Login | November 13, 2025
Mahoning County attorney/pilot Joseph Maxin remembered
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: November 13, 2025
Whether an attorney or a pilot, Joseph John Maxin was known for his dedication to the job and the skillful way in which he executed his duties, said his brother-in-law John Heino, an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office.
But above all else, Heino said Maxin was a family man who loved and inspired his children, as well as others, to pursue their dreams to the best of their ability.
“Whatever Joey did, he made a point to focus on doing his very best and he encouraged others to do the same,” said Heino. “Joey was a man of faith, who loved his family first. He was a friend, colleague and mentor to many and was always someone you could rely on. If you had a problem and called him at 3 a.m. he would pick up. He was just that kind of guy.”
But on June 29, Maxin, 63, died after the Cessna 441 twin-engine aircraft he was piloting crashed in Howland Township, shortly after taking off from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. Five others were also killed in the tragedy, including the co-pilot and four passengers.
Maxin was living in the city of Canfield at the time.
“Joey was a great brother-in-law and a great lawyer,” said Heino. “We handled a few cases together when I was in private practice. I admired his perseverance and attention to detail,” Heino.
“He loved flying,” said Heino. “He was very safety-oriented; he didn’t take chances. Two of his children followed in his footsteps and got their pilot licenses.
“His death is a huge loss for his family, the aviation and legal communities,” said Heino.
“My dad was a great father,” said his son Nicholas Maxin, a first officer at the private aviation company Executive Jet Management “He was there for all of his kids’ sporting events and he inspired us to achieve greatness with his determination.
“He instilled in his children that when you believe in your ability to achieve your goal you will be able to do it,” said Nicholas. “He enjoyed practicing law and loved being a pilot. He was able to incorporate both into his life and he helped a lot of people.”
Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Jack Durkin said Maxin’s loss was “absolutely tragic.”
Judge Durkin and Maxin knew one another for many years, attending some of the same schools, including the University of Dayton.
“Joe was an undergraduate and I had just started law school at the University of Dayton,” said Judge Durkin. “I knew Joe before UD primarily because both of us graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School, and Joe and my sister knew each other.”
Later, during his time as an assistant county prosecutor, Maxin was assigned to Judge Durkin’s court. He also prosecuted cases in Judge Durkin’s drug court.
“Joe was incredibly fair,” said Judge Durkin.
However, he said Maxin’s “passion for wanting to make victims of crimes whole,” meant he was “unrelenting in seeking restitution from a defendant.”
As a prosecutor in the drug court, Judge Durkin said Maxin was one of the biggest cheerleaders when clients did well in the program.
“He would fist bump or high five clients who were doing well as they walked by counsel table,” said Judge Durkin.
“We remained close even after he left the prosecutor’s office,” said Judge Durkin. “One of the reasons is because my wife Gina and Diane, who was the love of his life, are best friends and worked together as court reporters for many years.
“Joe left his mark on all of us, and he will be forever missed and never forgotten,” said Judge Durkin.
Born in Youngstown on Jan. 19, 1962 to Lucille and Joseph Maxin, he was one of four children.
He decided to become a pilot at age three after his mother’s passing so he could be closer to her, said Nicholas.
Maxin graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1980 and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton in 1984.
He received his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1988.
Maxin began his career in the Youngstown City Prosecutor’s Office.
In 1990, he moved to the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, where he initially served as an assistant prosecutor in the civil division and was assigned to the Engineer’s Office and then worked in the criminal division prosecuting narcotics cases.
He also practiced alongside his father Joseph W. Maxin at Maxin & Maxin for decades.
Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Donofrio worked with Maxin at the prosecutor’s office in the early ‘90s.
“We hit it off right away,” said Judge Donofrio. “We paired up and tried several criminal as well as civil cases together. We even tried private cases together.”
Judge Donofrio said Maxin was also a prosecutor for the Mahoning County Drug Task Force and was on the dive team at the sheriff’s department.
“On a personal level, we shared many common interests and became close friends,” said Judge Donofrio. “We both had a love of the outdoors and spent time hunting and fishing together. He was an adventurous spirit. We had known each other for about 35 years, and I had the honor of being his daughter Abigail’s godfather.
“Joey was a great guy,” said Judge Donofrio. “I don’t think he ever met anyone he didn’t like. He was fun-loving and great to be around, and we had a great time and a lot of laughs together.
“He was very passionate about flying as long as I’ve known him,” said Judge Donofrio. “He was a very good pilot who was incredibly focused when flying. I’ve flown with him several times and his level of concentration when flying was impressive.
“His death is a tremendous loss,” said Judge Donofrio. “We watched our children grow up together and my heart breaks for them.”
It was while an assistant county prosecutor in the 1990s that Maxin met his longtime partner Diane Kerchofer. She was a court reporter in the common pleas court.
“Many years later after career and life changes, we began dating and became longtime partners,” said Kerchofer, who recently retired.
“Joey was an incredible man with a beautiful heart,” she said. “His kindness and the ability to make people laugh followed him everywhere.
“Joey had a very strong faith and a deep love for his family,” said Kerchofer. “His three children were his pride and joy,” she said, adding he was “thrilled to be ‘Dzedo’ (Slovak for grandfather) to his first beautiful granddaughter Evelyn.
“He was an accomplished lawyer and pilot, and he enjoyed sharing his expertise with his students as a flight instructor,” she said.
“Joey was truly the love of my life and will be forever missed.”
An airline transport pilot (ATP) and certified flight instructor, Maxin left the prosecutor’s office in 2007 to join Eaton Corporation’s flight department as a captain and safety and risk manager.
Maxin returned to the criminal division of the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office in February 2017, serving as an assistant prosecutor until March 2024.
“Joey was my prosecutor for several years when he returned to the practice of law,” said Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D’Apolito. “He became the honor (veterans) court prosecutor.
“He was such a good person,” said Judge D’Apolito. “He never forgot that defendants are people, and he always wanted to do what was right and fair. He was very careful with the recommendations he made and if someone had a mental health or drug problem, he did his best to help them as much as possible.
“We were friends more than colleagues,” said Judge D’Apolito. “Joe helped me with my fear of flying by spending time explaining all the provisions that are put in place to help ensure the safety of commercial flights.
“Both his love of flying and the law paled in comparison to the love he had for his family.
“I only saw him get mad once and that was when he witnessed someone disrespect a woman,” said Judge D’Apolito. “He would not stand for that.”
After leaving the prosecutor’s office in 2024, he became the lead flight instructor at Youngstown State University’s flight school, which he also helped found.
“He worked very hard to establish the school,” said Judge Donofrio. “He was very passionate about it. He was the chief pilot of the program.”
“My dad also helped promote aviation education and safety at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport,” said Nicholas.
In 2024, Maxin also took on the role of director of compliance for Western Reserve Port Authority, where he served on the board from Aug. 2004-Feb. 2008, including just over three years as chair.
In addition to his passion for aviation, Maxin played piano, skydived, hunted, achieved a Black Belt in karate and enjoyed karaoke. He also took to the skies on a paramotor.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Maxin on July 8 at St. Michael Church in Canfield.
Maxin is survived by his children Nicholas John, Alexander Joseph and Abigail Lucille; his granddaughter Evelyn Lucille; their mother Mary Heino-Maxin (Michael Furrie); his sisters Mary Lou Maxin of Sacramento, California and Patricia Maxin of Houston, Texas; his brother Michael (Marianne) Maxin of Seattle, Washington and his companion Diane Kerchofer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Lucille Maxin and his brother-in-law Mike Lu.
The family has created the Joseph Maxin Aviation Scholarship at Youngstown State University Foundation in his memory.