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Joe Firtha Obituary
Joseph M. Firtha, age 53, retired undefeated March 23, 2007 and passed on to claim his crown following his daily battle with cancer.
In a classic fashion, Joe fought the final round with style, grace and determination, finishing on his feet. Always a winner, Joe refused to be robbed of victory, closing the deal with his "glass half full". His childhood sweetheart and wife, "Deb"; sons, Matt (Layla) and Nicolai; grandson, JoeJoe; sister, Diane Esola (Tony); brother, Michael (Janice); grandmother, Ann Perry; parents, Nancy and Mike Firtha; as well as, his many other relatives and friends will miss him deeply, until they can reunite with Joe in the winner's circle.
Joe was a graduate of Archbishop Hoban High School and performed with honors at the University of Akron, achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He parlayed his education into a career of financial management and commodities investment trading, following 19 years employed at the Peter J. Schmidt Company (formerly Betsy Ross Warehouse). Joe was known for his love of God's creation. He loved cooking for his family, growing his garden and caring for his many exotic birds, fish, and turtles. Joe, a former Akron City boxing champ, was able to combine two of his greatest pleasures, his devoted love of family and his passion for boxing, as he managed his son Nic's boxing career.
On Tuesday, March 27, family and friends will honor Joe with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Randolph, where he lived for 26 years. A 3 p.m. mass, celebrated by Father Edward R. Wieczorek, will be followed by a 5 p.m. memorial celebration of Joe's life (in lieu of calling hours), at St. Joseph K of C Hall, one block east of the church at 2643 Waterloo Road, Randolph, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, P.O. Box 298, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-0298 or to St. Joseph Church. (HOPKINS LAWVER, Akron,330-733-6271 www.hopkinslawver.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joe Firtha
Jeffrey Albright
April 6, 2007
Memories-
I grew up with Joseph on Sullivan Ave. in the 1950s and the 1960s. We were one of the gang of boys who grew up in America's best times.
Ron Ziler, Jeffrey Albright, Michael Firtha, Joseph Firtha, Billy Britain, Ellisa Kenny, Becky and Carrie Albright and all the others grew up in the best of times on Sullivan Ave. We all miss him. God Bless.
Dale Joseph Stewart
April 4, 2007
Debbie and Family, Mr.& Mr's Firtha, Mike Firtha, & Diane,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Joe was one of my friends while attending St. Matthews and Hoban High School. He and a handful of other guys including Mike were always doing something from racing slot cars in his upstairs room while Mike played his 12 string guitar or going to Chippewa Lake Park in the Summer. We played baseball, basketball and football together in CYO for St. Matthews and Annunciation (football)because St. Matthews didn't have a team. Sometimes we would just meet at Davenport Park to shoot baskets and go one on one. In 8th grade Joe was one of our starting pitchers on the school Baseball Team. In the Championship game he hit a home run with men on against St. Sebastian. We played the game at a neutral field somewhere under a bridge connecting Akron to Cuyahoga Falls. The ball went out of the park on to the school district building. It was the longest home runs I seen anyone hit at that time in the CYO league. We were the underdogs in that game, but we had a special team that year and Joe was a big part of the reason we won the CYO League Championship that year. Joe was a quiet, confident, friend that would help you out when you needed it and tell you when you ought to deal with things yourself. I haven't seen him since we graduated in 1972, so I can only share the things I know up to our graduation. My heartfelt condolences to Mr. & Mrs Firtha, Mike, Diane, Debbie, and children.
Eula Morant
March 28, 2007
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Jennifer Heerema
March 28, 2007
Deb and family,
It was a honor to meet Joe and all of you. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for the opportunity to take care of Joe and all of you. Every time I hear someone talk about boxing, I will always think of Joe and you Deb.
God bless,
Jennifer Heerema RN
Hospice of Summa
Joe Ziegman
March 27, 2007
Nic, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! All of us here at National Package Delivery extend our deepest sympothies. God Bless!
Tom McCarl
March 26, 2007
Debbie and Sons
I am very sorry to hear about the loss of Joe - a Husband and a Dad.I'll always remember Joe - as a great next door neighbor and "The Turtle."
Tom and Linda McCarl
Taylor Charles
March 26, 2007
Mrs. Firtha,
So sorry for your loss, I'll be thinking about you and your family.
brittany swiger
March 26, 2007
Dear Mrs.Firtha
i am very sorry about your loss. He is in a better place now. He isnt suffering anymore. I now what you what you been going though i just lost my baby cousin with cancer. I am sooo sorry about that lose again. I will try my hardiest to make it to the calling hours.
Debbie Nelson
March 26, 2007
Dear Diane and family,
This comes with my deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers offered up on your behalf during this sad time. Joe's memories will burn in your hearts forever and this will be a comfort to you in the following days to come. I will be thinking of you.
Bill Sawyers
March 26, 2007
I was lucky to have Joe Firtha come to my boxing gym. He was a good person, and I was proud to train and work with him. One time we took Joe to the Fairgrounds in Detroit, Mich. to fight. Joe won his fight. The father of his opponent, who had been drinking heavily, came up to me at ringside and demanded to know why his boy was "robbed". I looked at him and said, " He wasn't robbed, he was knocked out."
Joe fought in another show at the Western Pen in Pitsburgh, Pa. It turned out to be the best fight in the show. There were more good fights that Joe won, but these two stand out in my mind.
I only wish Joe could have won this one last battle. I want to say to his wife and family that I was proud to know Joe. I will never forget him. Bill Sawyers
Peg Sawyers
Robert Davis
March 26, 2007
Nick and Family, very sorry to hear about your loss. It's been more than 6 mos. since I talked with Joe about Nick's fighting status. God bless and comfort you all. I'll be praying for you. Nick, stay strong and keep fighting.
Clay & Juanita Rexrode
March 26, 2007
In the quiet moments that lie ahead, may love become your shelter and the beauty of precious memories be your comfort.
Jan HARVEY
March 26, 2007
Deb, Nick, & family, I want to express my sincerest sympathy for your loss. Joe put a up a good fight. He is finally at peace now & no longer in pain. I hope we were able to be of help to you during this time difficult of sorrow & loss. He will always live on in your heart and in you memeories. Thank you for allowing us to care for him and meet you. Sincerely yours, Hospice RN
Ruth & Adam Saal
March 26, 2007
With you in our thoughts, prayers are being sent your way. May God Bless and keep your family!
Don Fuchs
March 25, 2007
Too Nancy and Mike
So sorry to hear about your son Joe, Geri and I can relate to your loss. It was a year ago the 27 of March we lost our oldest daughter Judy. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.Love always
Rich Mier
March 25, 2007
Although I haven't lived in the Akron area for almost 20 years, I would always see Joe at our Hoban Class of '72 reunions. He would always laugh at my imitations of Br. Casper-- ('Alright Firtha, settle down, this is a study hall--not a recreation period!') just like he did (almost 35 years ago)in our 4 years at Hoban!
Joe was always quick to laugh, smile and make everyone around him laugh! Those days will live on, as will my memory of him!
My thoughts and prayers are with Joe's family during this time.
Richards& Hayes' Ringside Productions; Richards, Hayes, Zager
March 25, 2007
Nick---Sidney, Ray, & I would llke to offer our deepest sympathies on the death of your father, Joe. About three weeks before your St. Patrick's Day Fight at Tangier, I talked with your Dad on the phone about your upcoming fight and a host of other things concerning boxing, your Mom's educational career, my own teaching career, and cancer--since I'm a breast cancer survivor. Before I knew it, we had talked over an hour! What a wonderful guy! It was great to meet your brother Mike at the fight, too. I hope your Dad somehow enjoyed the tribute to him of "Danny Boy" played at the start of the fight by bag piper Cherrie Mann. Stay strong, Nick.
March 25, 2007
NANCY AND MIKE,
I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR SON. MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU.
DEBBIE ( DR. NEMER'S )
Bob & Vicki Bailey
March 25, 2007
Mike & Nancy So sorry to hear of your son Joe"s passing. Joe was a fine young man. I used to enjoy talking with him at Peter J . Our heart goes out to you and your family for the great loss,
Nick and Connie, Cistone
March 25, 2007
Deb and family,
I know that I barely knew Joe, I saw him as a child quite a few times, then didn't see him for many years.I saw him and the family again at Mike & Nancy,s 50 year anniversary. Everyone was very nice especially Joe, who tried to update me on the families happenings over the years. He made me feel comfortable and it was very kind of him,because except for Mike and Nancy I knew very few people.I could see at the anniversary that you were a very close and wonderful family.I wish some how I could have kept closer contact since the anniversary, and the many years before that.I think I missed a lot.
You have all lost a super guy, and we are very sorry it had to turn out that way.
Joe is reunited with all the loved ones that wen't before him and looking down on us now.
God bless you all.
Evan Faidley
March 25, 2007
Mrs. Firtha,
I never met your husband, Joe, but you mentioned him in class a lot, and told many great stories that involved you and your husband. He sounded like a very nice, kind man. I send you my sympathetic feelings to you during this difficult time. I wish you the best through this time.
Don Weaver
March 25, 2007
So sorry to hear about Joe. Joe has a wonderful family and will be sadly missed.I worked as one of Joes bosses at Betsy Ross for several years. Barb and I give our blessings and prayers to Joes family and friends.Gob bless you Joe,see you in the better life.
Also god bless Joes mom and dad.Mike, no dad and mom should loose a son like you have. We all expect our children to out live their parents.
Joe Hensley
March 25, 2007
I met Joe and Nicolai Firtha at a fight I promoted in February 2005 at Fort Lee just south of Richmond, VA. Nicolai won by 3rd round TKO and became the first man to stop the very rugged and strong David Chappell. My father in law picked Joe and Nic up from the airport and gave them a ride to the hotel. He called me once he got the Firthas to the hotel and told me that "those were two good guys there." Later that night, I went to the hotel to meet all of the fighters and give them their meal money. Joe, Nic, and I must have talked for an hour about boxing and our love for the sport. We also talked about the business end of boxing and Joe was very complimentary about my knowledge of the game. He encouraged me to continue promoting and told me "the game needs guys like me." I also knew the game needed more guys like Joe and Nic Firtha. The following night the show started and the first fight of the night was a real war. One of the topics of our conversation the previous night was that prospects don't want to fight each other and it was hurting the game. They just want to fight guys they know they can beat which often leads to a card of mismatched fights which was bad for boxing. I told him that above all I wanted to make each fight a competitive fight where the crowd got their money's worth. The Firthas definitely weren't afraid of a competitive fight, in fact they welcomed it. That's what they wanted as evidenced by taking on David Chappell who had fought current Top 10 heavyweight Eddie Chambers to two close decisions. And they fought this tough dude, in his hometown, for barely any money at all! I remember Joe was watching the first fight of the night and we had a problem with the ring. I was nervous that the crowd would think lesser of the show, which I felt had the potential to be a good card due to the matchups, because we were having some "techinical difficulties" which can be common for a new promotional company. I expressed this view to Joe and he said, "That's nothing. You've got a good show going on here and the crowd will definitely remember what they saw here tonight." Joe was a calming influence on me and that helped me focus and do my job for the rest of the night. Here's a guy, Joe Firtha, who has his son fighting a really tough guy later on in the night, and he takes the time to give me words of encouragement during a difficult spot on our show. That was a very gracious and selfless act and it tells you in microcosm what type of person Joe Firtha was. The show turned out to be a good show of back and forth, competitive fights highlighted by Nicolai's victory. When the fight was over, there was no celebrating and no chest thumping from Joe and Nic. They were concerned for their opponent. In fact Nicolai and Joe ran over to get the stool for Chappell and sat him on the stool! Talk about class. When I congratulated them on the big victory, Joe simply said, "It was just our night." I will miss you Joe. I will miss talking to you about boxing and about Nic's career. You were and will always be a Champion in the way you carried yourself with class, grace, and humility. My thoughts and prayers, and the thoughts and prayers of all of my family, go out to you and your family. Rest in peace Champ. -- Joe Hensley and Family
Tom Eash
March 25, 2007
I'll remember you the next time I hear the ring bell ring ten times. Good fight Joe.
Margaret Smith
March 25, 2007
Deb and Sons-
Sorry to read of your loss. Although I never met Joe, I heard you talk of him many times. He is in a better place and looking down with a smile on you all.
Kyle Heller
March 25, 2007
Mike-Sorry to read about your brother. We extend our deepest condolences to you and your entire family.
Kyle & Tesse
Don Jordan
March 25, 2007
While I didn't know Joe, I think I've seen his strength and spirit in his brother Mike.
Via con Dios, Joe.
Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home
March 25, 2007
Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this time.
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