By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

As vice president and general counsel for the Avco Broadcasting Corp., Robert A. Mace handled the corporation's liquidation in the mid-1970s with his longtime friend and fellow vice president, Clyde G. Haehnle of Finneytown.

"He was a very dear friend and a wonderful man," said Mr. Haehnle. "He was a perfect gentlemen in all of his business dealings. He was a lawyer's lawyer. ... He was highly respected by all those who had the privilege of working with him."

Mr. Mace died Tuesday at the Mercy Franciscan Hospital, Mount Airy. He was 81 and lived in Mount Airy.

"He was a kind and loving man and he took an interest in his entire family," said his daughter, Kathryn Noble of Colerain Township. "He touched the lives of a lot of people."

He graduated from Norwood High School in 1940. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Cincinnati, and served as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps from 1943-45. He flew B-17 bombers and was a flight instructor. In 1948, he married Doris Daniel of Madeira.

He was an associate professor at the UC Law School before joining the legal department of Avco in 1955. He held numerous positions within the company and its eventual owner, Textron, over the years, and retired in 1986.

Mr. Mace returned to Cincinnati and taught radio and television communications law as an adjunct professor at UC until 1995.

He was an elder at the Norwood Presbyterian Church and he and his wife were members of the Village Voices, a local choral group that performed at local events and on the Paul Dixon TV show.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife of 55 years; a son, Robert of Norwood; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services have been held.

Memorials: American Diabetes Association, 8899 Brookside Ave. Suite 102, West Chester, OH 45069, or Leukemia Society of America Inc., Southern Ohio Chapter, 4150 Crossgate Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com