George R. Svetlik

George Robert Svetlik, 74, of Mogadore, OH passed away quietly, surrounded by his loving family on Jul 11, 2024 after a sudden onset of illness. George was born in Borger, TX to J Frank Svetlik and Milton Svetlik, on October 4, 1949. He was the fourth of five children. The family moved to Ohio in his early childhood, and George spent the rest of his life in the Akron area. He graduated from St. Vincent High School in 1967, and he was a graduate of the University of Akron with BA in Education and Geology. Early in his high school career, he saw a girl he really liked, and though they both dated other people, it was only Mary for George. He married his wife Mary Ellen in 1973, and they lived on North Hill for the majority of their 50 years of marriage, raising their four children there. They were members of St. Martha Parish, and continued to attend when it transitioned to Blessed Trinity.

Mary and George were both animal lovers, and together they raised and bred Alaskan Malamutes for years. They showed the dogs and participated in other activities involving them, including dog sled racing. There were many Girl Scout Troops that were treated to a ride on the sled from their dogs. Neither of them could say no to a cute stray dog, and eventually, not even to some sweet stray cats. Their house was filled with kids and fur.

He worked at Acme and then at Falls Tool and Die for many years. He had a stint as a New York Life insurance agent. He also had his own cookie making business for years, selling his chocolate chip cookies that were named by all of his nieces and nephews as Uncle George’s cookies. If you’ve never had one, you are really missing out. They are the best.

He loved NE Ohio winters, and he loved NE Ohio sports, being a particularly devoted glutton for punishment as a Browns and Indians/Guardians fan, a love and curse he passed on to his kids and grandkids.

The most important part of George’s life was his family. He was a devoted dad who attended all of both of his daughters’ basketball and volleyball games, and he was a coach for both of his sons’ little league baseball teams. He took all of his kids fishing, and loved to still go with his grandkids when he could. And he almost never caught anything, but it was always a good time! He was able to see all of his children married, and he embraced each of his in-law children as his own and treated them as such.

To know him was to like him and to look forward to being with him. He made friends fast and easily, being gregarious and funny, and charming in his own weird way. He had a wry sense of humor and loved to laugh. He was always generous, never having tons, but always willing to share, and always willing to help his siblings, his own kids, and his grandchildren with whatever support they needed.

He was married for 50 years to the love of his life. They did everything together and were a true team. They supported each other through difficult times and they celebrated together in the good times. They gave their children the greatest gift of being people who not only remained married, but that continued to like and love each other, demonstrably, and to be the people that everyone could count on. Even when he was sick in the hospital, he asked about how Mary was doing, worrying about her well-being rather than his own, and he apologized to her for making such a fuss. They had a truly beautiful marriage of self-sacrifice and partnership.

George was a real success story of love, and kindness, and friendship, and family. He was loved and adored by his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his extended family, and his dear friends. His loss is immense and heartbreaking, and none of us are sure how we will keep going on without his strong and reassuring presence.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his mother-in-law, Ann Bayman who he adored. He is survived and missed by his wife of 50 years, Mary Ellen, his children, Amy (Dave) Moyer, Meg (Jason) Bugg, Tom (Abbey) Svetlik, Mike (Tera) Svetlik, his grandchildren, Anthony Robert, Benjamin Thomas, Joseph Daniel, Ann Marie, Matilda Jane, and George Glenn, and his siblings, Colonel Mary Anne (Tony) Svetlik, Frank (Barbara) Svetlik, Harvey (Linda) Svetlik, and Margaret Abbott.

All are invited to visit at Newcomer Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Rd. Akron, OH 44305 on Wednesday, July 17th from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be held at Blessed Trinity, 300 E Tallmadge Ave. Akron, OH 44310 on Thursday, July 18th at 11:00 a.m. with Father Joseph Warner officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in George's memory are suggested to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Click Here to donate online.

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