Fred F. Paulenich

Fred F. Paulenich, 83, passed away Sunday, March 23, 2025. A passionate educator whose dedication to his students was surpassed only by his love for his family, Fred spent his life inspiring others with his knowledge, curiosity and a deep belief in the power of learning. Over a career that spanned nearly four decades, he taught thousands of students, mentored fellow teachers and left an indelible mark on the educational landscape in Ohio and beyond. Fred was born July 13, 1941, Sharon, Pa., to Frederick J. Paulenich and Catherine Orlosky Paulenich. He grew up in Brookfield alongside his sister, Sandra (Robert) Barko, and graduated from Brookfield High School in 1959. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Youngstown State University in 1965, graduating cum laude - a distinction foreshadowing his lifelong pursuit of excellence in both scholarship and teaching. He began his career as an educator at Streetsboro High School before joining Crestwood High School in 1967, where he would remain for the next 34 years teaching English, speech and civics. Fred also served as a part-time faculty member at Youngstown State University and Kent State University. Beyond the classroom, he coached forensics, volleyball, baseball and basketball, bringing the same high standards and encouragement to the court, field and stage as he did to his lessons on literature. He was named a National Fellow for Independent Study in the Humanities, where he conducted research on painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, film and music from the Great Depression. He received a grant from Indiana University to study the effects of interdisciplinary teaching techniques, expanding his research into how using "real world materials" could improve student outcomes. He would later mentor other teachers throughout the Midwest on these same methods. Fred was one of just 15 teachers selected across the country to participate in the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Seminar at Oberlin College and the only language arts instructor chosen to attend a NEH seminar at Bard College. Fred published approximately 125 op-ed pieces, poems, book reviews and educational articles over the course of his career, with his work appearing in a range of publications including The New York Times. He was a respected voice in education citation circles and served as a state judge for student literary publications, chaired Crestwood High School's North Central Self-Study Team for accreditation and contributed to the Ohio Teacher Leader Network. He also established the Advanced Placement English program at Crestwood. In 1994, he was honored with the Outstanding English Language Arts Educator Award by the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, a recognition of his relentless scholarship, innovative teaching techniques, and deep commitment to his students' intellectual growth. In 2024, Fred was inducted into the Brookfield High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, a fitting tribute to a life of leadership in education. Fred was known for his sharp intellect, his powerful voice and unwavering conviction. He challenged his students to think critically and write boldly. He was tough, but fair and held people to high expectations because he saw what they were capable of becoming. And his influence lives on in the thousands of students who walked through his classroom door, the educators he mentored and the family he cherished every day of his life. While Fred's professional accomplishments were many, he considered his greatest pride and joy to be his family. He married the love of his life, Diane Paulenich, on April 16, 1973, and raised four sons - Fred (Amy), Christopher (Ariel), Nicholas (Lori) and Marc (Julie) - with love, integrity and purpose. Fred was a proud grandfather to Freddy (Savannah), Alexandra, Katy, Drew, Ellie, Jack, Reagan and Reid. He passed on his passion for learning, his sharp wit and his love of sports to each of them. In retirement, Fred remained a voracious reader, revisiting the classics he once taught and discovering new authors with the same curiosity that fueled his teaching. He was also a loyal Cleveland sports fan and filled his days maintaining his longtime home in Southington. A private celebration of Fred's life will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to a charity of your choice, in his honor. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Fred F. Paulenich, please visit our floral store.