Gerald G. ''Buddy'' Stanko, 54, Police Officer

Mr. Stanko was born March 5, 1950 in Lorain and had been a resident of Vermilion since 1988.

He attended elementary school at Washington Avenue School. He moved on to Hawthorne Middle School. He ultimately graduated from Admiral King High School with the class of 1968.

Gerald was the recipient of multiple varsity letters in both baseball and football while at Admiral King; as a third baseman, he was an instrumental component of the team that reached the sectional playoffs in 1968. Buddy continued his athleticism by participating in both fast and slow pitch softball leagues through early 1990.

He joined the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department in December of 1977 under the administration of Vernon Smith. He completed law enforcement training at Case Western Reserve University and continued to serve the department under Sheriff’s James Mertz, Martin Mahoney, and Phil Stammitti.

Mr. Stanko was a parishioner of Saint Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic Church in Lorain as well as a member of the Holy Name Society; he had formerly served as an altar server there. He also regularly attended First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lorain. He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians who enjoyed fishing and golf. Additional interests included crafting stained glass, and driving and maintaining his vintage 1964 Corvette roadster.

Survivors include his wife of sixteen years: Deborah (nee Farlow); daughters: Kristina Marie Stanko of Toledo and Heidi Lynn Stanko residing in Norwalk, his parents: George and Mary (nee Demyan) Stanko of Lorain; a brother: Gary of Lorain; and a sister: Georgene Matus of Wakeman.

Visitation will be Thursday from 2 to 8 pm. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel - 3224 Broadway - Lorain. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral chapel and will be followed by a Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. in Saint Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic Church - 2711 West 40E Street - Lorain.. The Reverend Nicholas Rachford, pastor of the church will officiate Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery - Lorain.

The family strongly encourages memorials to either New Life Hospice - 5255 North Abbe Road Elyria, Ohio 44035 or to the Ireland Cancer Center in care of University Hospitals of Cleveland - 11100 Euclid Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44106.

On-line condolences may be forwarded to the family in care of www.gluvna.net.