Jeff Holinski
Jeff passed away on Jan 9, 2015, just 4 days before his 70th birthday in
Cleveland. Jeff was born and raised in Slavic Village on Fleet Ave. After
graduating from Latin, he attended and graduated from Ohio University. He received a
Masters degree at OU and was a professor there while working on his PhD. Subsequently,
Jeff left OU and moved to Chicago where he worked in the advertising business. When
Jeff's mom and brother became ill, he moved back to Clevelnd and lived at home
with them as their caregiver. Jeff's mom & dad predeceased him and Jeff
continued as caregiver to his brother Russell, a Latin grad of 1965 who is now deceased.
While at Latin, Jeff was editor-in-chief of the Purple and Gold, Rally Committee co-chairman,
cartoonist for The Latineer, and an honor student
Cleveland. Jeff was born and raised in Slavic Village on Fleet Ave. After
graduating from Latin, he attended and graduated from Ohio University. He received a
Masters degree at OU and was a professor there while working on his PhD. Subsequently,
Jeff left OU and moved to Chicago where he worked in the advertising business. When
Jeff's mom and brother became ill, he moved back to Clevelnd and lived at home
with them as their caregiver. Jeff's mom & dad predeceased him and Jeff
continued as caregiver to his brother Russell, a Latin grad of 1965 who is now deceased.
While at Latin, Jeff was editor-in-chief of the Purple and Gold, Rally Committee co-chairman,
cartoonist for The Latineer, and an honor student
Good Bye, Jeff – Jim McMahon
I attended Jeff Holinski’s memorial Mass at the O’Neill Care Center in Bay Village on Monday February 23, 2015. Father Timothy Gareau, pastor of St Raphael Parish in Bay Village, presided over the service. The service was attended by Jeff’s brother Russ, who is a resident of the care center, Jeff’s first cousin Dale Bugaj and his wife Mary Pat, a few family friends, friends from college, and his Cathedral Latin brothers Dave Komorowski, Bob DeSapri, Rick Myslenski, Jim Blaszak, and Jim McMahon. Jeff died of a heart attack on January 9, 2015 and was buried at Calvary Cemetery.
I was very touched by the service and the eulogies given in recollection of Jeff’s life. Dave spoke of how he, Jeff, and Jim Blaszak had a very close friendship. The three lived in Slavic Village and would travel to and from Latin initially by bus and later on using Dave’s car during their senior year. Dave related how they kept in contact with each other well after Latin graduation, through their college years, and most recently until Jeff’s untimely death. After his Latin years, Jeff went to Ohio University and eventually got a Ph.D. in English. Dave went on to explain how Jeff had then gone off to Chicago to work in the advertising business but returned home to care for his ailing mother and brother. Jeff never married and, according to Dave, was consumed by the care that he was required to give. Dave recalled that Jeff was not always happy and kept to himself much of the time but was dedicated to his role of being a caregiver.
Jim Blaszak spoke of Jeff as an extremely gifted person who wrote for and was cartoonist for The Latineer and was editor-in-chief of the Purple and Gold. Jim also related how Jeff‘s unique and comic wit was responsible for our Friday afternoon football rallies that were always the delight of the entire student body. Jim remembered fondly that he and Jeff would study together at Jeff’s house at 7000 Fleet Ave in Slavic Village.
I spoke emotionally of how greatly grieved I was, especially since Jeff and I were so close during high school, but never connected again after graduation until his death was announced in an email. It ripped my heart out knowing that our friendship for so many years was lost and could never again be restored.
But I must say that, after talking with Blaszak and Komorowski the day after the memorial, the three of us were most touched by Bob DeSapri and Rick Myslenski. Neither of the two knew Jeff much at all. Bob eulogized at the service that the only recollection he had of Jeff was an occasion during class when Jeff drew a cartoon of the teacher and showed it to Bob. Bob thought the sketch was very good and that Jeff was really talented; but that was all he could remember about Jeff. After the service, Rick said that he had no recollection of Jeff at Latin but wanted personally to attend Jeff’s memorial.
What Bob DeSapri and Rick Myslenski did speaks volumes about the character of each of them. Neither Bob nor Rick knew Jeff well enough that they would have been expected to attend his memorial. But both traveled a long way to pay tribute to a deceased Latin brother. It has to be said that there really is something special about the Class of 1962, and that Bob DeSapri and Rick Myslenski showed it that day. Truly, as Jim B said at our 50th reunion, we are “The Last Great Class of Cathedral Latin School.”
I attended Jeff Holinski’s memorial Mass at the O’Neill Care Center in Bay Village on Monday February 23, 2015. Father Timothy Gareau, pastor of St Raphael Parish in Bay Village, presided over the service. The service was attended by Jeff’s brother Russ, who is a resident of the care center, Jeff’s first cousin Dale Bugaj and his wife Mary Pat, a few family friends, friends from college, and his Cathedral Latin brothers Dave Komorowski, Bob DeSapri, Rick Myslenski, Jim Blaszak, and Jim McMahon. Jeff died of a heart attack on January 9, 2015 and was buried at Calvary Cemetery.
I was very touched by the service and the eulogies given in recollection of Jeff’s life. Dave spoke of how he, Jeff, and Jim Blaszak had a very close friendship. The three lived in Slavic Village and would travel to and from Latin initially by bus and later on using Dave’s car during their senior year. Dave related how they kept in contact with each other well after Latin graduation, through their college years, and most recently until Jeff’s untimely death. After his Latin years, Jeff went to Ohio University and eventually got a Ph.D. in English. Dave went on to explain how Jeff had then gone off to Chicago to work in the advertising business but returned home to care for his ailing mother and brother. Jeff never married and, according to Dave, was consumed by the care that he was required to give. Dave recalled that Jeff was not always happy and kept to himself much of the time but was dedicated to his role of being a caregiver.
Jim Blaszak spoke of Jeff as an extremely gifted person who wrote for and was cartoonist for The Latineer and was editor-in-chief of the Purple and Gold. Jim also related how Jeff‘s unique and comic wit was responsible for our Friday afternoon football rallies that were always the delight of the entire student body. Jim remembered fondly that he and Jeff would study together at Jeff’s house at 7000 Fleet Ave in Slavic Village.
I spoke emotionally of how greatly grieved I was, especially since Jeff and I were so close during high school, but never connected again after graduation until his death was announced in an email. It ripped my heart out knowing that our friendship for so many years was lost and could never again be restored.
But I must say that, after talking with Blaszak and Komorowski the day after the memorial, the three of us were most touched by Bob DeSapri and Rick Myslenski. Neither of the two knew Jeff much at all. Bob eulogized at the service that the only recollection he had of Jeff was an occasion during class when Jeff drew a cartoon of the teacher and showed it to Bob. Bob thought the sketch was very good and that Jeff was really talented; but that was all he could remember about Jeff. After the service, Rick said that he had no recollection of Jeff at Latin but wanted personally to attend Jeff’s memorial.
What Bob DeSapri and Rick Myslenski did speaks volumes about the character of each of them. Neither Bob nor Rick knew Jeff well enough that they would have been expected to attend his memorial. But both traveled a long way to pay tribute to a deceased Latin brother. It has to be said that there really is something special about the Class of 1962, and that Bob DeSapri and Rick Myslenski showed it that day. Truly, as Jim B said at our 50th reunion, we are “The Last Great Class of Cathedral Latin School.”