Joseph H. Feldhaus was a man for all seasons. Born into a loving academic family on December 30, 1951, Joe himself would go on to become a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a discerning Catholic, an active leader in his community, an athlete, and a brilliant lawyer. After a courageous battle with cancer, Joe left this life and went to Heaven on July 22, 2024, surrounded by his family, dedicated nurse, and Hospice caregiver. He is survived by his wife, Marcheta Gillam; their much-treasured daughters, Elena and Claudia and their families, including Elena's husband Jason Jones, and their three perfect children, Jack, Indy and Lila. As well as Claudia's better half, Sean Maher, and their three perfect children, Travis, Reese and Lane. Joe is also survived by his much-loved sister Anne and her husband Stephen MacKinnon.

Joe was a 1970 graduate of St. Xavier High School, attended Xavier University, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in criminal justice. He then began the adventure that would shape his future. He headed out west with his life-long friend, Ed Babbitt, to attend Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. There not only did he find his calling in the law, but he met the love of his life, Marcheta Gillam. They married in Los Angeles in 1981; together they created a close-knit family, and they shared a passion for law and justice. Moving back to Cincinnati, Joe spent the bulk of his career beginning in 1982 at the firm which is now named Beckman Weil Shepardson LLC. Subsequently, beginning in 2011, he became Xavier University's first in-house General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Marcheta spent over thirty-five years as a Housing Lawyer at the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio.

Joe's grasp of real estate law (his specialty) and his creative problem-solving skills evolved from his close relationship at the firm with his earliest mentors, Vincent and Paul Beckman. Joe became an invaluable leader in the firm, at Xavier University, in Kennedy Heights, and in the affordable housing community throughout Cincinnati. Joe's relationship with Xavier went far beyond lawyer-client. Xavier was his love and passion, and he became an accomplished student of Jesuit tradition, including its intellectual rigor. As most would say, Joe had a special chamber in his heart reserved for St. Francis Xavier, and accordingly Joe's blood ran Xavier blue.

Joe had a special solicitude for all persons relegated to the margins of society, including the mentally ill homeless. He was key to the establishment of Tender Mercies in the mid-1980s, and his commitment continued to the present. In addition to serving as the Board president and volunteer lawyer, he served dinner at Tender Mercies with his family one evening each month for thirty years. In 2022, Tender Mercies honored Joe with the Sr. Kathleen Kelly Award for his leadership, wisdom, dedication, legal advice, compassion, and empathy. See: More than a Meal: Meet Joe Feldhaus

Joe likewise committed himself to the development and proper management of sustainable affordable housing throughout Cincinnati. He worked tirelessly and fervently for the "beloved community" principally through Over the Rhine Community Housing. Similarly, he worked at the highest level with the Kennedy Heights Development Corporation to ensure that the neighborhood remained and prospered as an integrated one full of good life and opportunity.

Joe was an active athlete all his life. His love of golf, instilled by his mother, was lifelong. As a teenager he worked at the Reeves Golf Course, which fittingly was the last place he played with his regular group last November. His love of golf took him to courses in Phoenix, North Carolina, Scotland and beyond. At the behest of some of his buddies, he played in Ireland, where he endured wind, rain, and ribbing by his less skilled buddies of Irish ancestry and the wry, seasoned local caddies. Joe was always lots of fun to play golf with.

Later in life, Joe was inspired by Claudia's new found hobby of running and as a surprise to her, he did the same in his 50s. Joe quietly trained for the Nashville Half-Marathon (2009) and it was the first of many finish lines they crossed together. Additionally, Joe and his family vacationed almost every summer in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You could always find him catching waves and soaking up the sun. He cherished this time with his family. Each year he would collect a purple shell to carry in his pocket as a commitment to always return to ocean. And each year he would throw it back to the ocean as a form of gratitude.

Joe was generous, funny, smart, kind, and real. He will be profoundly missed by all those lucky enough to know him. In lieu of flowers, please donate generously to Tender Mercies , 635 W 7th St, Suite 300, Cincinnati, OH 45203. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University on August 24, 2024, at 10 a.m. Private Reception to follow.

Special thanks to Peter Cassady, Fr. Tom Keneally and Dave Johnson for their invaluable contributions to this Obituary.

Tender Mercies
27 W 12th St., Cincinnati OH 45202
Tel: 1-513-721-8666
Web: https://www.tendermerciesinc.org/