Lewis Gerrans Gatch

Lewis Gerrans Gatch died in his sleep on April 28, 2026 at the age of 91. Born the youngest of seven children, Lew grew up on the family farm in Milford, Ohio (Arrowhead Farm) where his love of family and the outdoors was planted. He spent his youth playing sports with his siblings and neighborhood friends, swimming in the East Fork of the Little Miami River, walking to Milford Main School over the hill through the woods, working on the farm and as a local carpenter's helper. At 14 he obtained his driver's license to drive to Walnut Hills High School, a proud member of the Class of 1952 and a devoted, lifelong alumnus. Lew graduated from Princeton University (ROTC) in 1956, married his childhood sweetheart, Noralee Thomas, and then served two years in the U.S. Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana, training to be a forward observer and receiving his paratrooper wings. Afterward, they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Lew pursued a law degree at the University of Michigan. He proudly recalled obtaining the second highest score on the State of Ohio Bar exam before joining the family law firm, Gatch, Ritchie and Kleinmann in Cincinnati in 1961. He practiced in the areas of estate planning, administration and planned giving for nearly 65 years in Cincinnati and northern Michigan. He especially enjoyed meeting and talking with people, offering advice and counseling them. In 1973, he earned an MBA from Xavier University.

Lew was a writer, storyteller, man of letters, and the consummate editor who could improve any sentence, always ready with a pen clipped to his shirt. His cards, poems and letters are treasured keepsakes. He was the oldest and longest-serving member of The Literary Club of Cincinnati and produced many great papers through the years which were all creative labors of love.

A natural emcee who never passed up an open mike, Lew found a new passion in the 1990s for giving lively seminars on revocable living trusts to avoid probate and estate tax and hosting two successful call-in radio programs -- "Everybody's Planning Hour" on WTCM in Traverse City, Michigan and on WMKV in Cincinnati - which brought him immense pleasure meeting and interviewing guests and discussing estate planning and any other topic which struck his fancy.

Out of the office, Lew enjoyed spending time with his family fishing on Lake Leelanau, Lake Michigan and the Gulf of Mexico, cycling, playing bridge, any and all racquet sports, boating, golfing, punning, and going on Costco runs. His eternal optimism, humor, fun-seeking, warmth, wisdom, and energy touched many lives. He was a true gentleman.

He is survived by his loving Wife of 69 years who stood by him in their kindergarten class photo and to the end, Noralee, children Leah Tremonti (David), John Gatch (Jeri), and Elizabeth Gatch Wolfington, and grandchildren Grace Tremonti, Minna Tremonti, Vincent Tremonti, Lily Jordan (Charlie), Lewis Gatch, Nora Wolfington and Gwendolyn Wolfington, and sister, Diana Avril, in addition to many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Orpha Gatch, and siblings Ann Gatch, John N. Gatch Jr., Mary Gatch, Dorothy Gatch, and

Margaret Griess. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, Ohio. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Valley View Foundation, 790 Garfield Avenue, Milford, OH 45150, (513) 218-1098, https://www.valleyviewcampus.org. Valley View is a nonprofit organization located at Arrowhead Farm with the mission of conserving land, preserving history and sharing it with the community.