Jim Verdin, head of Cincinnati's historic Verdin Company, has died following a short illness, his family says.Verdin was the fifth generation to lead the clock and bell company founded in 1842 by French immigrant brothers Francis de Sales and Michael Verdin. He died Aug. 8 at age 82.
In an obituary released by the family, James Ralph Verdin is remembered as devoted to his loved ones and an advocate for the Over-the-Rhine and Pendeleton neighborhoods. He was a strong supporter of transforming Pendleton into an arts community and founded the Pendleton Art Center in 1991.
Verdin's family shares this story as an example of his love for the community:
Nicola Piotoso was inspired to create his Italian eatery Nicola’s in the abandoned car barn facility based on the enthusiasm and vision of Verdin, who purchased it as part of his OTR revitalization efforts. Piotoso and his wife, Maureen, drove from St. Louis to tour the building with Verdin and were a bit surprised by what they saw.
"After it had been a car barn, it had been a horse barn, so there were dirt floors and columns that had been chewed on by the horses, plus lightning holes in the roof," he said. "But after talking to him, we said, 'That guy’s got some vision!'"
The Piotosos were intrigued but had plenty of worries – about the condition of the building, the state of the struggling neighborhood and their own ability to finance the restaurant.
Verdin promised to help with all those areas and assured the couple, "We will make it happen." He was determined to turn around Over-the-Rhine, Piotoso said.
"He was the guy who invented determination," he said.
Suzanne Sizer, Verdin's marketing director, says she and Verdin had been friends since she started there nearly 29 years ago. "In Over-the-Rhine, he was a proponent of saving this great neighborhood," she says. "He was always looking at ways to enhance the neighborhood and the people who lived here."
Sizer thinks Verdin will be remembered for his sense of innovation.
"He is one of the most innovative people I've ever met," she says. "The other most important thing, for me, was that if he believed in you he stuck with you. He always gave everybody a chance to do what they were good at and he was always very helpful to everyone."
The first Verdin bell was installed in Old St. Mary's Church in Over-the-Rhine in 1842. A 9 a.m. visitation and 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held in that same church Thursday, Aug. 16.
