Raymond L. Tarnowski

RAYMOND L. "Pops" TARNOWSKI, age 91, of Parma, Ohio passed away peacefully on August 2, 2024 with many family members by his side. Pops was born October 5, 1932 to Charles and Antonia Tarnowski. He had two brothers, Edward and Leonard and one sister Jeannette. He and his siblings were raised in Garfield Heights in a home filled with love, faith and Polish tradition. He often said that he grew up in the Cuyahoga Valley Park, which was his childhood hangout right in his backyard.
He was preceded in death by his second wife Alice (d. 2006) and his first wife Imelda (d. 1977). Pops married Imelda (Haas) Tarnowski in 1955 and had six children, Laura Tarnowski, Tim Tarnowski (Cindy), Tom Tarnowski (Sue), Bob Tarnowski (Lisa), Jeff Tarnowski (Kelly) and Mark Tarnowski (Megan). In 1981, Pops married Alice Gene (Marshall) Tarnowski and he is the stepfather of Alice's children, Lynne Shlonsky (James) and Ron Boswell (Teresa), who he loved as his own. Pops frequently said that his life was blessed by two wonderful wives and marriages.
Pops graduated from Garfield Heights High School, where he was a state wrestling champ in 1950. He earned a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and a Master's degree from Kent State University. He served two years in the United States Army. He had a fulfilling 37 year teaching and coaching career in the Parma City School System where he positively influenced the lives of numerous students and their families. In his work, he established one of the country's first Chemical Dependency Programs in a public school system to help students and their families deal with addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Pops is survived by his beloved six children, two step children, seventeen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He instilled his strong values of family, faith, love, humor, joy, compassion, kindness and inclusiveness in his children. He also shared with them, his love for sports, fishing, boating, traveling, hiking in Cleveland's "Emerald Necklace" parks, playing cards and celebrating life. His family was his joy and he enjoyed every chance to be with them. Pops prayed daily that "his family would grow stronger each day." In his final days, he had a beautiful smile and told the visiting priest, "my prayer worked."
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Cleveland Metroparks in memory of Raymond L. "Pops" Tarnowski online or mailed to Cleveland Metroparks, 4101 Fulton Parkway, Cleveland, OH 44144 to pay tribute to Pop's "childhood backyard" and continue preserving Cleveland's beautiful Emerald Necklace.
Friends may call at LATEK & RYBICKI, A GOLDEN RULE FUNERAL HOME, 7906 BROADVIEW RD. (corner of Broadview and Sprague Rds.), for VISITING HOURS WEDNESDAY 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, August 8, at 11:30 AM, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 6750 State Rd., Parma. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH.
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