CHESLEY, Stanley Morris, died in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 2, 2025 at age 89.
Stanley was born in Cincinnati on March 26, 1936 to Frank and Rachel (Kinsberg) Chesley, who had immigrated from the former Russian Empire (now Ukraine). He built a prominent career as an attorney in Cincinnati and was known for his philanthropy.
Stanley graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1954 and earned both his Bachelor of Art in economics and Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati in 1958 and 1960, respectively. He worked odd jobs, including selling shoes, to put himself through law school.
Stanley rose to prominence as a trial attorney in 1977, when he represented victims of the horrific Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Northern Kentucky and negotiated millions of dollars in settlements for the victims. He successfully advanced a then-novel theory of liability and became known as the originator of mass tort lawsuits.
Stanley was a founding member of the law firm Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley and was a remarkable trial attorney and skilled negotiator. Over his more than fifty-year legal career, he represented thousands of victims of hotel fires, airplane crashes, industrial explosions and other catastrophes. Stanley’s commitment went well beyond his clients, as he also served as pro bono counsel for the World Jewish Congress and World Jewish Restitution Organization by representing the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany to help secure significant restitution payments for Holocaust survivors.
Over the course of his life, Stanley was deeply philanthropic. He served on the Boards of the American Joint Distribution Center; the Cincinnati Human Rights Foundation; the Hebrew Union College; Isaac M. Wise Temple; the NAACP (Life Board Member); the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (Chair); and the Jewish National Fund (Chair). For many years, he ensured the City of Cincinnati pools had adequate funding to stay open in the summer.
Stanley was civically and politically active, donating to the Democratic Senatorial National Commission and frequently hosting President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in the 1990s. In 2008, he was honored to be invited by President George W. Bush to serve on the Honorary Delegation accompanying him to Jerusalem for the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel.
Stanley married United States District Court Judge, Susan J. Dlott, on December 7, 1991. They enjoyed traveling together and shared a great love of the law and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Stanley is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years; two children: Richard (Dee Dee) Chesley and Lauren Miller; six grandchildren: Andrew (Rachel) Chesley, Nathan (Julia) Chesley, Amanda (John) Zessen , Liza (Jon) Hieder, Lily (Thomas) Vanasse William Cohen; and six great grandchildren: Jason and Reuben Chesley, Zoe and Margot Zessen and Nora and Sadie Vanasse. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Marcia Chesley.
A funeral was held at Beth Jacob Cemetery Chapel, 4001 Old Troy Pike, Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Burial followed. Funeral arrangements Marker & Heller Funeral Homes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Freestore Foodbank, Cincinnati, Ohio.
