John "K.J." Koscho, 88, Former Councilman & Standout Sandlot Athlete Age 88
John "K.J." Koscho, age 88, of Lorain, died Saturday October 14, 2006 at the Amherst Manor Nursing Home due to complications associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Mr. Koscho was born in Homer City, Pennsylvania on July 26, 1918 and had been a resident of Lorain since his childhood. He attended Garfield Elementary School, Hawthorne Junior High School, and Lorain High School.He was a World War II veteran of the United States Army where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant while attached to the 533rd Air Service Group; he fulfilled duty assignments totalling thirty-eight months in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Mr. Koscho was the recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, along with the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
K.J. was employed as a mechanic in the diesel garage at the National Tube Company and, its successor, the United States Steel Corporation. He retired in 1982 after a career that spanned forty-three years with the steel producer. A member of United Steelworkers Local # 1104, he served that organization as a Grievance Committeeman and Recording Secretary.
He was an accomplished sandlot athlete who enjoyed a career of more than a quarter of a century of competition. He earned thirty-one softball championships between 1937 and 1961. He served as the player-manager for the 1939 Sokols team which garnered the National Championship in that year and also served in the same capacity for such notable teams as Hahn Manufacturing, Nickoloff Contractors, Fatty's Sports Club, and the Lorain Russo-Slav Club. While at U.S. Steel, he also won a championship with the Maintenance Team.
His athletic prowess earned him an induction into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame at ceremonies conducted in May of 1987; he served as its President in 1988.
Mr. Koscho attributed his success in athletics as a tremendous asset in helping him establish a twenty year career in local politics; he served ten consecutive terms as a Fourth Ward Councilman and Councilman-At-Large, and seven terms as Council President.
He was a member of the Lorain City Park Board, and also served as a member of the Board of Directors at First Federal Savings of Lorain from 1978 through 2002.
He was an active parishioner of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Lorain where he was a member of the Holy Name Society as well as the Adult Servers Ministry.
He was a life member of Amvets Post # 47 of Lorain as well as the United Polish Club of Lorain.
K.J. enjoyed golf and bowling and participated extensively in leagues sanctioned by the United Polish Club, the Italian-American Veterans Club,the Catholic Sokols, and the American Russo-Slav Club. Additional interests included spending time with his family and watching the exploits of Cleveland's professional sports teams.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years Waldreen "Pudgie" (nee Mroski), son Kenneth of Lorain, daughter Nancy Wryst of Amherst Township, and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son John A. "Jack" Koscho in 2001, by his great grandson Aiden Koscho in 2004, by his parents John and Elizabeth (nee Mayernik) Koscho, by a brother George "Shorty" Koscho in 1997, and by his sister Elizabeth Konya in 1973.