Richard J. Szczepaniak

Richard J. Szczepaniak, age 58, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, July 25, 2010. He was born in Toledo on October 12, 1951 to Richard and Martha Palinski Szczepaniak. Richard was a graduate of St. Johns Jesuit High School in 1969 earning the Evans Scholarship Award, The Ohio State University earning a Bachelor in Science with Distinction in 1973, The University of Toledo College of Law earning a Jurist Doctorate in 1976 and The University of Toledo Graduate College of Business earning a Masters in Business Administration in 1976. He was a member of The American Bar Association, The Ohio Bar Association, The Toledo Bar Association where he served as Committee Chairman, and was a lifetime member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association. Rich was very active as a basketball official and was inducted into the Officials Hall of Fame. He was Past President, Board Member and Past Rules Interpreter of the Northwest District Basketball Officials Association; Past President, Board Member and Presidents Award Honor of the Ohio Association of Basketball Officials; a member of Ohio High School Athletic Association from 1973 to 2008 and Mid-American Conference, as well as several other basketball conferences. Rich also enjoyed traveling, but his true love was spending time with his family and 3 dogs. He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia; daughters, Sarah of Seattle, WA, and Beth Joe Eckel of Sylvania, OH; step-children, Deidra Robison of Sylvania, OH, and Chase Robison of Cincinnati, OH; mother, Martha Szczepaniak; sister, Rose Leo Kokocinski and his beloved dogs, Zeek, Zoey and Zack. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Diane M. Piel Szczepaniak and father, Richard. Friends and family may visit on Wednesday from 5 to 9 pm at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave. west of Corey Rd. where a celebration of his life will be held on Thursday at 11 am. Memorials may be made to the Evans Scholars Foundation, Golf, Illinois, 60029-0301 or University of Michigan Department of Urology, 3875 Taubman Center SPC5330, 1919 Green Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-9901. Richs family wishes to thank the nurses of Hospice of Northwest Ohio and the members of the University of Michigan Prostate Cancer Team. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com