Safe Home Dear Immigrant

John Lavelle

age 82, (native of Knockbreague, Newport, Co. Mayo, Ireland), beloved husband of Maureen (nee Cooney); son of the late Mary (nee Molloy) and Patrick “Sonny”; brother of the late Patricia Kearns (James) of Ireland; uncle of Marie Zupanc (John) of Cleveland and Jacinta Walsh (Dermot) of Ireland; great uncle of John and Aidan Zupanc and Sarah and Ciaran Walsh; cousin and dear friend of many.

John was a proud Irishman. He was vice president of the Pioneers Total Abstinence Association and was a longtime member, board member and volunteer at the West Side Irish American Club. He was active at his church, St. Vincent DePaul, where he was a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Holy Name Society, and served as an usher for many years and he was a founding member of the Jefferson Park Concerned Citizen’s Block Watch. Passed away December 23, 2021. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, OH 44192. Obituary courtesy of  www.chambersfuneral.com

Rev. Fr. Donald B. Cozzens

be with the Lord. Beloved son of the late Bernard and Florence Cozzens (nee Gaye), dearest brother of Thomas Cozzens (deceased) (Mary Ann), James Cozzens (deceased) (Patricia, deceased) and Maryellen Dombek (Daniel); loving uncle of Melissa Hopkins (Patrick), Thomas Cozzens, James Cozzens, Patrick Cozzens (Sara), Sean Cozzens (Jinger), Brian Dombek (Rebecca), Kathleen Cozzens and Christine Garrett (Adam), and many great-nieces and nephews. Ordained in 1965,

Don was a Writer in Residence and professor in the Religious Studies Dept. at John Carroll University. He served as Rector and professor of pastoral theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and Graduate School of Theology among many other assignments. He was a frank and insightful voice of reason which was conveyed through his award-winning books, international lectures and reflective conversations.

A spiritual advisor to many, he had a steadfast commitment to God, his faith, priesthood, his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in memory of Fr. Cozzens to Holy Name Church, 8328 Broadway Ave., Cleveland, OH 44105, Malachi House, 2810 Clinton Ave., Cleveland OH 44113 or a charity of your choice.
Please sign Tribute Wall at: schultemahonmurphy.com

Richard Donald Finn, Jr.,

Age 88, passed away peacefully at home under the care of OhioHealth Hospice and his family on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.  Richard (Dick) was born March 12, 1933, in Lima, Ohio.  He was the oldest son of Dorothy and Richie Finn Sr. and was brother to Gerry (deceased), Mary Jo, Bonnie and John.  Growing up in Lima, he attended St. Rose Catholic School, where he met his wife, Mildred (Bea) Henne, whom he later married in 1956. Dick continued his education and baseball at The Ohio State University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education and was a pitcher on the baseball team, captaining the 1955 team to a Big Ten Championship and served as President of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. 

Upon graduating and finding a job teaching math, science and coaching football and baseball at Toledo Central Catholic, Dick married his sweetheart Bea and began a family.  He earned a master’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Toledo and continued to teach and coach at Toledo Woodward. Dick became the head baseball coach at the University of Toledo in 1964 and remained for five years.  In 1969 and seven children later, Coach Finn was lured back to OSU and stepped in for Marty Karow, the OSU baseball coach, while he recovered from an illness.  After remaining six years as an assistant, in 1975 Coach Finn became the Head Baseball coach, until stepping down in 1987 to become the Special Assistant to Athletic Director Rick Bay. Coach retired from athletics in 1994. 

Retirement was spent on the golf course either playing or volunteering as an OSU course official for many NCAA tournaments. Coach was inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame in 1975, Lima Central Catholic HOF in 1990, Ohio Central District HOF in 2000, and Toledo CC HOF in 2006.  Coach Finn was a big believer in supporting his local community beginning with service in The National Guard and then locally at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, where he served on the parish council.  He was selected by the Columbus Shamrock Club as Irishman of the Year in 1993.  In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to The Buckeye Diamond Club.