Richard O. Kaser

1932 - 2024

Richard O. Kaser

Richard O. Kaser passed away peacefully on January 11, 2024.

Born September 25, 1932 to Guy and Sophie (Pinter) Kaser in Euclid, Ohio, Rick was the second of 10 children raised in Cuyahoga Falls. He graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School and the University of Toledo, where he met his wife Pat, whom he married on January 22, 1955 at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Toledo. Rick and Pat were happily married for 68 years.

Rick was an accomplished athlete. He attended the University of Toledo on a football scholarship, where he played baseball for a year and football for all four years. In 1951 he became the first University of Toledo football player to be named to the 1st team of the Mid-American Conference and was also inducted into the Cuyahoga Falls football Hall of Fame. In 1954 Rick was drafted by the Detroit Lions, and after his military career he played professional football in the Canadian Football League for the Vancouver Lions for three seasons and for one season with the Ottawa Roughriders.

Rick's military service included being commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army in 1955, graduation from Infantry School at Fort Benning in 1956 and being stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. In 1957 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, and he left active duty later that year.

In 1961 he became employed by Sun Oil Company Marketing in Philadelphia, where his first assignment was as a sales representative in Toledo. After additional marketing assignments in Chicago, Portland (Maine), Cleveland and Detroit, he became a Sales Manager in Toledo, then Detroit. In 1985 he was named Division Manager, a position he held until his retirement in 1991, after 29 years with Sun Oil.

After retirement he and Pat spent 15 winters in the Fort Myers, Florida area, enjoyed their children and grandchildren, and traveled throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, Hawaii and the Philippines. Along with Pat, he enjoyed playing golf, and was a member of Heritage Palms Country Club, Brandywine Country Club and was a founding member and served on the Board of Stone Oak Country Club.

Family was the most important part of Rick's life, and he was a devoted husband to Pat and father to his four children, Sherri (Tim) Smith, David (Maggie), Jim (Kelly) and Rick (Missy) Kaser. Rick coached his children in sports, including baseball and football, and never missed a sporting event, play or dance recital. He was also a doting grandfather to his eleven grandchildren (Brittany, Nicholas and Alexandra Smith, and Katherine, Caitlin, Drew, Lauren, Maddie, Cameron, Rick and Annie Kaser) and his four great-grandchildren (Isla and Dakota Andrzejewski, Coco Galles and Logan Barunas.

Rick is survived by brothers, Tom (Sue), sister-in-law Doris, John (Ann) and Jim (Terri); sisters, Joanne Sigel, Cathy (Jerry) Crigger and Karen (William) Tubbs; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Bob, Ed and Frank.

He was well-loved and will be sorely missed.

A visitation will be held at Coyle Funeral Home on Thursday, January 18th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. A visitation will also be held at St. Joan of Arc Church, 5856 Heatherdowns Blvd. on Friday, January 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Francis High School or St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Please view Rick's video tribute and leave a condolence message at CoyleFuneralHome.com.

www.coylefuneralhome.com