Kenneth S. Blumenthal

Ken was born in New York City on March 5, 1951, the second of four sons to Sidney and Gail Blumenthal. He attended high school in Teaneck, New Jersey, and later earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marietta College in 1973. After a brief stint as a probation officer, he enrolled in law school at Capital University, where he graduated cum laude in 1983. A highly respected and effective litigator, Ken’s legal career in the Columbus area spanned almost four decades, with numerous victories that included record-breaking verdicts in Franklin County and the Ohio Court of Claims. Over the second half of his career, he helped hundreds of clients and colleagues alike as a founding partner in the firm of Rourke & Blumenthal.

While his keen eye for detail and sharp wit could make for an intimidating presence in the courtroom, at home Ken was known to his family and close friends as a kind and generous man with a warm heart, a cool head, and a calm demeanor that could put those around him at ease. Ken leaves behind his loving wife, Shelley, three children from a prior marriage - Betsy David, Meredith (Jonathan) Stoudt, and Jack (Natalie) Blumenthal, and stepdaughters Catherine Shively (Eric Bialek) and Sara (Jacob) Worrel. “Kenpa” will also be remembered fondly by his three grandchildren - Chloe, Sidney and Willa. He is survived also by his brother, Robert (Jeannie) Blue of Seattle, nephews Kyler and Grayson, sister-in-law Mary Kay and niece Anne, and a number of friends and colleagues, all of whom were blessed to have known him. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Teddy and Stewart, and a beloved niece Blanche.

Ken was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and Ohio State Buckeyes, teams with many successes that brought him a great deal of joy over the years. After their formation in 2000, he also became a season-ticket holder and loyal follower of the Columbus Blue Jackets, which didn’t work out as well for him. So it goes. He studied in Ireland for a summer, worked at a casino in Tahoe for another, and after finding his calling made many trips across the country to depose medical and academic experts in a wide array of subjects in complex litigation cases. He enjoyed walking on the beach with Shelley during their annual vacations on Anna Maria Island, where they wed in 2020. He went to the Bronx with his father to watch games in the House That Ruth Built as a boy. He read biographies and books on history, and listened to the Traveling Wilburys with the volume turned up loud in his car. He built a career for himself helping others seek justice after experiencing trauma and loss. He visited his kids after sending them off to college in Scottsdale, Atlanta, and Chicago. He was a good bridge player, an average golfer, and an exceptional storyteller. He enjoyed a glass of Wild Turkey, and could drink it better than most. He prospered and remained humble. He fished with his brothers in Alaska, drove up the Pacific coast with his son, sipped wine in Rome, and snorkeled in the Caribbean. He walked his daughters down the aisle, and held each of his newborn grandkids in his arms. Ken saw a great deal of the world during his time and did his best to leave it in a better state than he had found it, helping countless others along the way. He set a very high bar for those of us he leaves behind to aspire. And so it goes.

He was loved, and he will be missed.

There will be a memorial gathering held on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 5-8 P.M. at The Fives, 550 Reach Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ken’s memory to CurePSP at www.psp.org