David P. "Dave" Shouvlin

David P. “Dave” Shouvlin, 74, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2026, following a brief illness.

David was born on May 15, 1952, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Barbara Feeley Shouvlin and Daniel Robert Shouvlin, Jr. In 1953, his family moved to Springfield, Ohio, where he was raised. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1970 and went on to attend Wake Forest University, graduating in 1974. From 1974 to 1976, David worked as a legal intern in Springfield before returning to Wake Forest, where he earned his law degree in 1979.

David began his legal career in New York City in 1979 with Covenant House, where, until 1981, he devoted his talents to supporting homeless and trafficked youth. In 1982, he returned to Winston Salem, North Carolina, where he worked independently until 1984 when he joined the law firm of Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice, LLP, where he practiced until 1989. In 1988 David moved to Boston, Massachusetts where, for the next two years, he studied at the Weston School of Theology and Harvard Law School, reflecting his lifelong interest in faith, learning, law and service. He then practiced with Burns & Levinson LLP from 1990 to 1994, continuing a legal career marked by both excellence and a deep desire to serve others.

In 1994, David returned to Columbus, Ohio, joining Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, where he spent the next 32 years as a highly respected partner and trial lawyer. His distinguished legal career was marked by a deep commitment to the law and to sharing his knowledge with the next generation of attorneys – he chaired the firm’s trial training program and mentored countless young lawyers.

His work at Covenant House after law school was evidence of what would be a career long dedication to working to make legal services available to those who could not afford them. Dave chaired Porter Wright’s pro bono legal services program and worked with other pro bono legal aid providers in Ohio to make legal advice and basic justice available to people in both urban and rural areas. Dave played an important role in getting the “Ohio Justice Bus” – a mobile legal aid office that serves rural communities throughout Ohio – rolling. Dave also had a strong commitment to providing pro bono legal services to veterans and the immigrant community.

His work earned him numerous professional honors and awards, including recognition in The Best Lawyers in America®, as well as being named The Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Patent for Columbus, Ohio, in 2018 and 2020. He was also recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers and Who’s Who in the World.

Yet, for all his professional accomplishments, Dave was never one to talk about his achievements or awards. He carried his success with remarkable humility and was much more interested in the people around him than in recognition for himself. Those who knew him well understood the depth of his accomplishments, even if Dave rarely mentioned them. His greatest pride seemed to come not from the honors he received, but from the relationships he built, the people he helped, and the knowledge he was able to share.

David was also a dedicated educator. He taught as an adjunct clinical professor at Wake Forest University School of Law and served as an advisor at Harvard Law School in its Trial Practice Program. Throughout his career, he regularly provided instruction on evidence and civil procedure and taught individual classes on patent litigation, commercial disputes, and trial practice at The Ohio State University’s Michael E. Moritz College of Law. He was also a guest lecturer on commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and at Oxford University in England. Through his teaching and mentorship, David influenced countless young lawyers and generously shared the knowledge and experience he had gained throughout his career.

David remained deeply devoted to his alma mater, Wake Forest University, throughout his life. His generosity extended across the university, including support for the Arts Department through the Maya Angelou Scholarship, the Wake Forest School of Law, and a scholarship supporting the women’s field hockey team.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, David had a lifelong passion for golf. An avid – and excellent! – golfer, he traveled extensively to play some of the world’s most renowned and beautiful courses. He was a member of Springfield Country Club, the place where he learned to play golf while growing up in Springfield. He made nearly weekly trips from Columbus to Springfield to play golf and keep strong his connection to a group of life-long friends. David was also a member of Old Town Club in Winston Salem, where he enjoyed countless rounds of golf and treasured time spent with his fellow Demon Deacon friends. Golf brought him great joy and provided countless opportunities to build friendships and create lasting memories.

David is survived by his brother, Dan Shouvlin and his wife, Nancy, of Clearwater Beach, Florida; his sister, Barb Walters and her husband, Steve, of Charleston, South Carolina; his nephew, Wesley Walters; his niece, Erin Walters Boykin and her husband, Francis, of Charleston, South Carolina; and their children, his great-niece and great-nephew, Caroline and Francis Jr.

David’s impact reaches far beyond what could ever be captured in an obituary. He was a truly generous and caring soul who gave freely of himself—to his family, his friends, his colleagues, his students, and countless others whose lives he touched. He had a remarkable ability to make people feel valued and welcomed, and his friendships were deep, lasting, and cherished. He was a man who showed up for the people he loved, offered his wisdom generously, and found joy in sharing experiences and making memories with others.

To his family, Dave was so much more than his many accomplishments. He was a beloved brother, uncle, and great-uncle whose presence brought warmth, laughter, wisdom, and love to their lives. He took genuine interest in the lives of those around him and was immensely proud of his family and of the many friends who became family along the way. His generosity, curiosity, wit, and kindness will live on in the memories of those who knew him best. Dave leaves behind a multitude of friends who will feel his absence deeply, along with a family who will forever be grateful for the years, memories, laughter, and love they shared with him. His life was a gift to so many, and while he will be deeply missed, the impact of his life will continue through all those who were fortunate enough to know and love him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in David’s honor to Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, Mid – Ohio Food Collective, or St. Christopher Catholic Church, Columbus, Ohio.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, October 15, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Schoedinger Funeral Home – Dublin, Ohio.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, October 16 at 11:00 am at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Grandview, Ohio.

A private internment ceremony will be held Saturday, October 17 in Springfield, Ohio.