John "Jack" Allen Drotos

John “Jack” Allen Drotos, 74, of Tallmadge, Ohio died peacefully on Saturday, July 17th after a courageous decade long battle with ALS.  

Jack was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 21, 1947 to the late John and Pearl (Barna) Drotos.  Jack lived in the Akron, Ohio area for most of his life, graduating from Garfield High School in 1965.  After high school, Jack served in the Ohio Army National Guard during the Vietnam War era.

Jack worked hard all his life. He began his work life within his family’s businesses, including his father’s restaurant, Johnny’s Hideaway. Jack enjoyed a very successful career in sales.  His ability to talk with anyone about anything was a gift.  He began his sales career at Nestle.  His love and skill for the sport of bowling led him to selling for both Ace Mitchell’s Bowlers Mart and Vantage Bowling.  His sales career took him all over the United States and different countries of the world.  

Jack is preceded in death by his parents, John and Pearl Drotos and his step-mother, Joan Drotos.  He is survived by his brother James (Linda) Drotos and sister, Jeanette Kingsley.  His family extended to include sisters, Rosemary, Joan, and Mariah Drotos, brothers, Rudy (Nancy) and Sam (Tonya) Jovanov and sister, Daniella (Jim) Wilson, and many nieces and nephews.  Jack was a friend to all.

More than anything, Jack loved his family and worked hard to provide for them.  He was very proud to raise three strong and independent daughters, and would tell anyone who would listen. Jack  is survived by his wife of nearly 39 years, Pamela (Stasitis) who lovingly cared for him during his ALS battle, his daughters, Cindy (Aaron) Brown, Amy Barker, and Danielle (Paul) Wilkie.  Jack’s daughters gave him seven grandchildren, Matthew, Tyler and Justin Brown; Madeleine and Harrison Barker; and Anderson and Maren Wilkie.  Jack treasured his time with his grandchildren.  He passes along his strong work ethic and his love of family to them.  While Jack will be missed greatly by his family, we take solace in knowing that he is in Heaven playing golf with Gramps and getting ready to bowl his 300 game. 

As per Jack’s wishes, no formal funeral services will be held. A celebration of Jack’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be in Jack’s name to GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland, 1536 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107.

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