildren saw his example of giving back.

“A day doesn’t go by that someone hasn’t stopped me and asked about how he’s doing or thanked me for what he’s done,” Wallace said. “It’s constant, and I think that will continue to be the case.”

When Reese became unable to work full-time about eight years ago, Wallace, who worked with her father for 40 years, said his children and grandchildren have continued his life’s work of making their communities a better place.

“It’s in our DNA to give back and to want to contribute and want to lead,” Wallace said. “The Reese thing about Dad was, he was complete integrity at all times.”

Reese was a founding trustee of the Thomas J. Evans Foundation in 1965, as well as a key player in bringing the Ohio State University branch campus to Newark in 1971 and the Central Ohio Technical College, for which he served as trustee and chairman in the 1970s.

His name adorns the event center on the COTC campus and the Newark hockey rink, along with his wife, Lou. He also helped to build more than 40 miles of bike trails in Licking County.

“His extraordinary vision has touched nearly every facet of life from recreation, cultural arts, education and social service delivery,” Reese’s family wrote in his obituary.

Reese is survived by his wife, two sons, three daughters, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services for Reese will be private.