MADEIRA — Earl J. Goldsmith, a lawyer in Cincinnati for 52 years, died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. The Madeira resident was 78.

        From the time he passed the Ohio State Bar in 1950 until his death, Mr. Goldsmith was an active general-practice lawyer. For the last 13 years, he was partner with his daughter Gayle Goldsmith Tuch, who recently moved to Winston-Salem, N.C.

        Mr. Goldsmith's legacy is a legion of friendships that included many of his clients. They tended to stay with him for a lifetime.

        In fact, he represented many children of his earliest clients.

        They gathered Friday to mourn and to recall his dedication and conscientiousness as their attorney and his warmth and kindness as their friend.

        Mr. Goldsmith was born in Kansas City, Mo., and moved with his family to Columbus when he was a toddler.

        The family moved to Avondale when he was 8. He graduated from Hughes High School in 1940.

        He attended the University of Cincinnati College of Business Administration for one year, then enlisted in the Army, where he served as a cryptographer with the 8th Air Force.

        He returned to the College of Business in 1946 to receive an undergraduate degree and received a law degree from the College of Law in 1950.

        After working a year with a group of lawyers in the Schwartz Building on Main Street downtown, Mr. Goldsmith opened his own law office downtown in 1951.

        During the 1960s and '70s, he was a partner with Marks, Goldsmith and Weiner. In 1989, he and his daughter formed the practice of Goldsmith & Goldsmith in downtown Cincinnati.

        Mr. Goldsmith was a member of the Ohio State Bar, the Cincinnati Bar, the American Bar Association and the Ohio Association of Trial Lawyers.

        He served on several committees over the years, including those on unauthorized practice of law and probate and estate planning.

        Mr. Goldsmith was a Boy Scout master, a 32nd-degree Mason, a Shriner and a member of the Big Brothers Association.

        In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife, Joan, another daughter, Sara Ann “Sally” Goldsmith of Hyde Park; a son, Laurence “Larry” Earl Goldsmith of Madeira; and three grandsons.

        Services have been held. Burial was at United Jewish Cemetery in Walnut Hills.

        Memorials: Rockdale Temple, 8501 Ridge Road, Cincinnati 45236; Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati 45242; Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3229 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati 45229-3095; or a charity of the donor's choice.

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