1943
Dr.
2011
Dr. Stephen A. Graf
November 5, 1943 — May 31, 2011
Poland - Stephen A. Graf, 67, of Poland, Ohio, died at his home in the company of his family on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.
Born in Montreal, Canada, on November 5, 1943, Steve was the son of Arthur Albert Graf, Jr. and Joyce Ellison Graf.
He attended Western High School in Washington, D.C. (class of 1961), where he played baseball and basketball.
Steve went to Miami (OH) University and was a three-year letter winner in baseball. He then obtained his Doctorate from the Ohio State University before becoming a psychology professor at Youngstown State University. While at YSU, he was also an assistant baseball coach with Dom Rosselli for several years. Honored as a distinguished professor, and featured in Who's Who Among American Teachers, 'The Graffer' influenced the lives of many of his students. Some of his more memorable teaching methods included the use of SAFMEDS, standard celeration charts, clicker training, and authoring the books he used for his classes. He retired from YSU in 2005, but he and his brother-in-law, Jack Auman, continued to teach a course about extraterrestrials through 2010.
In January of this year, Steve was honored with the Ogden R. Lindsley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Standard Celeration Society, an organization he presided over for two years. He was a keynote speaker at the International Precision Teaching Conference and editor of the Association for Behavioral Analysis newsletter for nine years. He was highly involved in the CSETI organization and the Orion Project.
Steve had more hobbies and interests than can fit into one tribute. He kept stats for basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball teams at every level, and also volunteered countless hours coaching. Steve competed in hardball baseball for over 50 years, including AA Baseball, the Youngstown Old-Timers, and Poland FOG, and he was proud of his uncanny ability to be hit by pitches. He was inducted into the East Side Civics Baseball Hall of Fame and the Youngstown Old-Timers Hall of Fame. He played competitive morning basketball with people half his age and would often be seen practicing on his unique driveway hoop. He was the founder, architect, head groundskeeper, and self-appointed golf pro of his backyard 'Big Foot Country Club.'
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister Gwendolyn; grandparents Arthur and Josephine (Cox) Graf and Sam and Beadie (Payne) Ellison; his in-laws William and Betty Auman; and many special aunts and uncles.
He leaves his brother Doug Graf of Columbus, his wife of 38 years, Carol (Auman), his daughters Kim (Ken) Grisdale of Poland, Allie Graf of Poland, Steffi (Ryan) Yoder of Columbus, his granddaughter Jackie Grisdale, his in-laws Martin Ledwick, Jane and Steve Christofis, Jack Auman, Jan O'Malley, Helen Auman, many close extended family members, and countless dear friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students.
To know Steve was to know a loyal, devoted man. He never thought twice about being there for his family, whether it was the daily trip to visit his parents or the weekly thousand-mile trips to attend his daughters' events.
It's very hard to even picture a future without his amiable presence, quirky humor, unbounded enthusiasm, and love for those around him. While we won't hear his "I love you" again in this world, we will hear it in our hearts always.
According to the wishes of Steve and his family, there will be no calling hours or funeral services at this time. A memorial is being planned, and we welcome any anecdotes that would help celebrate his illustrious life. Stories, pictures, audio/video clips, or other media for inclusion into the ceremony can be sent to TheGrafferMemorial@gmail.com. The family requests that tributes take the form of contributions to The Independent Cancer Research Foundation at www.new-cancer-treatments.org or The Orion Project at www.theorionproject.org .
Arrangements are being handled by the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland. Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
Born in Montreal, Canada, on November 5, 1943, Steve was the son of Arthur Albert Graf, Jr. and Joyce Ellison Graf.
He attended Western High School in Washington, D.C. (class of 1961), where he played baseball and basketball.
Steve went to Miami (OH) University and was a three-year letter winner in baseball. He then obtained his Doctorate from the Ohio State University before becoming a psychology professor at Youngstown State University. While at YSU, he was also an assistant baseball coach with Dom Rosselli for several years. Honored as a distinguished professor, and featured in Who's Who Among American Teachers, 'The Graffer' influenced the lives of many of his students. Some of his more memorable teaching methods included the use of SAFMEDS, standard celeration charts, clicker training, and authoring the books he used for his classes. He retired from YSU in 2005, but he and his brother-in-law, Jack Auman, continued to teach a course about extraterrestrials through 2010.
In January of this year, Steve was honored with the Ogden R. Lindsley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Standard Celeration Society, an organization he presided over for two years. He was a keynote speaker at the International Precision Teaching Conference and editor of the Association for Behavioral Analysis newsletter for nine years. He was highly involved in the CSETI organization and the Orion Project.
Steve had more hobbies and interests than can fit into one tribute. He kept stats for basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball teams at every level, and also volunteered countless hours coaching. Steve competed in hardball baseball for over 50 years, including AA Baseball, the Youngstown Old-Timers, and Poland FOG, and he was proud of his uncanny ability to be hit by pitches. He was inducted into the East Side Civics Baseball Hall of Fame and the Youngstown Old-Timers Hall of Fame. He played competitive morning basketball with people half his age and would often be seen practicing on his unique driveway hoop. He was the founder, architect, head groundskeeper, and self-appointed golf pro of his backyard 'Big Foot Country Club.'
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister Gwendolyn; grandparents Arthur and Josephine (Cox) Graf and Sam and Beadie (Payne) Ellison; his in-laws William and Betty Auman; and many special aunts and uncles.
He leaves his brother Doug Graf of Columbus, his wife of 38 years, Carol (Auman), his daughters Kim (Ken) Grisdale of Poland, Allie Graf of Poland, Steffi (Ryan) Yoder of Columbus, his granddaughter Jackie Grisdale, his in-laws Martin Ledwick, Jane and Steve Christofis, Jack Auman, Jan O'Malley, Helen Auman, many close extended family members, and countless dear friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students.
To know Steve was to know a loyal, devoted man. He never thought twice about being there for his family, whether it was the daily trip to visit his parents or the weekly thousand-mile trips to attend his daughters' events.
It's very hard to even picture a future without his amiable presence, quirky humor, unbounded enthusiasm, and love for those around him. While we won't hear his "I love you" again in this world, we will hear it in our hearts always.
According to the wishes of Steve and his family, there will be no calling hours or funeral services at this time. A memorial is being planned, and we welcome any anecdotes that would help celebrate his illustrious life. Stories, pictures, audio/video clips, or other media for inclusion into the ceremony can be sent to TheGrafferMemorial@gmail.com. The family requests that tributes take the form of contributions to The Independent Cancer Research Foundation at www.new-cancer-treatments.org or The Orion Project at www.theorionproject.org .
Arrangements are being handled by the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland. Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
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