Ronald Nabakowski, 74, Former Lorain County Auditor

He spent his life living out his deep faith in Christ by working to improve the lot of his fellow Ohioans in ways small and large.

Ron began a career in politics very early in life, earning Young Man of the Year award in 1967. He was elected to the Lorain City Auditor position in 1971 and spent the greatest part of his life serving in the public sector as a State Senator, Lorain County Commissioner, and on Governor Dick Celeste’s cabinet as the Director of the Ohio Lottery. He retired in 2014 after serving as the Lorain County Clerk of Courts.

All through his life Ron was interested in making government work better for people. A lifelong and committed Democrat, some of his proudest moments involved working across the aisle with Republican colleagues to create legislation they could all support.

During his time at the Lottery, he was extremely gratified that they contributed 17 cents of each state dollar spent on primary and secondary education in Ohio – a record unmatched by subsequent Lottery administrations.

Ron spent his recent years closer to home, tirelessly promoting Lorain through participation in the Lorain Tourism Board and with his newsletter, The Intelligencer. The tagline was “All of us are smarter than any of us…” and he truly believed that we have to work together for substantive change.

Ron was also an avid sports fan and spent many a happy evening yelling at the TV with his children and grandchildren.

Ron leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Dorothea Nabakowski (nee: Jurinec); six children, Pamela (Karen Mooney) Rumancik, Deanna (Robyn Copek) Nabakowski, Michael Bains, Lee (Pam) Long, Robert (Carolyn) Nabakowski and Christopher (Andrea) Nabakowski; grandchildren, Nicholas Rumancik, Jeffrey Nabakowski, Genevieve Rumancik, Carolyn Rumancik, Maya Nabakowski, Benjamin Long, and Isabelle Nabakowski.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Ann; and his parents, Walter and Hilda (nee: Klingshirn).

In lieu of flowers, donations to help defray medical expenses incurred from a long and debilitating illness can be made to Dottie Nabakowski at First Federal Savings & Loan, 3721 Oberlin Ave, Lorain, OH 44053.

The family will receive friends at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2150 Broadway, Lorain (440) 244-1961 on Monday, June 13, 2016 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM & 5:00 - 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at St. Joseph Parish, 200 St. Joseph Drive, Amherst, OH 44001, Rev. Timothy J. O'Connor, Pastor, officiating (meet at Church on Tuesday). Private Christian burial services will be held at a later date at St. Joseph Cemetery, Amherst, OH. Online condolences may be sent using www.rsgfuneralhome.com.