Philip Kaufmann

Philip S. (Phil) Kaufmann was a principled, passionate, and philanthropic attorney who was devoted to his family, enthusiastically contributed to his profession and his community, and throughout his nearly 50-year career, personally assisted thousands of families with children who have disabilities. Surrounded by his family, he passed away July 28, 2025 at The Village of St. Edwards in Fairlawn. His is a legacy of love, leadership, and generosity.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 40 years, Patricia; his devoted son, Christopher; sisters Anne Kaufmann, Mary Jo Chionchio, Francis Michalik (Jim), and Carol Cadill (Fred); three nephews; and many friends and colleagues.

Born to Claire and Frank Kaufmann on July 18, 1946, Phil made Akron his home. He graduated from St. Vincent High School in 1964, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1968 and a Juris Doctor from The University of Akron School of Law in 1971. While in law school, he taught at St. Vincent - St. Mary High School, and enjoyed coaching the school's golf team.

Following law school, he joined his father at the family firm of Kaufmann & Kaufmann. He served as managing partner, building an estate planning practice and establishing a reputation as an advocate and sought-after expert for parents of children and adults with developmental disabilities who required guardianships and special needs care and protection. In 2007, he took this expertise to the Akron office of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs and then in 2009 to Stark & Knoll. There, he spent 11 years as a partner and group chair of the firm's Estate Planning and Probate Group before retiring in 2020. He relentlessly served his clients, wards, and colleagues, believing that the best part of estate administration was helping people set their future goals in a way that ensured those wishes would be carried out as a legacy to the lives they lived.

Philip served in a leadership capacity on numerous boards of local organizations with great energy and passion including Summit Excellence; Catholic Disabilities; St. Edward's Nursing Home; The University of Akron's Board of Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors, and National Alumni Board; Blossom Music Center; Cleveland's Business Volunteers Unlimited: Center for Non-Profit Excellence; Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation; Community Fund Management Foundation in Cleveland; North Coast Community Homes; ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens); Salvation Army of Summit County; Summit County Historical Society. He was a past Foundation President of the Probate Section of The Akron Bar Association.

Phil was actively involved with Summa Health, serving as a member of its Behavioral Health Institute Leadership Council and as a director of both the Summa Health and Summa Health Foundation's Board of Directors. He was the inaugural chair of the Summa Health Charles Deering Legacy Advisor Leadership Council and received its Charles Deering Legacy Advisor Leadership Award. He was also the honoree of the 2018 Summa Health Golf Outing.

One of Phil's proudest moments and evidence of his outstanding personal integrity, community service, and professional excellence was when the Cleveland Catholic Diocese awarded him the prestigious Sir Thomas More Award, presented by Bishop Pilla. He was recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Inside Business as a Leading Lawyer for his work in the areas of trusts and estates, as well as by Ohio Super Lawyers in the areas of estate planning and probate. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He particularly cherished the Heart to Hand Award in recognition of exceptional service to the Salvation Army.

Beyond law and his service in the community, Phil's personal passion was traveling the world by cruising (more than 60) with Patty, Christopher, and his sister Anne. Their elaborate excursions took them to every continent except Antarctica. He enjoyed playing golf and, through his travels or on golf trips with his buddies, discovered courses from Nairobi to St. Andrews. He was especially fond of his outings with friends Bill Ginter, Beth Kartarius, Roger Spiller, and Loma and John Swett.

Our devoted, generous, committed, tenacious, accomplished, ambitious, humorous, eccentric, scrappy, social Philip rests lovingly in the arms of the angels but will be deeply, deeply missed.

Calling hours will be 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, August 4, at the Hummel Funeral Home, Fairlawn, 2800 W. Market Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Vincent de Paul, 164 West Market St., Akron on Tuesday, August 5, at 10am. Burial will be private at a later date. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cleveland Area Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 3 Summit Park Drive, #550, Independence, Ohio, 44131.

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others remains and is immortal."