Brenda Bowers Was a Passionate Volunteer Who Assisted Many Through Her Legal Work and Dedication to Helping Others
Legal Aid lost a great friend earlier this year with the passing of Brenda K. Bowers. Brenda, who lost her battle with cancer in March, assisted LASC in a variety of ways throughout her career as a bankruptcy attorney in central Ohio.
She was an original and dedicated member of the Bankruptcy Pro Bono Committee that was created in 2011 under the leadership of Judge John Hoffman. Brenda also played an integral role in creating Legal Aid’s Bankruptcy By-Pass Clinic, which assists elderly and disabled clients in stopping creditor harassment. She served on the LASC Fresh Start Gala Planning Committee for several years, helping raise more than $100,000 for bankruptcy programming.
“Brenda was passionate about helping low-income people navigate the court system and work toward a more stable financial future,” said Legal Aid Staff Attorney Melissa Linville. “She not only participated in our pro bono programming herself, she encouraged others to donate time to Legal Aid.”
Brenda was an active member of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, said Susan L. Rhiel, who served as IWIRC chair from 1997-2000. “Brenda brought her passion for change and her commitment to promoting and mentoring women to everything she did,” Rhiel said. “She was a quiet force but a powerful one.”
Because of Brenda’s commitment to encouraging and mentoring law students, IWIRC and Brenda’s family have established a legacy scholarship at Brenda’s alma mater, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. If you are interested in donating to the scholarship fund, checks can be made payable to The Ohio State University Foundation Fund #317024, and can be mailed to The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221. To make an electronic payment via credit card, use this link: https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/ and indicate fund #317024.
Brenda served as Of Counsel to Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease as well as a Chapter 7 Trustee for the Southern District of Ohio. She is survived by her wife, Susan Jenkins, and her mother, Carol Bowers.
