Rodney Michael Lovas

Rodney Michael Lovas, 78, of Burton passed away Friday, May 10, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family.  He was born March 11, 1946, in Howell, MI to the late Andrew and Stella Lovas.  He graduated from Howell High School in 1964 and received his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Financial Administration from Michigan State University in 1970.  During his college years, he obtained his pilot's license as a hobby, flying a Cessna 4-seater passenger plane.  He later attended Case Western Reserve University for graduate studies towards a Masters in Business Administration.

Professionally, Rodney enjoyed a 30-year career in retail and commercial banking at a number of local and regional banks, including the First National Bank of Burton, later Huntington Bank, where he met the love of his life in 1975.  As a pioneering relationship banker, he advised and secured loans for a plethora of local businesses and individuals to help them get their start, find their footing, achieve their goals, and pursue their dreams.  Later, in the year 2000, he obtained his CDL and drove school buses, tour buses, and limousines for Precious Cargo and A-1 Mr. Limo, serving a diverse range of clients, from school children on a field trip, to retired senior citizens visiting Niagara Falls, to the Sheikh of the United Arab Emirates, treating each and every one of them with the same level of respect and dignity.  Starting in 2005, he worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation, plowing the roads in the winter to keep motorists safe, conducting operations in the Materials Test Lab, and performing administrative clerk duties at the Burton Yard, where ODOT's Geauga County operations were headquartered.

Rod was always deeply involved in the Burton Congregational Church, serving as Church Moderator and as a member of the Stewardship Committee for several years.  It was important to him that the church's services and teachings should be broadly available to all regardless of disability or personal circumstances, and to that end he spearheaded projects to install an elevator in the church and to videotape, stream, and lend out recordings of services via the Church library.  Rod was also instrumental in starting the Endowment Fund for the Church, ensuring its future solvency and ability to carry out its good works for the local community.  As with many of Rod's endeavors, these efforts planted seeds that continue to bear fruit and flourish under the stewardship of generations that followed him.

He was actively engaged in his local community philanthropically and socially as a member of Burton Village Masonic Lodge #274 and as a Dad Advisor to local DeMolay chapters; for his service he was conferred the Legion of Honor award.  He was also a member and supporter of the Burton Chamber of Commerce, the Berkshire Boosters, the Geauga County Historical Society & Century Village Museum, the Geauga County Agricultural Society, and many other local groups.  In 1978, Rod organized the first ever Geauga County Mini Heart-A-Thon, bringing famous athletes to the area to run alongside members of the community in raising money for the American Heart Association.  In 1994, he chaired the Project 2000 fundraising effort to pay for the purchase of land for future expansion of the Berkshire School District.  In 1995, he gave the first donation toward the founding of Leadership Geauga, partnering with his wife as they often did to continue fundraising for the program, which recognizes existing pillars of the community and helps to educate and inspire the next generation.  He was recognized by the Red Cross for donating over 100 units of blood platelets via apheresis.  It always brought him great joy to help others by paying a grocery bill, covering dinner at a restaurant, or just loaning money to someone in need.

Rod will be sadly missed by his loving wife Marie A. (Tirabasso) Lovas whom he married September 3, 1977; his sons, John (Jennifer) Lovas of Perrysburg, Timothy Lovas of Lyndhurst, and William (Sophia) Lovas of Pittsburgh; and his grandchildren, Andrew, Lily, and Henry.  He is also survived by his beloved brothers, Andre Lovas and Stephen Lovas, as well as Marsha Tregloan, mother of Michael and John, and Stacie Nowak, mother of grandson Andrew.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Lovas and Stella (Sutto) Dunn, his brother, Bela Lovas, and his son, Michael R. Lovas.

Calling hours will be held Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 1:00–4:00 PM at the Sly Family Funeral Home, 15670 W. High St., Middlefield, OH 44062.  A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 3:00 PM, at the Burton Congregational Church, 14558 W. Park St., Burton, OH 44021, with a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Burton Congregational Church Endowment Fund.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.slyffh.com.

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