Roger J. DiPaolo

Roger J. Di Paolo, 66, died June 18, 2021 following a two-year battle with cancer. Born on June 3rd, 1955, he is preceded in death by his parents, Pauline (Siciliano) Soule and Roger F. Di Paolo. Although he was born in Ravenna and a resident of Stow, he was raised in Kent and always called that home. He was a 1973 graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent, and graduated from Kent State University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. Roger worked for the Record Courier starting in 1977 as a reporter, was Kent city editor from 1982 to 1990, and served as editor from 1991 until 2017. In his retirement, Roger served as community liaison for Family & Community Services and historian-in-residence for the Kent Historical Society.

Roger was an active member of numerous community groups and served on the board of trustees for the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, Stow-Munroe Falls Library and Seneca Trail Council Camp Fire Boys & Girls. He was a member of the Kent Historical Society, Portage County NAACP, Ravenna Friends of the Flagpole and was a Kent State Bowman Breakfast keynote speaker. He helped with the historic designation of Kent’s “Historic South End” in 2019.

Roger received many awards, most notable of which included Ohio Associated Press Best Editorial Writer (2003 and 2014), Kent Area Chamber of Commerce Key to the City of Kent (2013), Portage County NAACP President’s Award (2017), and was inducted into the Kent City Schools Hall of Fame (2017).

Roger loved reading, poetry, photography and patronizing businesses in downtown Kent. He authored three books about local history. He will be missed by husband Timothy Krasselt, son Brian (Carly) DiPaolo, sisters Linda (Ernie) Prezioso and Betsy Soule, step-daughter Kendra McClendon, step-grandsons Zach and Josh Egert, many loving relatives and friends, and his beloved dog Mordechai.

The family is grateful to Southern Care hospice for their loving care. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at University Parish Newman Center, 1424 Horning Rd. Kent, OH 44240 with the Rev. Fr. Richard Pentello as Celebrant.  Burial will follow at Standing Rock Cemetery.  Later that evening, there will be a celebration of life at the Kent State University Hotel from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Skeels-Matthews Community Center, 4378 Skeels St., Ravenna, OH 44266.

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