Roz Harkavy, Joe Feldhaus and Ed Slater at the Tender Mercies 2023 Annual Meeting.
As the year of our founding, 1985, gets further in the rearview mirror it’s hard to imagine Cincinnati’s housing system before Tender Mercies. Harder, still, is to imagine Tender Mercies before Joe Feldhaus came to serve his first meal. Little did he know, that meal would become a lifetime of service to the men and women who have called Tender Mercies home.
Joe Feldhaus was the 2022 recipient of the Sister Kathleen Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award for his multitudinous generosity. The following speech was written by Marcia Spaeth-Kennedy and Tamara Harkavy in honor of Joe, and delivered by Tamara at the 2022 Tender Mercies Annual Meeting. The lives of thousands have been shaped by Joe, and we are eternally grateful to him for shaping Tender Mercies into the organization it is today.
From Tamara Harkavy:
I am happy and honored to be able to speak for both Marcia Spaeth Kennedy […] and the Harkavy Family about a man who is a gift, a dear family friend and a long time caring and devoted provider to our Cincinnati community and particularly Tender Mercies. […]
Joe, you are a man of grace, kindness and inspiration to us all. Let me start by saying it’s no secret that these past few years have been filled with challenges, and you and Marcheta have handled each one head-on with grace and a positive outlook; you made all of us feel better.
Your devotion and generosity have helped create the foundation that is Tender Mercies today. It is in your DNA to do good. And good you did, as witnessed by the way you and Marcheta raised this beautiful family, giving us hope for the next generations!
[Joe, you are] an inspiration to us all. […]
My brother Josh said, “Joe has made his mark on Tender Mercies over many years of service with his leadership, wisdom and dedication, legal advice, […] compassion, empathy, and most of all his tremendous ability to serve fried chicken to the residents.” Now that you are retired you can actually fry the chicken yourselves!
Tamara, reading from Marcia Spaeth Kennedy’s speech:
So How did Tender Mercies get so lucky to have a JOE FELDHAUS you ask?
Marcia left us a letter that tells us the History of Joe Feldhaus and Tender Mercies.
In the beginning years of Tender Mercies, it didn’t take long to realize we needed to purchase our buildings, or at least have a long-term lease with the landlord. It was imperative that our residents know they would not be uprooted. Tender Mercies was their home for as long as they needed. To ensure that, we needed a lawyer to negotiate on our behalf. The skills required: smart, sympathetic and free!
On a Monday morning in September 1985, [Father] Chris Hall came bouncing into Race Street with good news. The day before, he said Mass at Immaculata Church in Mt. Adams, (my church!) as a guest priest because the pastor was on vacation.
After the service, a young man approached Chris to tell him how much he enjoyed his sermon and other “Chris touches” about the mass. Chris was flattered and struck up a conversation with the young man. Naturally, Tender Mercies came up.
When he came to work the next day, Chris couldn’t stop talking about the young lawyer he met, who said he would help us with long-term leases and purchase options.
When I asked his name and he said Joe Feldhaus, I screamed!
You see, Joe and I go all the way back to college. I have tons of blackmail material, but that’s another story! Let’s pick it up after Joe’s chance meeting with Chris at my church. After that, it wasn’t too long before Joe joined the Tender Mercies board.
That eventually led to some time as board-chair and serving dinner every Monday with friends and family at Harkavy Hall. He has done that for more than 36 years!
Not only did Tender Mercies get Joe, we got Marcheta too. Then Elena and Claudia were born and we got them! Joe’s entire family has given their hearts to Tender Mercies.
In return, our residents have had a lasting impact on shaping them into the caring and giving people they are today.
Joe and Marcheta are both attorneys and, through their professional work and personal passion, have made a profound impact on our community. And their daughters both chose caring professions that are focused on healing and alleviating the suffering of others.
Joe and his family live the Tender Mercies mission. They treat every resident with dignity and respect. They are part of the Tender Mercies family and have worked tirelessly over the past 37 years to keep our residents safe, secure and in supportive, permanent housing.
There is absolutely no person more deserving of the Sr. Kathleen Kelly Award than Joe. […] Thanks for always being there Joe, for our residents, and me.
[…] Joe there really aren’t any words, phrases, quotes, or gospel hymns, we could think of to truly express how lucky Tender Mercies and the Cincinnati community is because of you.
So from all of us, no matter where we are, we want to end this with simple words – thank you very much.
Parts of this speech have been edited for length, content, and clarification.
