Born: 9 May 1884, United States
Died: 15 August 1968
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished with permission from the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History at Case Western Reserve University.
WESTROPP, LILLIAN MARY (9 May 1884-15 Aug. 1968), Cleveland Municipal Court judge and cofounder of WOMEN’S FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, was born in Cleveland to Thos. P. and Clara Stoeckel Westropp, graduated from West High School and Dyke School of Commerce, and after a brief theatrical career enrolled in BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE’s law school, graduating in 1915 with a LL.B. Entering private practice, emphasizing real estate and finance, Westropp was one of the first women admitted to the CLEVELAND BAR ASSOC. and the first woman elected to its executive committee. In 1929 she became assistant county prosecutor, instituting a bail-bond system insuring 100% collection. In 1931 she was appointed to fill a municipal judgeship; she was continually reelected until she retired in 1957. During her tenure, she initiated a court psychiatric clinic in 1937.
With her sister, CLARA E. WESTROPP, Westropp organized Women’s Federal Savings & Loan Assoc. of Cleveland, serving as president from 1936-57 and as chairman of the board of directors until her death. Her objective was to give women confidence in their own financial ability and prove they could succeed. Westropp was an active Democrat, organizing Democratic Women, State of Ohio (1920), and chosen a member of the executive committee of the CUYAHOGA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY (1923). She was an organizer of the Women Lawyers’ Club of Cleveland; WOMEN’S CITY CLUB; LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS; Catholic Daughters of America; Cleveland Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB; and Woman’s Hospital. She was unmarried.