Gerald R. Suess

Boardman - Gerald R. Suess, Sr., 86, passed away Friday morning, August 23, 2019 at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.

Mr. Suess was born June 16, 1933 in Akron, OH, a son of the late Adam and Elizabeth McFarland Suess.

In 1949, Jerry's family made their home in Boardman and he graduated from Boardman High School in 1951. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Baldwin Wallace College in 1955. Jerry began his teaching career at Greenford High School as a Drivers Education instructor and later Physical Education teacher. He went on to teach at Crestview and retired from Jackson-Milton High School as a Health and Physical Education Teacher.

An all around athlete, Jerry was a baseball pitcher and basketball player and a three year letterman at Baldwin Wallace College. His career point total was 1111. During his college career, Jerry was proud to have play at Madison Square Garden where he played against Maurice Stokes of St. Francis of PA and also the Harlem Globe Trotters.

In Class AA Baseball he was a Sandlot Stand Out for the Home Club and McKelvey's. He was drafted by the Kansas City A's and played for two years before suffering a knee injury.

Jerry was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame, the Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Baldwin Wallace College Hall of Fame. In 1980, Jerry was the very first basketball player to be inducted into the Boardman High School Hall of Fame. Jerry loved to golf and was a member of the Y League. He was also a member of the Saxon Club, Eagles Post #213 and the Boardman Athletic Club.

He was a mentor, coach and sports hero to his two sons, Jerry and David, and he loved coaching their Little League team, the Uptown Kiwanis. He helped coach his both his sons, Jerry's and David's teams to the championship.

To his family, Jerry will always be remembered as a great role model as a son, brother, husband, father and grandfather.

Jerry leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, the former Antoinette "Bippy" Navy, whom he married September 20, 1958; two sons, Gerald (Cathy) Suess, Jr. of Poland and David A. Suess of Boardman; one daughter, Debra (Bill) Suess Jeffries of North Jackson; five grandchildren, Doris (John) Stanko, Elizabeth Suess, Lacey (John) Rosati, Adam (Ashley Staton) Jeffries, and Tyler Jeffries; one great- grandson Griffin Jeffries; one brother, Jack Suess of Dublin, OH; and one, sister, Joyce Cailor of Jacksonville, FL.

Friends will be received Tuesday, August 27, from 5:00 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. at the Davis Becker Funeral Home, Boardman. A Memorial Service celebrating Jerry's life will follow at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Jack Acri officiating.

In lieu of flowers Jerry's family requests memorial gifts take the form of contributions to the United Leukodystrophy Foundation, 224 North Second Street, Suite 2, DeKalb, IL 60115, or www.ulf.org in Jerry's name.