John J. Kulewicz has lived a full and fascinating life as a lawyer while serving as a civic leader and raising a family in Ohio. In this candid, witty, and informative story of a life in progress, John recounts his most formative experiences, the satisfaction of public service in his early seventies, why it is important to pursue our dreams, the need to take risks, and how we can achieve what might first seem out of reach.
John came from humble roots in which he has remained grounded. A descendant of immigrants who came to the US to seek a better life, he has found guidance throughout his life in what he learned from his family about hard work and taking chances.
John came of age during the Watergate affair, a pivotal moment in American history that affirmed his childhood determination to become a lawyer. After graduating with honors from The Ohio State University, John earned his law degree at Yale Law School, where he developed a strong commitment to the rule of law. As a partner at a major Midwest-based law firm, John argued and won difficult cases in the US Supreme Court and courts across Ohio.
John has embraced challenges in leading key community organizations and winning several daring political campaigns. Through these experiences and encounters with a wide range of people around the world, he has gained unique insights about building teams to serve the common good. He has also put his character to the test in the open water—leading English Channel relay swims, crossing the Bosphorus, swimming the Strait of Gibraltar, and other swims that have required both physical and mental toughness.
The lessons John has learned in leadership, law, and public service will be edifying for readers who, like him, seek to make the most of their own circumstances through steady and focused determination. Aspiring lawyers, political aficionados, and people in their golden years will be especially interested in reading John’s inspiring story. With a zeal for life, John shows that it’s never too late to live the life we dare to dream.
A graduate of The Ohio State University and Yale Law School, John Kulewicz has practiced law and served the public for over forty years. He grew up in a postwar suburb of Columbus, Ohio. A full scholarship enabled him to study American history as an undergraduate before he began his legal education. As an associate and then a partner at a leading law firm in Columbus, John has argued and won cases in the Supreme Court of the United States and federal and state courts throughout Ohio. Outside the courtroom, he has successfully headed several tough political campaigns and important community organizations. He is also an experienced open water swimmer. Since 2020, he has been a member of the City Council of Upper Arlington, Ohio, where he lives with his wife Maryline.
