John E. Holcomb

Judge John Edward Holcomb

John E. Holcomb, 69, died of cancer on January 18, 2018, with his loving family at his side.
Born in Akron, Ohio, on October 29, 1948, John was a lifelong resident of Akron. He grew up in Ellet and attended school at Windemere Elementary, Hyre Middle, and Ellet High. He received his BA in Political Science in 1970 from Baldwin Wallace University, where he was a stand-out on the football team, and his JD from the University of Akron School of Law in 1974.
In December, 2013, John retired from Akron Municipal Court, where he served as a Municipal Court Judge for 18 years, including numerous years as the court's Presiding Judge and Drug Court Judge. Prior to being elected in 1996, he was a private practice labor relations & employment law attorney with the firms of Brouse McDowell, Millisor & Nobil, and Harry A. Tipping. He had previously served as Assistant Law Director for the City of Akron, before being appointed Akron's Law Director by Mayor John Ballard in 1977, the youngest Law Director to serve the citizens of Akron. He was a member of the Akron and Ohio State Bar Associations, including Trustee and Chair of the Professional Ethics and Character & Fitness Committees of the Akron Bar Association.
John generously gave his time and talent to his community. He volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters as a board member and as a committed Big Brother to Jeremy, from his little brother's childhood to adulthood. He was elected to and served on State Board of Education for Ohio and the Akron Board of Education. At Walsh Jesuit High School, he supported the Booster Club, and he and Marcia chaired the annual POWWOW Fundraiser in 1994. He was a member of the Dean's Club of the University of Akron Law School, Toastmasters, NRA, the Republican Party, and the Scanlon Inn of Court. John was chair and a member of the City of Akron Charter Review Commission and the Summit County Charter Review Commission, and President of the University of Akron Law School's Alumni Association.
John enjoyed participating in family gatherings, golf, soccer, fitness, football, traveling, and all things Italian, thanks to his Italian heritage, including the Italian American Professional and Businessmen's Club. He delighted in attending his children's and grandchildren's performances and sporting events. He was inducted into the Ellet HS Football Hall of Fame in 2016. John & Marcia enjoyed exploring Akron together in Leadership Akron's NEXT Class 4 experience in 2014.
John was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he served as Elder, Deacon, and moderator of the Personnel Committee. The Christmas Basket Delivery Project was especially dear to his heart, and he recruited his children annually to deliver baskets with him to the less fortunate.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Josephine Holcomb; his grandparents, Cecil & Alice (& Lois) Holcomb and Luigi & Marguerite Shannon; his aunts and uncles, Antonio (Ann) Shannon, Guerino (Jennie) Shannon, Louise Sabatula, and Jack Holcomb; and his parents-in-law, Bob and Evelyn Fugler.
He was a devoted husband to his cherished wife of 48 years, Marcia; loving father to his son, Tony (Michele) of Hudson and daughter, Allison Perry of Houston; beloved Papa to his 5 grandchildren, Ryan (13), Andrew (10) and Abby (8) Holcomb, and Lilliana (10) and Delaney (8) Perry. Though born an only child, John was a genuine brother to Marcia's siblings, Bob (Jan) Fugler, Jon (Noonie) Fugler, and Shelley (Ed) McFee. Also to treasure his memory are his step mother-in-law, Annelies Fugler; aunts and uncles, Mary (Gerald) Finnell, Ted Sabatula, Albert (Alyce) Shannon, John (Betty) Shannon, and Sandy Holcomb; his Holcomb cousins, Mark, Susan and Linda; his Shannon cousins, Bunny, Beatrice, Cynthia, David, Mark, Greg, Steve, Todd and Dana; nine nieces and nephews.
The family is especially grateful for the compassionate care John received from Drs. Esber, Eckman, Isada, Patel and Doncals, as well as the staff at Summa, Rockynol and VNS Hospice.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1250 W. Exchange St. in Akron on Friday, January 26, 2018, with Reverend Sandra Selby officiating. The family will receive friends in Westminster's fellowship hall following the service. Should family and friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Italian American Professional and Businessmen's Club (IAPBC) Scholarship Fund of the Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307 www.akroncf.org/give/ItalianAmericanScholarship or to Westminster Presbyterian Church. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)