Neighbors say Chizek was a 'Friendly Guy'

WNIR talk show host Howie Chizek, a Twinsburg resident, died of a heart attack over the weekend.

Richard and Lisa Wamsley lived right across the street from Akron radio personality Howie Chizek. While neither of them knew Chizek well, they thought the world of the Parmalee Drive resident because of his radio show. “He seemed like an awfully nice guy,” Richard said. Chizek, 65, died of a heart attack on Saturday, June 18, while taking underpriveleged children on a trip to Disney World. Chizek was a long-time talk show host for WNIR and was often called the "voice of common sense." While Richard Wamsley only listened to Chizek on the radio periodically, he enjoyed his personality. “He was nice to people,” Richard said. “He would let them say what they wanted as long as they were decent. I think sometimes he put people up to things so he…

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WNIR Radio Host Howie Chizek Dead at 65

Long-time radio host reportedly died of a heart attack

The "voice of common sense" as he was so often called is silent today. WNIR talk radio host Howie Chizek died Saturday at the age of 65. Here's a round-up of coverage of his death:

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Kent State Librarian Loses Battle with Cancer

Erica Lilly, 50, died May 22

The Kent State University Libraries are without their chemistry and physics librarian after she lost her battle with cancer this month. Erica Barditch Lilly, 50, a Baltimore native, died May 22 following 10 years with the disease. Lilly, an associate professor, had served for 17 years as a faculty member at Kent State. She earned a master's degree in library science from the University of Maryland. Erin Michael, an administrative assistant in Kent State's chemistry and biochemistry department, said Lilly's positive attitude earned the admiration of faculty and students alike. "Erica's beautiful soul, gentle spirit, kind heart, witty personality and thoughtfulness resulted in a legacy that only few could hope to follow," her obituary reads …

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Kent Bids Farewell to 'Tragic Hero' Who Overcame Labels

Public memorial service for artist Robert Wood attracts nearly 200 people.

Nearly 200 people – from the very young to the very old, from hippies to the clean-cut – gathered Saturday to celebrate the life of Robert Wood, a man referred to as a scholarly artist and philosopher whose appearance and unusual public behaviors led strangers to label him as crazy. The public memorial service was hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent in conjunction with the Haymaker Farmers’ Market “community” – both of which were important to Wood, 68, who died Feb. 5. Among the attendees were Wood’s brother, Dr. Gary Wood, and his wife, Carolyn, of Maryland. The couple said after the service they were glad they stayed in Ohio an extra day to see how much the community cared for Wood. The Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer led the…

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Robert Wood: A Video Tribute

The man known to thousands of Kent residents and Kent State students for his unkempt appearance and eccentric behavior was known to a smaller circle of friends and acquaintances as a talented artist and stimulating conversationalist.

When the community gathers at 10 a.m. today for a service in memory of Robert Wood, it will remember him not as the shabby-looking man who wandered around Kent muttering to himself and occasionally shouting obscenties, but as a man with hidden and often unsuspected virtues. In this video by Nick Rock, some of those who knew Wood best shared with Kent Patch what it was they valued so much in a man others generally shunned.

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Family of Robert Wood Holding Memorial Service Friday

Visitation begins one hour prior to 11 a.m. service at Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home Streetsboro Chapel.

In addition to the public memorial service for Robert Wood to be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, his family has planned a visitation and service Friday at a Streetsboro funeral chapel. The following obituary was provided by Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home Streetsboro Chapel: Robert E. Wood, 68, of Kent, died Sunday, February 5, 2012. He was born July 20, 1943, in Youngstown, OH, to the late Robert J. and Margaret H. (Kopscai) Wood. A Kent resident since 1964, he was an artist who received his master's degree from Kent State University. He attended the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent. Survivors include his brother, Gary (Carolyn) Wood of Towson, MD; niece, Margaret (Michael) Abruzzo of Stuart…

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Memorial Service Set For Kent Artist, Cultural Icon Robert Wood

Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent will hold service at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 9. A memorial service celebrating the life of Kent artist and cultural icon Robert Wood, 68, who died Sunday, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent. The Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer said the service will incorporate memorial plans that were being made by members of the Haymaker Farmers’ Market, where Wood regularly displayed and sold his artwork. Carvill-Ziemer said it’s early in the planning process, so few details are firmed up. Fritz Seefeldt will speak on behalf of the farmers’ market “community,” Katrina Pervanowski-Kohout, owner of Salt of the Earth Farm, will speak on behalf of the Kent Winter Market, and John Kluth, owner of FJ Kluth …

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UPDATE: Kent State Professor Emeritus Dies After Being Hit by Car

Memorial service for Dr. Gordon Vars tentatively set for March 10 at his beloved church.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 2:30 p.m. A memorial service is tentatively set for March 10 for retired professor Dr. Gordon Vars, 88, who died late Tuesday night after being hit by a car near his Fairchild Avenue home. The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office and Kent Police report that Vars was crossing Fairchild Avenue at the intersection of Woodard Avenue when he was struck by a westbound Volkswagon Beetle at 10 p.m. Tuesday. The Kent Fire Department transported Vars to Akron City Hospital, where he died of his injuries at 11:32 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled for today. Kent Police report that alcohol is not a suspected factor in the crash, which is still under investigation. The driver's name will be released upon …

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Don Joseph, Kent Car Dealer Owner, Dies at 81

Joseph established one of the oldest Toyota dealerships in the U.S.

Kent State Student Dies in Weekend Car Crash

Candlelight vigil for Katherine Iarussi set for Saturday night

The community of Kent State University is mourning the loss of yet another student today. Katherine R. Iarussi, 20, of Ravenna, was killed in a weekend crash about 18 miles east of the Kent State campus. The crash happened on S.R. 5 in rural Paris Township just east of S.R. 225. Iarussi was driving southwest on S.R. 5 in a Honda SUV when her car collided with a Jeep driven by Preston L. Collins, 29, of Diamond, just before 5 p.m. Sunday, according to the Ravenna post of the Ohio Highway Patrol. Both drivers were killed in the crash. They both were taken to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office. No other information was available from the highway patrol, and the crash is under investigation. Iarussi was a sophomore attending classes …

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