Michael J. Voinovich

Mike was preceded by his parents, George S., and Josephine (Bernot) Voinovich. Mike was also preceded in death by his wife of fifty-eight and one-half years, Elaine (Slater), who, according to Mike, was always supportive of his efforts in education. He was also preceded by his brothers George (Janet) and Paul (Christine). Mike is survived by daughters Karen (Tom Moore) and Ellen Matisko (Matt), son Michael C. (Kristin), grandchildren Allison, Matthew, Michael, Ben, and Lauren. Mike is also survived by his brother Victor (Patricia), and sisters JoAnne Indre (Robert) and Mary Ann Voinovich.

Mike graduated from Collinwood High School in June 1955. Mike’s business education teacher at Collinwood, Harold D. Kester, convinced him to apply to Miami University, which Mike says changed his life. He studied hard, praying often to the Virgin Mary for guidance as he earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 1959. While at Miami, Mike belonged to the Newman Club and was a server at Mass five days a week for three years.

After graduating from Miami, Mike went to work for the Cleveland Public Schools in the fall of 1959. His first teaching assignment was at Addison Junior High School, which at the time was the largest junior high school in Ohio.

While teaching at Addison, Mike developed an interest in Special Education. The principal at Addison gave him classes of gifted seventh graders to teach, along with teaching children with special needs. That prompted Mike to earn his master’s degree in special education from Kent State University in 1964.

Mike helped to develop a program for Special Education in all high schools in the Cleveland system. The goal was for all those students to be able to receive a high school diploma. He also helped develop the district’s program for children with handicaps. According to Mike, Cleveland Superintendent Dr. Paul Briggs wanted to make sure that every junior high and high school in Cleveland would have special education classes.

Mike went on to earn his Education Specialist Degree with a Superintendency Certificate from Kent in 1981. From 1982 to 1989, he was Director of Special Education for the Cleveland Schools.

While working as an administrator, Mike became the only president of the Cleveland Council of Administrators and Supervisors to hold a position at the district’s central office. He was also president of Phi Delta Kappa for the Cleveland Schools.

In 1989, Mike took on a new job with the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. His main responsibility was to work with schools throughout the Diocese, to make sure they received all the government funding to which they were entitled. From 1994 until 2016, Mike was Director of Government Programs for the Diocese Education Office.

A devout and faithful Catholic, Mike belonged to St. Angela Merici Parish in Fairview Park over 50 years. He taught in the Parish School of Religion for 50 years, teaching special needs students for thirty-five of those years. He has also been a lector, a member of the choir, and a eucharistic minister, including bringing the eucharist to the sick and homebound.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 10, 2-8 p.m. at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, 20820 Lorain Road, Fairview Park OH 44126. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, December 11, 11:30 a.m. at Saint Angela Merici Parish, 20970 Lorain Road, Fairview Park OH 44126. Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 6303 Center Rd, Valley City, Ohio 44280.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s memory can be made to the St. Kitzito Foundation, 25187 Chase Drive, North Olmsted, OH 44070. Donations can also be made to Birthright of Cleveland, 14701 Detroit Ave #370, Lakewood, OH 44107.