Judge Arlene Singer
 
Arlene (Yaffe) Singer was born in Toledo October 10th, 1948. She was a Start High School graduate (1966) and a graduate of the University of Toledo and the UT College of Law. She served in the Ohio legislature and then 30 years as a judge.
 
Arlene retired as Judge of the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals in 2021 after being elected 2002, re-elected 2008 and 2014. She was Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeals in 2005-2006 and 2012-2013. Arlene was also Judge in the Toledo Municipal Court 1991 to 2002.  She was Presiding and Administrative Judge of the court 2000 and 2001.
 
Each Halloween, during Arlene’s 30-year judicial career, she dressed as a witch and distributed candy throughout the courthouse.
 
Arlene served as a member, vice-chair and chair on the Ohio Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline. She was also a member of the Ohio Supreme Court, Task Force on the Code of Judicial Conduct. She was also elected twice to the Toledo Bar Association Board of Trustees.
 
Arlene was especially proud of the fact that in a political career ranging from 1984 to 2021 she was never, once endorsed by the Blade. Also, her retirement, after 30 years on the bench, was ignored by the Blade rather than its usual story praising and thanking a retiring jurist. And yet she succeeded.
 
Arlene was one of founders of the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project at the University of Toledo. Her dogged research, interviews and filming preserved and honored the stories of the local women who overcame societal and professional prejudice against women lawyers.
 
Arlene mentored law students and young professionals, stressing the importance of a collegial and professional legal environment. Her service included the Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program, Ohio Judicial College Mentor Training, and Mentor at both the University of Toledo College of Law and the Toledo Women's Bar Association.
 
Arlene received dozens of public service recognition awards from organizations like the Toledo Bar Association, the YWCA, the Toledo Women's Bar Association, and the Toledo Junior Bar.
 
Arlene was a baseball fan, especially the Detroit Tigers and Toledo Mud Hens. She was a Mud Hens season-ticket holder for years, and made annual trips to Florida to follow Tiger’s spring training.
 
For the past 30 years, Arlene led the Old West End Festival parade and swore-in the festival’s King Wamba and Queen Sancha. This was done wearing the full wig and robes of an 17th century jurist, despite the usually hot and humid June weather.
 
During Arlene’s 40 years with her husband, they adopted 18 rescued dogs, all large. There were 5 Airedales, 3 St. Bernards, an English Mastiff -- Grendel, Arlene’s favorite -- labs, bloodhounds, pit bulls and other mongrels. Thus, it is Arlene’s wish that any contribution in her memory go to animal rescue agencies such as the Toledo Humane Society.
 
Surviving family includes husband John M Wilson, son Joshua Singer (Anna), daughter Shelley Singer Cirone (Tim), and sister Joan Schockman (Ken). Our hearts are broken.