Jim Denk
After graduation, I decided that attending a junior college would be the best way to establish a solid academic foundation and take advantage of a possible athletic scholarship. After 1 year at Stockton Jr. College in Stockton, Calif., I transferred to the Univ. of Cincinnati. I received a BS degree in Business Education in 1967. I subsequently returned to Cleveland and began teaching and coaching in the Bedford School System. In June of 1968 I signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Alas, it seemed that my punting ability did not meet the “wants” of coach Tom Landry, (45yd. net, 5.0 sec. hang time) I then returned to Bedford and continued teaching and coaching. 1973 was the beginning of an extremely enjoyable and rewarding 37 yr. sales career with ADT Security Systems.
Approaching 50 yrs. of married life could only be possible by having a loveable and patient wife. Barb is a retired nurse from the Cleveland Clinic. We have two children; Kelly, an account executive in the Workers’ Comp field, resides in Sagamore Hills and Kevin, a warehouse manager in the roofing industry, lives in Naples, Florida. I am active in the CLS Alumni Assoc. (trustee) and enjoy reading, golfing, traveling (cruising), and meeting at Muldoon’s.
After graduation, I decided that attending a junior college would be the best way to establish a solid academic foundation and take advantage of a possible athletic scholarship. After 1 year at Stockton Jr. College in Stockton, Calif., I transferred to the Univ. of Cincinnati. I received a BS degree in Business Education in 1967. I subsequently returned to Cleveland and began teaching and coaching in the Bedford School System. In June of 1968 I signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Alas, it seemed that my punting ability did not meet the “wants” of coach Tom Landry, (45yd. net, 5.0 sec. hang time) I then returned to Bedford and continued teaching and coaching. 1973 was the beginning of an extremely enjoyable and rewarding 37 yr. sales career with ADT Security Systems.
Approaching 50 yrs. of married life could only be possible by having a loveable and patient wife. Barb is a retired nurse from the Cleveland Clinic. We have two children; Kelly, an account executive in the Workers’ Comp field, resides in Sagamore Hills and Kevin, a warehouse manager in the roofing industry, lives in Naples, Florida. I am active in the CLS Alumni Assoc. (trustee) and enjoy reading, golfing, traveling (cruising), and meeting at Muldoon’s.
James T. Denk
obituary from the Plain Dealer 5/29/2022 Age 78 of Bedford Ohio passed away Wednesday May 25, 2022. He was the beloved husband of Barbara (nee Collier); loving father of Kelly Denk and Kevin Denk; dear brother of the late Herbert Denk Jr., David Denk and Daniel Denk. Jim was a 1962 Graduate of Cathedral Latin High School and served on the Alumni Association Board for 35 years. Jim went on to graduate from the University of Cincinnati with an Education Degree. He briefly taught at Moody Junior High School (Bedford) and then began his lifelog career in sales. He was an avid golfer. He liked to travel with family and friends. He was easily recognizable as either the tallest man in the room or the only one wearing shorts. He will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Jim's memory can be made to Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School, Att: Keven Krajnak, 13000 Auburn Road, Chardon, OH 44024 or online at ndcl.org. Friends will be received Tuesday May 31, 2022 from 4-7 PM at Johnson-Romito Funeral Home 521 Broadway Bedford, Ohio. Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 12:30 PM at St. Mary Catholic Church 340 Union Street Bedford, Ohio 44146. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. Burial to follow at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, Ohio. www.johnsonromito.com |
Tributes to Jim Denk
Jim and I go all the way back to 6th grade: Jim at St. Agatha and me at St. Philomena’s. We went to different schools but we had a mutual meeting place “ THE PARK “ Our friendship continued at LATIN and lasted until a week ago last Wednesday (5/18/2022) when I saw him at Pine Ridge Golf Course, of course, golfing! Thanks Jim for being such a great friend! Ya! Rest In Peace good Buddy.
Danny Borovac 5/29/2022
I know Jim looked forward to our last Friday of the month Muldoon get together. He was always one of the first to arrive
and always lingered at the end to say goodbye to everyone. To me he was sort of like the unofficial organizer to start
the gathering. If I was early I’d always wait for Jim to sit down and then I knew we were ready to begin. Yep, that’s the
way it was. I’m not sitting down until Jim sits. Tried it once and got yelled at by the staff. So whose going to yell at Jim?
And his preferential seating was in front of the Harp beer mirror; that way he had a commanding view and could greet
those classmates attending. Take a look at some of the Friday get together photos and you’ll see what I mean.
Now I won’t be able to look at that Harp mirror without thinking of the gracious person who used to sit there
Albert Di Iorio 5/29/2022
Jim was one of the most considerate and caring persons I have ever known. He always had a big smile and kind words for everyone. My best personal recollection of him was when I came out from quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2015. Days after surgery I was still groggy and shaking the aftereffects of anesthesia. In a lucid moment I looked at the end of my bed and was surprised to see someone I had not expected. It looked like Jim Denk. “Jim---Jim Denk is that you?” I asked. His big smile and caring face told me it was he. There was no good reason for him to make a special trip to see me but de did so. We were casual friends in high school and got better acquainted at the Class of 1962 Get-Togethers at Muldoon’s. From that hospital day forward I always greeted him with a big hug and a grateful “Hi, Jim. It’s great to see you and thank you again for being such a good friend”.
There are a lot of good people in this world, but none are better than Jim Denk.
Jim McMahon 5/30/2022
I'll always remember Jim for that big smile.
John Forhan 5/29/2022
Jim has had a lifetime of service to Cathedral Latin.
Jim Halas 5/29/2022
Although I wasn’t close to him, I wish to thank him for all he did with the Alumni - representing the Class of 1962 - Lord here our Prayer for him!!! MAY HE REST PEACE – AMEN
Nick Farkash 5/29/2022
Jim was a long time friend, teammate and Alumni outing golfing partner. He was one of the best examples of what it meant to be a Latin man and specifically a member of the class of 1962. He was quick to smile and always made you feel like he was glad to see you.
Rest In Peace Jim, and I know if there is a golf course in heaven you are already on the 1st tee.
Ray Paglio 5/30/2022
Jim was truly a nice man, he made everyone feel welcomed, and was an example for other men to emulate.
Mike Gale 5/30/2022
Jim was great teammate as well as a leader on the field. He always had a smile on his face. His activity as an alum taking part to keep the Latin spirit alive for many years was admirable. May God Bless him. RIP Jim.
Larry Kaminski 5/30/2022
I met Jim at Latin and always enjoyed his company and his sense of humor for plenty of laughs. In addition to our Cl days we both graduated from U of Cincinnati and had great times there. Jim will be missed by all of us!
Dave Komorowski 6/1/2022
I will always remember Jim as the best example of what a Latin alumnus is all about. He was a ‘gentle giant’ among a gang of young lions.
No matter what the occasion Jim would always greet you with that big infectious smile. He was a true friend to all of his fellow Latin alumni . We will miss him very much especially every month at Muldoon’s
Bud Kennedy 6/3/2022
I've known Jim since his grade school days at St. Louis parish, playing CYO basketball against him. He always had a smile and a good word for everyone.. Later in life he showed his friendship and loyalty by just showing up unannounced if I was in a hospital or nursing home. He did this several times. I was so impressed. He was a wonderful person, classmate, teammate, and friend. I will miss him greatly. My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Barb and Family.
Bob DeSaprI 6/11/2022
I didn’t get to know Jim very well until my Senior year when I was a Manager for the football team. Jim was always so upbeat , positive , and just plain friendly to me. I was a “west sider” so I really didn’t know many of you, my classmates , very well. Jim always took time to talk to me and make me feel “one of the guys”. I moved away from Cleveland after graduation and didn’t really reconnect with anyone from Latin ( except Myron Achbach and Father Chris Conlon at UD when my daughters were attending). I kept in touch through the Alumni association. But when my wife and I showed up for our 50th reunion , Jim treated us as if we were lifelong friends. My wife was so impressed with his kindness and cordiality!
Even though I didn’t know him as well as many of you , we will miss him - a true Latin man !!
P.S. Father Pat Tonry will be our visiting priest at our chapel on Indian Lake this weekend (6/11/12). I’m sure we’ll have a chance to remember and reminisce about Jim. He is being transferred to a parish in California ( that’s how short we are of priests) later this summer!
Bob Rustic 6/11/2022
Jim was very charitable in visiting the sick and attending wakes and funerals, an example of St Paul's instruction to: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Tom Ashdown 6/17/2022
Jim and I go all the way back to 6th grade: Jim at St. Agatha and me at St. Philomena’s. We went to different schools but we had a mutual meeting place “ THE PARK “ Our friendship continued at LATIN and lasted until a week ago last Wednesday (5/18/2022) when I saw him at Pine Ridge Golf Course, of course, golfing! Thanks Jim for being such a great friend! Ya! Rest In Peace good Buddy.
Danny Borovac 5/29/2022
I know Jim looked forward to our last Friday of the month Muldoon get together. He was always one of the first to arrive
and always lingered at the end to say goodbye to everyone. To me he was sort of like the unofficial organizer to start
the gathering. If I was early I’d always wait for Jim to sit down and then I knew we were ready to begin. Yep, that’s the
way it was. I’m not sitting down until Jim sits. Tried it once and got yelled at by the staff. So whose going to yell at Jim?
And his preferential seating was in front of the Harp beer mirror; that way he had a commanding view and could greet
those classmates attending. Take a look at some of the Friday get together photos and you’ll see what I mean.
Now I won’t be able to look at that Harp mirror without thinking of the gracious person who used to sit there
Albert Di Iorio 5/29/2022
Jim was one of the most considerate and caring persons I have ever known. He always had a big smile and kind words for everyone. My best personal recollection of him was when I came out from quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2015. Days after surgery I was still groggy and shaking the aftereffects of anesthesia. In a lucid moment I looked at the end of my bed and was surprised to see someone I had not expected. It looked like Jim Denk. “Jim---Jim Denk is that you?” I asked. His big smile and caring face told me it was he. There was no good reason for him to make a special trip to see me but de did so. We were casual friends in high school and got better acquainted at the Class of 1962 Get-Togethers at Muldoon’s. From that hospital day forward I always greeted him with a big hug and a grateful “Hi, Jim. It’s great to see you and thank you again for being such a good friend”.
There are a lot of good people in this world, but none are better than Jim Denk.
Jim McMahon 5/30/2022
I'll always remember Jim for that big smile.
John Forhan 5/29/2022
Jim has had a lifetime of service to Cathedral Latin.
Jim Halas 5/29/2022
Although I wasn’t close to him, I wish to thank him for all he did with the Alumni - representing the Class of 1962 - Lord here our Prayer for him!!! MAY HE REST PEACE – AMEN
Nick Farkash 5/29/2022
Jim was a long time friend, teammate and Alumni outing golfing partner. He was one of the best examples of what it meant to be a Latin man and specifically a member of the class of 1962. He was quick to smile and always made you feel like he was glad to see you.
Rest In Peace Jim, and I know if there is a golf course in heaven you are already on the 1st tee.
Ray Paglio 5/30/2022
Jim was truly a nice man, he made everyone feel welcomed, and was an example for other men to emulate.
Mike Gale 5/30/2022
Jim was great teammate as well as a leader on the field. He always had a smile on his face. His activity as an alum taking part to keep the Latin spirit alive for many years was admirable. May God Bless him. RIP Jim.
Larry Kaminski 5/30/2022
I met Jim at Latin and always enjoyed his company and his sense of humor for plenty of laughs. In addition to our Cl days we both graduated from U of Cincinnati and had great times there. Jim will be missed by all of us!
Dave Komorowski 6/1/2022
I will always remember Jim as the best example of what a Latin alumnus is all about. He was a ‘gentle giant’ among a gang of young lions.
No matter what the occasion Jim would always greet you with that big infectious smile. He was a true friend to all of his fellow Latin alumni . We will miss him very much especially every month at Muldoon’s
Bud Kennedy 6/3/2022
I've known Jim since his grade school days at St. Louis parish, playing CYO basketball against him. He always had a smile and a good word for everyone.. Later in life he showed his friendship and loyalty by just showing up unannounced if I was in a hospital or nursing home. He did this several times. I was so impressed. He was a wonderful person, classmate, teammate, and friend. I will miss him greatly. My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Barb and Family.
Bob DeSaprI 6/11/2022
I didn’t get to know Jim very well until my Senior year when I was a Manager for the football team. Jim was always so upbeat , positive , and just plain friendly to me. I was a “west sider” so I really didn’t know many of you, my classmates , very well. Jim always took time to talk to me and make me feel “one of the guys”. I moved away from Cleveland after graduation and didn’t really reconnect with anyone from Latin ( except Myron Achbach and Father Chris Conlon at UD when my daughters were attending). I kept in touch through the Alumni association. But when my wife and I showed up for our 50th reunion , Jim treated us as if we were lifelong friends. My wife was so impressed with his kindness and cordiality!
Even though I didn’t know him as well as many of you , we will miss him - a true Latin man !!
P.S. Father Pat Tonry will be our visiting priest at our chapel on Indian Lake this weekend (6/11/12). I’m sure we’ll have a chance to remember and reminisce about Jim. He is being transferred to a parish in California ( that’s how short we are of priests) later this summer!
Bob Rustic 6/11/2022
Jim was very charitable in visiting the sick and attending wakes and funerals, an example of St Paul's instruction to: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Tom Ashdown 6/17/2022