Thomas Robert Wetterer, Jr.

Thomas “Tom” Robert Wetterer, Jr., 67, of Columbus, passed away on July 12, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born on November 16, 1956 in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Thomas R. and Lucille (Flick) Wetterer, Sr. He married Virginia S. Wilson, “Ginger” on December 25, 1988, spending 35 years together; she survives. 

Along with Ginger, those left to cherish Tom’s memory include sons, Rome (Kelsey) Wetterer and Benjamin Wetterer; daughter, Wriply Bennett; siblings, George( Laura) Wetterer; Mary (Wetterer) and Gerald “Jerry” Wessell; Dr. Tina Fisher and Segundo Tuesta; Jerome Wetterer; sister-in-law, Barbara Moore; brother-in-law, George “Woody” (Sharon) Hooper; nieces, Christy (Melvin) Guerrero, Tracey Sanok, Jessica (Nick) McClain; nephews, Michael (Heather) Wessel and John (Kelly Jo) Hooper; great-nieces, Caitlin Moore, Simi Chitrala, Elizabeth Hooper, Riley Wessel, Haley Messer; great-nephews, George Hooper, Issac Moore, Kaden Wessel, Damian McClain, and Kyrian McClain; and longtime friends, David Moeser and John Bay. 

Along with his parents, Tom is preceded in death by his brother, David Wetterer. 

Tom graduated from Reading High School in Cincinnati in 1974. He went on to attend the University of Cincinnati for his undergrad and again to the University of Cincinnati Law School, receiving his Juris Doctorate. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1983. 

He clerked at Legal Aid in Washington DC and then went on to become a staff attorney at Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) advocating for individuals with disabilities. He met his wife at OLRS and they were married on December 25, 1988 and had two children, Kelsey and Benjamin in 1989 and 1992 respectively and later added daughter Wriply. In 1988, Tom became an Assistant Public Defender for the Ohio Public Defender’s Commission providing appellate representation for defendants in criminal cases for the next 15 years. While at the Ohio Public Defenders, Tom successfully argued a client’s case before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington D.C. on October 31, 1994. O’Neal v. McAninch, 513 US 432 (1995).

Tom retired on disability in 2003 due to brain cancer. Tom faced his cancer like he did in other areas of his life, as a fighter and survived the cancer for over 25 years. He spent time with family and worked part time as a cashier at Target for 15 years until he was unable to work anymore in 2020. Tom was always kind, loyal, dependable, had an amazing memory and a great sense of humor. He enjoyed playing Atari, Solitaire, organizing chess tournaments, working on researching his family genealogy and especially enjoyed being a dad and playing Santa over the years. He always made an impression with those he met throughout his life. He was loved, and will be missed.

Immediate family will receive family and friends from 2:30 to 3pm, Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Newcomer Funeral, Northeast Chapel, 3047 E. Dublin-Granville Rd, Columbus, 43231. A service to honor Tom’s life will be held at 3pm, Friday, July 19, 2024, also at the funeral home. The Newcomer family is honored to serve the Wetterer family. 

Tom's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.