Jodi grew up in New Athens, Ohio (population 353, a post office, one convenience store, a small bowling alley, and a single red flashing traffic light in the center of town). She graduated as Valedictorian of Cadiz High School in 1991. As a small-town girl, Jodi traveled to the city, went to Case Western Reserve University where she received a bachelor’s degree in 1995 and her Juris Doctorate from the law school in 1999. Jodi worked her entire professional career with the law firm of Dworken & Bernstein, where she became the first female partner in 2007.
Jodi was a devoted mom, supporting her daughters in sports, primarily volleyball, where she served as an officer on the Riverside Volleyball Booster Club. Jodi loved music, which was most evident by the multitude of concerts and music festivals she attended with close friends. She was an enthusiastic sports fan, having season tickets to the Browns, Indians and Cavs. Her sports highlight moment was waiting in line repeatedly at the Porta Potty during the 7th Game of the 2016 NBA Championship because the Cavs only played well that night while she was in line, she claimed. Jodi loved the outdoors, two hour naps, ski trips out West, curling up with a great book on the beach, and creating memorable vacations with family and friends. Jodi’s colleagues at Dworken & Bernstein will remember her as a talented and dedicated lawyer and will miss finding various items, such as her cell phone that she absentmindedly left in their offices or cars.
After her sudden and tragic passing in the summer of 2021, her family chose to honor her by establishing the JLT fund. Jodi was a generous giver of her time, energy, and money–you name it, she gave it. By establishing this scholarship fund, we are able to honor her legacy in the exact way she would have chosen; by helping to provide women with the opportunity to obtain the powerful, change-making tool of a law degree.