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An Evansville attorney and founding member of the modern Evansville Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Committee died June 9.
Timothy Dodd, 69, was active in local and state Judges and Lawyers Assistance Programs. Not only had he served as vice chair of the EBA’s Lawyer Assistance Committee since its founding, but he had been a state JLAP volunteer since 1998 when the assistance program was created. In addition to serving on the JLAP committee, he served as treasurer and chair of the state program. Dodd was the leader on behalf of the EBA and the state JLAP Committee on the push to have the Supreme Court amend the Rules for Admission to the Bar to include the Surrogate Attorney Rule.
Terry Harrell, executive director of Indiana JLAP, said if there was a problem with a lawyer in the Evansville area, everyone thought to call Dodd and he would be able to figure out what to do with the problem, whether it was substance abuse, depression, or aging issues.
“He was passionate about JLAP,” she said. “He was a great mentor to attorneys. He will be so missed by the legal community in Evansville and statewide.”
Michele Bryant, partner at Bamberger Foreman Oswald & Hahn in Evansville, succeeded Dodd on the JLAP committee when his term expired in 2004. She’s also worked with him as chair of EBA’s Lawyer Assistance Committee.
She said it was no secret that Dodd received treatment and was in recovery for alcoholism, so he was in a unique position when reaching out to other attorneys. They knew that Dodd could be trusted.
“He could relate to what lawyers were going through … in a way no one else could unless they had been there,” she said. “He has saved countless lives because he was willing to reach back and use his experiences to help others out.”
Dodd, who was admitted to the bar in 1966, had his own practice and also worked as a public defender. He handled several death penalty cases, including one that is supposed to go to trial in August.
In 2009, Indiana JLAP gave Dodd the James F. Stanton award for his outstanding contributions to lawyer assistance. In 2003, the EBA gave him the Doran Perdue Service Award.
He enjoyed playing golf, traveling, and riding motorcycles. He is survived by his wife, Jaya (Choe) Dodd; son Christopher Dodd; brother Robert Dodd; sisters Sarah Pace and Kate Largent; three grandchildren; two nieces; and seven nephews.
Services occurred Monday in Evansville.
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