In Loving Memory

H. Allen (Al) Tadych

H. Allen “Ask Al” Tadych (80) died peacefully at home in Durham, NC, on November 17, 2022, with his wife Mary by his side. Al and Mary met on a blind date at Berea High School in Berea, OH, when Al was 17 and Mary was 16. They were married more than 58 years.

Al was the proud “Dad” of Chris (Kathleen McDonnell) Toddy of Cleveland, OH, Sheila (Sean) Mullen of Charlotte, NC, and Mike (Denise Mullen) Tadych of Raleigh, NC. He was the proud, “Silly Gramp” of Caroline (D.A.) Marcyes of Christiansburg, VA, and Owen Tadych and Lauren Tadych of Raleigh, NC, and a menagerie of grand dogs and grand cats. He was the son of the late Harry R. and Lucille Tadych and brother of the late Jean Koczan (Hank). He was also “Uncle Al the Kiddies’ Pal” to a slew of nieces and nephews of many generations. He was a friend to all, never having met a stranger.

While born in Cleveland during World War II – where Al was declared Cleveland’s “youngest war worker” because his mother took him to the defense plant she managed – Al was really a native Berean. His parents relocated to Cleveland during the war.

Raised primarily on Stanmary Drive, a street his family built and named after his maternal grandparents Stanislaw “Stancil” and Mary Puszczynski, Al gained a solid foundation of community, teamwork, and contribution. He attended St. Adalbert’s School, Berea High School and the University of Dayton. At Berea High, he was an excellent student, athlete and Junior Class President. At the University of Dayton, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance while also a member of ROTC. Al served in the U.S. Army as the Safety Director at Ft. Meade, MD. After service in the Army, Al and Mary returned to Northeast Ohio to work for Forest City Enterprises and later Bishop Realty.

If you had a community request or needed a smile, all you had to do was Ask Al. Through his sense of humor, his personal care, his affability, and his strong yet playful dedication to good causes, Al was named the 36th winner of the Berea Grindstone Award for Distinguished Public Service in 2002.

Al’s life was dedicated to the establishment, growth, and financial success of countless organizations and their noble projects. In 1972, he acquired Manor Realty in Berea; he was a successful real estate broker and investor for over 50 years. He proudly helped thousands of buyers and sellers realize the American Dream through the purchase and sale of real estate including their homes. During a time of particularly high interest rates, Al was a national speaker on financing techniques. Al also spoke throughout the country on strategies for conflict mediation.

Al was a serial and tireless community volunteer. Al held leadership roles in a number of local institutions, including the Berea, OH, Chamber of Commerce, Berea and Wake Forest, NC, Rotary, Knights of Columbus, Southwest YMCA, the Southwest General Hospital Foundation, and the Cuyahoga County, OH, Fair Board. People knew that when Al was involved (or in charge), things got done and progress was made. Through his innate leadership and commitment to camaraderie, Al contributed a sense of focus and play to every organization he supported. If the July 4th fireworks were in jeopardy because of a lack of funding, Al led the effort to make them happen. If the fairgrounds were looking more shabby than usual, Al worked to build new buildings and modernize the old.

Al was a dedicated fundraiser for the organizations he supported. As Chairperson of the Berea Rotary Reverse Raffle and Silent Auction for many years, his committee raised more than $125,000 for scholarships and other charities. For many years, you could see Al as a donor on the local broadcast of the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. As the Chairperson for an 11-community fundraising campaign for a new hospice center, the campaign raised more than $3 million for construction and operation. Al excelled at having conversations for contribution for numerous community-enhancing projects. Al’s efforts – among those of others – led to the success of the Cleveland Rocks program that renovated properties as the avenue for mentoring at-risk teenagers. Al donated his energy and resources to the establishment and success of the First Congregational Church Second Mile Shop Thrift Stores in Berea and beyond. Al was also a supporter for Baldwin Wallace College, the Methodist Children’s Home, education levy campaigns, Rotary, and many other charitable and civic groups.

As a faithful Catholic and life-long member of St. Adalbert’s and St. Mary’s in Berea and St. Francis in Raleigh, Al supported his Parishes as an altar boy, lector, usher, reader, and Eucharistic minister throughout his life. There was also that one time that he served as an impromptu song leader before Fr. John Garrity made clear it must not ever happen again.

Al was an eternal optimist who tried to brighten everyone’s day. Al was self-effacing and disarming. Al was also confident in the things he knew and did. If you asked Al how he was, he’d reply “I’m incredible.” One of his favorite songs was Mac Davis’ “It’s Hard to Be Humble,” which he firmly believed served as his personal theme song. In reality, he was never afraid to risk embarrassment to lighten someone else’s mood. Al loved his family and his friends dearly. He had lots of both. At one point, he also had a 1950 Mack Pumper fire truck because it was for sale. He loved crossword puzzles, Jumble, Pinochle, Euchre and many other activities to keep his mind agile and sharp. He loved elephants – lots and lots of elephants.

From a very young age, Al loved getting a deal; it was part his DNA. Deal making may have constituted most of Al’s DNA. As he got older (starting sometime in his 30s), Al was never shy to request (and get) his “crotchety old man discount.” Al was also quick to split the check for a meal after instructing the server to give the other person the extra penny. He was serious. Al was infamous for asking store clerks, “How much for your $25 . . .” or “I’ll dance at your wedding if you give me 10% off.” Several years back, Al haggled over on the phone from Berea to buy one of his favorite cars while his son stood awkwardly – for a surprisingly long time – in the owner’s driveway in NC. Al got his price for that used Lexus with only 7,100 miles. Al was ready to negotiate anytime, anywhere and always did.

After finding Mary at the kitchen table with her calendar setting her move date following a particularly late snowstorm in Berea, Al and a good deal of his stuff relocated with Mary to Raleigh, NC, about 17 years ago. They moved to be the best grandparents ever to Caroline, Owen, and Lauren – and so they could vacation in places other than Raleigh. They bought a wonderful home in a wonderful neighborhood where Al and Mary were active with neighbors, in seniors groups, and – for a time – the HOA.

Not one to retire, Al transitioned from residential back to commercial real estate after moving to NC and he stayed active as broker until the end of 2021. In NC, Al was a faithful, daily visitor to exercise at the Kerr YMCA in Wakefield near their home. He was also very active in Rotary in Wake Forest until the pandemic set in. He made wonderful friends in NC and kept track of his friends “back in Berea.”

Al, Mary, and their family truly appreciate all of the love, support, and kind encouragement during Al’s illnesses. It has been a blessing to learn about all the times Al touched others’ lives in many ways and for which he rarely took credit.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday December 2, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi, 11401 Leesville Rd. Raleigh, NC 27613. Visitation will be held in the church parlor at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, honorary donations can be made in remembrance of Al to:

1. Second Mile Shop (formerly Church Street Ministries) https://www.secondmileoutreach.org/donate.html;

2. Rotary International Foundation https://www.rotary.org/en/donate; or

3. The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi, Raleigh, NC https://www.stfrancisraleigh.org/treasure/.

Service arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC 27605.

 

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/raleigh-nc/h-allen-tadych-11026845



 
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05/02/23 11:29 AM #1    

William (Bill) Stevens

Sorry to hear of Al's passing. His obituary is truly a tribute to a life well lived. He is missed but remembered fondly.

Bill Stevens


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