'Steve' Hapoanowicz dies at 80

Blog Note: He covered Akron and Summit County high school sports for the Plain Dealer and was a longtime board member of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame. He also worked at the Massillon Independent.


Norbert "Steve" Hapanowicz

CUYAHOGA FALLS -- Norbert "Steve" Hapanowicz, 80, passed away December 11, 2008.

Mr. Hapanowicz was born in West Hazleton, Pa., June 22, 1928 and was raised in Cleveland and had resided the past 42 years in Cuyahoga Falls. He was a 1952 graduate of Ohio University, was a U.S. Army Veteran and retired in September 1992 having worked as a newspaper writer for 37 years, including 26 years with the Cleveland Plain Dealer after working for the Columbus Dispatch and the Massillon Evening Independent. He was a member of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame Committee for 40 plus years, was member of the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame Selection Committee, the Cleveland Society of Poles, the Polish American Club and St. Eugene's Parish in Cuyahoga Falls.

Preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Magdalen and sister, Gloria Liszeski, he is survived by his wife of 57 years, Helen; children, Steven (Carol) of Cincinnati, Mark (Peggy) of Silver Lake, Barbara (Matt) Swysgood of Sunbury, Jon (Carmela) of University Hts., and Christine Hapanowicz of Columbus; grandchildren, Isaac, Rachel, Jessica, Trevor, Michael, Megan, Teddy, Joe, Hannah, Emma, Lukas, Adrienne, Elise, Owen, and Grace; great-granddaughter, Alyssah and brother, Clarence Harper of Richfield.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. TONIGHT and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. A Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Eugene's Catholic Church, 1821 Munroe Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association, 15120 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693 in his memory.
[Beacon Journal, Akron, OH,Friday, December 12, 2008, page B6, col. 3 ]