Joseph A. Betkoski

Joseph A. Betkoski, 89, of Kent passed away on August 12, 2025.

He was born May 29, 1936, in Glen Lyon, PA, a small coal mining town in eastern Pennsylvania, the older of two sons to the late Stanley and Mary Betkoski.

Joe graduated from Newport Township High School where he was enrolled in college preparatory classes. He was active outside the classroom as well excelling in baseball as a second baseman, as well as being a class officer, a sportswriter for the newspaper, and a member of the yearbook executive committee.

Upon graduation, he continued his education and athletic career at Alliance College where he earned a bachelor’s degree and lettered in baseball all four years; being selected team captain in his senior season. He was also active outside the classroom and off the baseball field as he held class and student government offices each year. He took special pride in his election to the Alliance College Honor Society due in large part to his value of all aspects of education including learning, teaching, research and public service.

Joe supplemented his undergraduate studies with enrollment in post baccalaureate courses at various colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and Ohio, graduate work at Kent State University and certification work at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.

His early professional career interests were in the field education and coaching where he taught and coached at Canton Central Catholic and Akron Hoban. During his tenure in education, he chaired the Social Sciences Department, served as a master teacher and director of a team-teaching program and developed a community leaders interest program whereby local leaders in various fields shared their expertise and experiences with his classes on a host of critical current events. Additionally, Joe served as an assistant and head baseball coach and served as a member of the Academic and Discipline Boards.

Even though his interest in education was intense, he was attracted to the challenge of public service. Joe’s career in public service spanned 29 years, serving parts of this time as the Director of Finance for the cities of Kent, Twinsburg and Norton. Early in his career in public service, he was one of the first 33 candidates to qualify as a Certified Municipal Finance Administrator (CMFA) and subsequently qualified as a Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM), as well as meeting all requirements for certification as a School Treasurer and School Business Manager by the Ohio Board of Education. In addition, part of his public service career was as an administrative and field supervisor with the Office of the Auditor of the State of Ohio.

Joe’s career accomplishments included being a charter member of the Ohio Chapter of the Municipal Treasurers Association and served a term as the National Chairman of the Professional Resource Committee of the Municipal Treasurers Association of the United States and Canada. In addition, he served on a Kent Charter Review Commission, a Kent Salary Review Commission, the Portage County Planning Commission and was professionally affiliated with the Association of Government Accountants (AGA), the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), and the International City Management Association (ICMA).

Joe’s other interests included being majority partner in the Wyoga Landscape Services Company where his love for designing beautiful landscapes thrived. Throughout his life he was an avid reader where he enjoyed researching details of various subjects. During his retirement, he was active as a special assistant to the founding president of the Ohio Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation, serving the chapter on the Scholarship and Essay committees. In addition, he took special interest and pride in the activities and achievements of his grandchildren.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brother Leonard; and the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Shirley (Erdos). He is survived by his sons William (Valerie) of Marietta, Ohio and Brian (Leslie) of Kent; sister-in-law Bernadine (Swicklik) Betkoski of Wanamie, PA; grandchildren, Tracy (Corey) Orr and Ellen (James) Betkoski of Marietta, Ohio, Daniel (Elena) Betkoski of Canton, Ohio and Jaret Betkoski of Columbus, Ohio. He also leaves behind nephews, Eric (Shelley) Erdos of Kent, James Angelo of North Canton and Stanley Betkoski of Shickshinney, PA; nieces, Carolyn Angelo of Twinsburg and Melissa (Alby) Zaborney of Wanamie, PA. He also leaves behind his great grandchildren, Cooper, Rozalyn, Payton and Allie.

Following Joe’s wishes, a private memorial service will be conducted at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in his memory to St. Patrick’s School Endowment Fund (127 Portage Street, Kent, Ohio 44240), or to the The Kosciuszko Foundation, Inc. – Attn.: Director-Teaching English in Poland (15 East 65th Street, New York, New York 10065-6501).

Services in the care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.