Dr. Robert "Pete" William Flexer

Dr. Robert "Pete" William Flexer, age 76, of Kent and Hudson OH, died on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at Ahuja Medical Center.

Robert "Pete" was born December 15, 1945 in Philadelphia, PA to the late Melvin and Helen (Godleski) Flexer.

Dr. Robert Flexer was an Emeritus Professor of Special Education and a Distinguished Scholar at Kent State University. As a scholar, Dr. Flexer published books on supported employment and transition from school to work for youth with severe disabilities. As a researcher in the 1970s, he championed the cause of supported employment and was among the leading voices for persons with the most significant disabilities.

After coming to Kent State University in 1979, Dr. Flexer began obtaining federal funding for personnel development that focused on developing transition coordinator competencies and was instrumental in launching Ohio’s statewide Transition-to-Work (TTW) endorsement for secondary special education.

Since high school, Dr. Flexer had described his role in life as the “champion of the common man” and had instilled this value among the many graduate students and special educators he trained and supported over the last 50 years.

Pete (a nickname his father gave him as a young child) grew up in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, living and working in the family store called Flexer’s News Agency. In his youth Pete was very driven. At age 6 he started his sports career excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. He lettered in all three sports and was co-captain of his football team. He was also the treasurer of his high school class. Being the go getter he had always been, he earned enough money in high school and college to pay his own way through college. Pete always loved poetry and he enjoyed playing tennis and handball at Kent State.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Carol Flexer; daughters, Heather Rae (Joe) Streltzer Gelb, and Hillari Gayle (Josh) Streltzer Klynn; son, David Peter (Hilary) Flexer; 11 grandchildren; siblings, Barbara Flecksteiner, Raymond (Alice) Flexer, Mary Cash, and Patricia Flexer; many nieces and nephews, and grand nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Melvin and Richard Flexer. Pete will always be honored and cherished by his family and friends.

Calling hours will be held 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sunday, October 23, 2022 at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240. Graveside service will be held 1:00 PM Monday, October 24, 2022, at Standing Rock Cemetery, 1361 N. Mantua St. Kent, OH 44240 with Celebrant Kevin O’Brien officiating. Please come directly to the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Drs. Pete and Carol Flexer Endowed Scholarship at Kent State University. The URL for memorial gifts is: http://ksu.convio.net/Flexer. Please check mark the box for “in honor/memory of” to make sure the donation goes through the condolences protocol. For those mailing checks for the endowed scholarship, please make checks out to: “KSU Foundation” and note on memo: “Memory of Pete Flexer #35637” Mail to:  KSU Foundation, c/o Gifts Processing, PO Box 5190, Kent, OH  44242.

Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 West Main Street, Kent, OH 44240.