Nicholas "Nick" Spano

ASHTABULA - Nicholas John Spano, 73, passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2024 at Hillcrest Hospital.
He was born February 18, 1951 in Clarksburg, WV, the son of Joe and Helen (Simon) Spano and had been a longtime Warren resident moving to Ashtabula about 20 years ago.
A graduate of Kent State University, he earned his Bachelors Degree in Education in 1973 and then went on to earn his Master's Degree from Mt. St. Joseph College, Cincinnati in 1985.
Prior to his retirement, Nicholas spent his career as an educator. He taught high school math at Warren Western Reserve High School for 9 years and later John F. Kennedy High School for over 30 years. He spoke at many local, state, and national math conferences under the umbrella of the National Council of Teacher of Math organization and always enjoyed volunteering to work with students who struggled in math. He invented several math learning games to assist students in learning basic arithmetic facts and think logically, especially "Add-A-Boy! *Add-A-Girl!". During the five years he organized and facilitated the Ohio Proficiency Test Prep at the high school, ALL students passed! His many accomplishments led him to be nominated for Ohio Math Teacher of the Year.
During his teaching career, he wrote his own curriculum and taught Study Skills as well as managing or coaching golf, track and field, basketball, baseball, and football where he worked with the kickers and was known as "Nick the Toe".
Nick had written and published two books to assist students in learning in a fun and easy way, Rainy-Day Math; a Cloudburst of Ideas! and Puddle of Fun Math Activities! He was proud of motivating students to pursue solutions to challenging problems without giving a homework assignment.
He served as the president of the Eastern Ohio Council of Teachers of Math for two consecutive terms, as president of the JFK High School Alumni organization for two years, on the Board of the Warren Sports Hall of Fame for 11 years, and as Howland Park Commissioner for 3 years.
A devout Catholic, he was an active member of Assumption Church in Geneva and the Knights of Columbus, Geneva-Madison Council 5286 where he was a Grand Knight and participated in most all of their activities.
Nick was also an avid fan of all Cleveland sports and a founder of Family Day in Warren, which he pushed to make a National Holiday in the 90's because family was so important to him.
He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Ted Nicopolis; and his parents.
Nicholas is survived by wife of 44 years, Mary (Margison) Spano, whom he married December 22, 1979; two sons, Joseph Spano of Ashtabula and Tedd (Larissa) Spano of Yorktown, VA; grandchildren, Johnny, Emma, Isabella, Justin; his sister, Sharon Nicopolis of Strongsville; and his niece, Michelle (Mike Gallagher) Nicopolis.
Calling hours will be 5-7PM on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at the Zaback-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home, 500 West Prospect Road, Ashtabula.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10AM on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 30 Lockwood St. Geneva with Fr. Conor Hetzel presiding. Burial will follow at All Soul's Cemetery in Cortland, OH.
Memorials may be made to Mya Women's Center, 517 W. Prospect Road C, Ashtabula, OH 44004.
Online condolences can be made at www.ducro.com.