Mike Fain

FAIN, Mike, age 76, of Centerville, OH, distinguished retired judge of the Second District Court of Appeals and beloved husband and father, died on March 27, 2023 after a lengthy illness. Mike was born in Miami, FL on July 15, 1946 to James Edward and Laura (Bennett) Fain. He lived in several states while obtaining his education and during his service in the United States Navy Reserve. Mike graduated high school from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He then received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College in 1968 and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1972.

In 1973, Mike came to Dayton, OH, where his father, Jim, was the editor of the Dayton Daily News. From 1973 to 1977, Mike was employed as an attorney with the law firm of Estabrook, Finn, & McKee (which later merged with Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur). Mike was then a partner at Bogan & Patterson, also in Dayton, from 1977 to early 1987, when he was sworn in to his first term as a judge at the Second District Court of Appeals. Judge Fain was then re-elected to subsequent six-year terms in 1992, 1998, 2004, and 2010.

Judge Fain served as an appellate judge until 2017, when he retired due to mandatory age limits. While at the court of appeals, Judge Fain was an active member of the Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association (serving as Chief Justice in 2005), the Ohio Judicial Conference (where he chaired the Criminal Law and Procedure Committee), the Dayton and Ohio State Bar Associations, and the Leadership Dayton Alumni Association. In addition, Judge Fain was a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Rules and Advisory Committee and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Dayton School of Law during his legal career.

Judge Fain greatly enjoyed serving as a judge for high school mock trial competitions and for the “We the People” competition on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The judge was blessed with a brilliant legal mind and loved to share his passion for the law and other intellectual pursuits. He was a very valued mentor to other judges and attorneys and will be remembered fondly by many throughout the legal community.

His sons cherish their time growing up with their father going to Cincinnati Reds games, attending Indian Guide weekends, visiting college campuses, and taking a cross-county drive to California. Mike enjoyed attending their sporting events and could occasionally be seen, in uncharacteristic displays of exuberance, jumping up and down on the sidelines cheering their victories.

In his free time Mike was an avid reader who thoroughly enjoyed sci-fi novels, and loved reading his novels to his family. He also enjoyed traveling and visited many distant places all over the world. Most of all Mike enjoyed spending time with his family and loved ones.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his loving wife of 24 years, Hui Rong Wu; daughter, Sophia Wu; sons, Paul (Elyse Ashburn) and James Fain; granddaughter, Loralei Ashburn Fain; half-brother, Jeb Fain; sisters-in-law, Hui Long Wu and Hui Min Wu; nieces Qian Wei Su, Li Xian Weng, and Tong Fan Wu; and other extended family and friends

The family will receive friends from 4-6pm on Friday, April 7, 2023, at Routsong Funeral Home, 81 N. Main St. Centerville, OH, 45459. A funeral service will follow the visitation. Burial at Calvary cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.