Remembering The Honorable Arlene Singer by Mike Bruno

The following profile was written and submitted to our printer before we learned the tragic news of Judge Singer’s passing on June 29, 2025. Not once during our several phone calls or the lunch meeting on May 21st did we detect any indication of a problem. Arlene was her normal, effervescent self. If she was physically struggling, she hid it. We have lost a treasure.  – Mike Bruno

Arlene Singer is a retired judge who, most recently, sat on Ohio’s 6th District Court of Appeals.

Her journey to the appellate bench is an example of persistence and tenacity.

She grew up near Toledo’s Old West End until her parents moved to West Toledo. She graduated from Start High School and continued her education at the University of Toledo, graduating in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Arlene’s next stop was law school. Growing up, she admits, “Being a lawyer was always in the back of my mind.“

At this point, Arlene was married with two young children. Ever the multitasker, she enrolled in UT’s College of Law as a part-time evening student. Her ability to navigate family obligations and
her studies would serve her well over the years. She also enjoyed the camaraderie with her fellow classmates, including Betty Montgomery, Judy Lanzinger, Lynn Schaefer, and Julia Casey.

Arlene graduated from law school in 1976 and passed the bar the same year. She joined Nina Sherman and was engaged in a general law practice in Jerusalem Township for 2 years. She then joined Jim Gaynor and Ed Kevern in their Westgate office.

Later law affiliations included Joe Alotta, Larry Farley, Lou Kountouris, Chuck Sallah, Frank Pertz, Joe Solomon, Karen Novak, Mo Shousher, and Alan Konop, a virtual who’s who of Toledo lawyers.

Arlene wasn’t satisfied with just practicing law. So she directed her attention to running for political office. And run she did. All told, Arlene Singer has been involved in 10 different elections. Five of those were contested.

I can attest to Arlene’s work ethic and drive. She was at every Democratic Party Pancake Breakfast I attended. Harder to understand is how she remained the same size despite consuming all those pancakes. Small in stature, maybe, but a towering force in the political arena.

She served in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1987 and 1988.

In 1991, Arlene was appointed by Governor Richard Celeste to serve as a judge on the Toledo Municipal Court. She continued in that capacity for 10 years. Arlene ran for an appellate seat and
was elected as a judge in Ohio’s 6th District Court of Appeals in 2002. She served 3 terms as an appellate judge over the course of 18 years.

I asked Arlene what she enjoyed most about the Court of Appeals. She indicated it was more of a thinking experience. It reminded her of law school, but “I was able to grade my own papers.”

Earlier, while a municipal court judge, Arlene utilized her people skills. She recalled a matter involving a female defendant travelling from Appalachia to Michigan with a load of aluminum cans. The defendant’s appearance is what initially caught Arlene’s attention. The accused came to court wearing a “prom dress” that may have fit 20 years earlier. When Judge Singer addressed the defendant about her obvious nerves, the defendant admitted that she had never talked to a judge before. The defendant then added, “I’ve talked to the FBI before, because I’m Italian.”

Other notable accomplishments include her 9 years on the State Board of Grievances and Discipline, her two assignments of sitting on the Ohio Supreme Court, and her involvement in the Toledo
Women Lawyers History Project, which recognizes women lawyers, particularly the pioneers and early women attorneys.

I have a feeling that future participants in the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project will look back favorably on Arlene Singer. She has served our community so well for many years.