Ken was a dedicated civil rights advocate and public servant, a devoted champion of Cleveland Heights, the longtime leader of Montlack Management, an avid sailor, skier and work out enthusiast, and a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Ken was born on December 11, 1939 in Lakewood, Ohio to Esther and Dr. Morris Montlack. His family moved to Shaker Heights when he was nine, and he graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1958. He then attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1962. Following college he served in the U.S. Army Reserves.
In 1963, Ken participated in the March on Washington, where he heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech, which served to launch his career fighting for civil rights. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University’s College of Law in 1967. He served as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General in charge of the Cleveland Civil Rights Office, and, in his private practice, dedicated his legal services to the underserved, taking on mostly civil rights and landlord-tenant cases, many of them pro bono.
In the1970s Cleveland Heights Judge Sarah Hunter designated Ken an Acting Municipal Judge of the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court, where he served for twelve years. In 1988, he was elected to the Cleveland Heights City Council where he served for 24 years, including a stint as vice mayor. In 1996, Ken cofounded the First Suburbs Consortium of Northeast Ohio, an advocacy organization that now comprises 19 municipalities, and he remained involved until his passing.
In 2001, Ken married Christine Henry, whom he described as the best thing to ever happen to him. They enjoyed 22 years together working, sailing, skiing, talking politics, and opening their Cleveland Heights and Chautauqua, New York homes to family and friends. Hardly a day went by that he did not read the New York Times from cover to cover. Having worked selling peanuts and sodas at the old Municipal Stadium as a kid, he was a lifelong supporter of the Cleveland Guardians. Ken loved ideas about how to make things better, especially related to politics and local government, and was a long time Democrat. He was known and loved for his sense of fairness, ability to focus on what’s important, quick wit and ability to recognize humor.
Following his retirement from city council, Ken managed his family real estate business, Montlack Management, and continued to practice law.
Ken is survived by his wife, Christine; children Andrew Montlack (Kate) and Cara Montlack Riechmann (Benjamin Riechmann); stepchildren Matthew Martin (Taylor Matthews) and Elizabeth Martin (Andrew Fontanarosa); sister-in-law Carol Montlack; nephew Kirt Montlack; nieces Dana Montlack and Laini Montlack; and grandchildren Hannah Montlack; Mateo, Talulah, and Marcella Martin; Nadia Williams; and Bucky and Dottie Fontanarosa.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Michael Montlack, and his stepson Timothy Martin.
Services will be held Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel, 1985 South Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. A reception will immediately follow at the Cleveland Heights Community Center at 1 Monticello Blvd. in Cleveland Heights.
Memorial contributions in Ken’s name may be made to the EDWINS Foundation, 13101 Shaker Square, Cleveland, Ohio, 44120; The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, 1223 West Sixth St. Cleveland, Ohio, 44113; and Organize! Ohio, 11811 Shaker Boulevard, Suite 109, Cleveland, Ohio, 44120.
To view services livestream go to BKBMC.com, open the obituary's tab, go to the Montlack obituary, scroll down to and click the join livestream button.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berkowitzkuminbookatzfunerals.com for the Montlack family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5