People close to Charles “Chuck” Kocisko — and those who only knew his reputation as a public servant of Streetsboro — have shared their appreciation and condolences following his death in January.
“Chuck did an enormous amount of things for the city,” Mayor Glenn Broska said. “He was one of the founding fathers of Streetsboro Junior Baseball back in the day. He basically committed his off time to serving the city.”
Kocisko, a former City Council member and the founder of Streetsboro Family Days, died on Jan. 9 at age 83. City leaders plan to honor his contributions with street and baseball field dedications and by taking on a greater role with community events.
“He always had family and community at heart and put them first.” “Our lives are better because he was in it,” read online tributes at Shorts-Spicer-Crislip Funeral Homes.
“I don’t recall meeting Chuck, but his influence throughout the city has been felt in virtually every fiber of its goings on for decades,” a comment on Facebook stated.
Streetsboro Family Days cancelled
A statement posted to the Streetsboro Family Days’ website and Facebook page in early February announced the cancellation of this year’s four-day festival, which is typically hosted in July by a small group of families at Streetsboro City Park.
“We need this time to heal, take time for ourselves and reflect on the future of Streetsboro Family Days,” it stated.
Messages to Von Starkey, president of the nonprofit event board and Kocisko’s daughter, were not returned.
Community members have gathered for concerts, fair food and other entertainment at Streetsboro Family Days since 2003. However, that attendance noticeably declined when the ride operator was not available in recent years, Broska and Councilman Jon Hannan said.
“I’ve always attended Family Days,” Hannan said. “I’ve always enjoyed it, but I know that attendance has declined just because of the fair not having any rides, and that was out of their control.”
City to sponsor more events
Last summer, the city coordinated its inaugural Brew & BBQ Bash. The one-day event featured a barbecue competition and craft brewers and was a “resounding success,” Broska said.
The Parks and Recreation event coordinator helped plan it but, to avoid using taxpayer money, the city worked with the nonprofit Streetsboro Heritage Foundation to collect donations and pay vendors. Broska said the city plans to host the event again and add additional festivals, especially once the “Gateway Green” or city center project is complete.
An ordinance, which will be up for a final council vote March 10, would add a new section to the city’s administrative code related to city-sponsored events. It would give the event coordinator authority to seek sponsorships and enter concession agreements and designate a fund for those purposes.
“It is our desire to offer the different programs and stuff on the Gateway Green that other communities around us have,” Broska said. “I think it’s important that we have that to build a sense of place and to build a sense of community.”
Hannan said the legislation will keep finances “transparent” and ensure that event funds do not take money from roads or other essential city services.
“It basically creates a separate account so then that way, when that money comes in from sponsorships, it gives us flexibility of using that money for city-sponsored events,” he said.
Streetsboro honors Chuck Kocisko
City Council on Feb. 24 also approved the dedication of the northeast Public Square Road as “Chuck Kocisko Way.” Members also intend to name the baseball fields at Streetsboro City Park after Kocisko but are debating whether it should be dubbed “ball fields” or “athletic complex.”
Hannan, who played Streetsboro Junior Baseball & Softball growing up, said Kocisko’s contributions as former president of the organization included lights and dugouts at the fields. He considered Kocisko a mentor while serving alongside him on City Council from 2017 to 2021 — when Kocisko lost his re-election bid — and continued to seek his advice afterward.
Kocisko, a U.S. Army veteran, had previously served on City Council and also served on the city’s Planning Commission, Streetsboro Visitors & Convention Bureau and Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Hannan said his community knowledge was “like a Streetsboro history book.”
“I think his contributions to the city were huge, and I think it’s just truly fitting to name something after him,” Hannan said.
