Bill Denihan, ‘consummate administrator and public official,’ dies at 85

Bill Denihan

Bill Denihan of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County in December of 2016, requested the County Council ask the state and federal governments to declare opioid addiction a public health emergency. (Plain Dealer archives)William M. Denihan

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Longtime Cuyahoga County public servant and mental health and addiction advocate Bill Denihan died Monday at the age of 85.

His wife, Mary, confirmed the news in a post on his Facebook page, saying he suffered “insurmountable health issues” following a heart attack on May 12.

“Bill was an amazing human being. He loved making a meaningful difference in peoples’ lives,” she wrote, calling on friends and those who knew him to share their own memories and stories of “all the good he did for our community.”

Denihan last served as CEO of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, which he helped create in 2009 and led for 15 years before retiring in 2017 at the age of 80.

Bill Denihan gives instruction during a 2008 art class at Joseph's Home in Cleveland. Denihan, who served in an alphabet soup of public service jobs, died May 23, 2022 at age 85.

Left, Bill Denihan gives instruction to Anthony Jenkins on Saturday, March 8, 2008 during an art class at Joseph's Home. The class is designed to help men with their self esteem. (Lonnie Timmons III / Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer

But his career in public service went back much further.

He was the executive director of the county’s Division of Children & Family Services from 1999 through 2001, “championing changes that strengthened our social work and supportive service practices,” the county said in a statement late Monday, acknowledging his passing.

He also held many other titles, including:

  • First executive director of Ohio’s State Employee Relations Board
  • Acting director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
  • Director of personnel, both for Ohio and Cuyahoga County
  • Deputy administrator and state claims director for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
  • Chair of the Nuclear Power Evacuation Plan for Ohio
  • Public service director for City of Cleveland
  • Director of highway safety for Ohio, in charge of the Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
  • Cleveland public safety director
  • Acting Cleveland police chief
  • Chair of the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee
  • CEO of the former Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board

County Executive Armond Budish called him “the consummate administrator and public official,” in an emailed statement.

“He demonstrated his respect for people and service each day,” Budish said. “His versatility and leadership skills enabled him to work in nearly every level and area of government. His wisdom and advocacy will be missed.”

Cleveland City Council also held a moment of silence for Denihan during Monday’s meeting.

Denihan had 11 children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren who “were the light of his life,” and “the best legacy any person can have,” his wife wrote.

“There was only one Bill Denihan, and I am privileged that he loved me as much as I loved him,” she said.

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