Kenneth Ciolek

Kenneth G. Ciolek, born on October 14, 1947, to Chester and Laverne (Nauth) passed away on January 31, 2025. Kenneth's greatest accomplishment and his true love was his family. He was married to his soulmate Cathy (Spodar) for 53 years. He was a proud father of James (Shauna), Kimberly Backhaus (Matt) and Amy Smith (Michael). He was the hopelessly devoted and loving Papa to eight grandchildren: Samuel, Joseph, Donovan, Miranda, Andrew (AJ), Alex, Olivia, and Erin. Ken spent his retirement helping his grandchildren achieve their athletic and school dreams, attending all their events, reading, fishing, lounging in his pool, and taking frequent trips to the Amish with his family.

Ken was a 1965 graduate of Cathedral Latin High School in Cleveland. He received an Associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College in 1967, a Bachelor's of Science from Kent State University in 1970, and a Master's in Education from Cleveland State University in 1979. He taught Health and Physical Education at Lakewood City Schools for 31 years and was also an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University.

Coach Ciolek coached Baseball and Football for over 40 years at Lakewood High School and Baldwin Wallace University. He spent 31 years coaching baseball at Lakewood High School and was the head baseball coach for 22 years. During the Ciolek head coaching era, his team amassed 412 victories against only 157 defeats for an amazing .724 winning percentage. Coach Ciolek’s teams NEVER had a losing season in his 22-year tenure as head coach. Over 40 of his former players went on to play collegiate baseball. Ken was named the Lake Erie Coach of the Year on eight separate occasions, and the All-Sun Post Coach of the Year twice. He was a three-time recipient of the Freeman Award as the Lakewood City Schools Coach of the Year. Ken was also a varsity Football coach at Lakewood High School for 15 years. He was an assistant varsity football coach at Baldwin Wallace University for 18 years, taking part in the Division 3 National Playoffs and Ohio Athletic Conference Championship. Coach Ciolek served as an assistant varsity baseball coach at Baldwin Wallace University for nine years.

Coach Ciolek was a proud member of the Greater Cleveland High School Baseball Coaches Association, the Northeast Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association, and the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association. He served as an officer and past President of the Greater Cleveland High School Baseball Coaches Association. He was inducted into the Lakewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, to the Northeast Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Ohio High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017.

The family wishes to express our sincere appreciation for all the prayers, phone calls, visits, and other acts of kindness during this time. Private services are being held.

Shadows are fallin' and I'm runnin' out of breath. If I leave you, it doesn't mean I love you any less. Keep me in your heart for a while.