Christopher Theodore Cherpas

Born March 23, 1924 in Toledo, Ohio; his family moved to Akron in 1930. Upon graduation from Garfield High School, he attended Akron University but postponed his academic pursuits by volunteering to serve in the U.S. Navy and later the U.S. Army. He fought in both the European and Pacific theaters.

The end of WWII brought him back to Akron to marry his sweetheart, Ortha N. Mollis.

(Marriage for Chris and Ortha was both a romance and a partnership. Together they raised a family, cared for the elderly, educated, and inspired the young, organized church and community programs, golfed, traveled, performed in plays and hosted a dazzling variety of festive fund-raising events).

He continued his education, earning a B.S. in political science at the University of Akron 1949. He attended Akron Law School, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Marshall Law School, where he received his J.D. degree and became a member of the Ohio State Bar Association in 1951.

He served in the U.S. Army again (the Korean War 1951 to 1953) where he achieved the rank of captain. He was proud to be Company Commander of L Company, 145 Infantry, 37th Division.

Mr. Cherpas had a law office (1953-1957) and served as legal counsel for the United Rubber Workers. He then established the law firm of Cherpas, Manos & Syracopoulos in 1958, which continued until 1977.

He was known for his trial skills in civil and in criminal litigation in the federal and state appellate courts.

He was honored by the American and Ohio Trial Lawyers Associations for litigating and declaring the Ohio Guest Statute unconstitutional.

In 1979, Teodosio, Cherpas and Manos formed a partnership. In 1998 Cherpas became in-house council for Quality Mold, Inc., where he continued to perform both litigation and corporate law on their behalf.

Cherpas is included in “Who’s Who in American Law” as well as in “Who’s Who”. In 2002 the Akron Bar Association and the Ohio Bar Association honored him for fifty years of distinguished service to his profession.

Professional memberships include the Akron Bar, the Ohio State Bar, the American Bar, the Ohio Trial Lawyers, and the American Trial Lawyers Association.

For eight years he was a Trustee and Board member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. He served as Supreme President of the Pan Arcadian Federation (1957-1958). In 1958, as Arcadian Supreme President, he placed a wreath upon the grave of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, Greece. He was elected for a two-term chapter presidency of the AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association). He spent 14 years as trustee of the District 11 AHEPA Scholarship Committee and as Supreme Youth Counselor for the Pan Arcadian Federation of American.

Lodge memberships include the Masons and the Shriners. He was also an active supporter of the Democratic Party. He coached Pee Wee Football and Little League Baseball and was a Boy Scout Master. He served as Director and Co-Director of the Greek Orthodox Church Men’s Club Golf League from its inception in 1969 and as District Director for the AHEPA golf league. An avid golfer, he won many championships at Fairlawn Country Club and in the AHEPA. He was a five-time winner of national AHEPA golf championships and was proud of his six hole-in ones.

He is fondly remembered for the vigor he brought to every enterprise that he ventured, his spirited enjoyment of life and his spontaneous and unfailing humor. He was a man to rely upon in times of crisis or celebration and gave of himself unsparingly, not only to immediate and extended family, but as a client advocate, mentor to colleagues, promoter of education and the arts, loyal friend, engaging storyteller, arbiter of justice, guardian of ethics, and rich source of knowledge, wisdom and keen wit.

Mr. Cherpas was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ortha, his daughter Professor Patricia Cherpas, brothers James and Peter and sister, Catherine. Among the bereaved is are his loving children Maria Eliason (Jerry), Dr. Chris Cherpas and adoring granddaughters, Melissa and Madison Cherpas, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Home visitation on Monday, March 6, 2023 from 4-6 p.m. at

Rose Hill Funeral Home 3653 W. Market Street, Fairlawn, Ohio 44333.

Funeral services will be held, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (129 South Union Street, Akron, Ohio) with Father Dean officiating.

Internment immediately following at Mount Peace Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chris’s name to the charity of your choice.