Leonard J. Nickoloff, 79, Clearview High School Teacher and Coach

Born in Lorain, he had been a resident of Vermilion since 1979.

Len was a 1967 graduate of Admiral King High School. He was an outstanding track and cross country athlete there from 1963 to 1967 and established school records for the two mile run on both teams. Serving as captain of the cross country team during his senior year, Len was the recipient of multiple varsity letters in both sports.

After high school he attended New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The school did not have a track program at the time so Len concentrated on his academics subsequently graduating in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in Education.

Recognizing the importance of family, Len worked for his family’s businesses Nickoloff Builders and Lorain County Paving during high school and collegiate holidays and summer breaks.

He returned to Lorain following commencement and accepted a teaching position at Clearview High School. His thirty-one year coaching tenure included assignments as an assistant coach and head coach of the boys and girls track teams as well as head coach of both cross country teams.

He coached ten individual state track champions, and thirty state event placers. Six of his Clipper girl’s teams finished in the top twenty at state meets and he had an athlete in the state finals in seventeen of his twenty-one years as head coach. The outstanding highlight of his coaching career came in 2001 when the boys track team was crowned Division III State Champion. Len was ultimately inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies in 2013 in recognition of his coaching prowess.

He retired from teaching and coaching in 2005 subsequently joining Liberty Ford in Vermlion where he worked as a professional driver car porter for several years.

Len is survived by his wife of forty-six years Kaye (nee Nelson), son Craig Nickoloff (Meghann) residing in New Port Richey, Florida, and daughter Julene Woods (Brett) of Vermillion. He also leaves grandchildren Calvin, Evie, Violet, and Vera Nickoloff along with Emmarose, Carter, and Katelyn Woods. Additional survivors include his brother Thomas Nickoloff (Carol) of Lorain, nephew and niece Tommy and Lisa and family, sister-in-law Mrs. Kathleen Nickoloff (widow of Richard), nieces Sarah and Melanie and families, and surrogate daughter Heather Newman (Homer) of Amherst, grandchildren Tyler and Josh.

Len was preceded in death by his father Vladimir in 1993, mother Helen (nee Mroski) in 2013, and brother Richard in 1995.

Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel – 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain. Funeral services will be Saturday be at 12:30 p.m. in the funeral chapel. Reverend Paul Schreiner, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Vermilion will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Contributions in Len’s memory are encouraged to the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame – P.O. Box 723, Lorain, OH 44052.

To share your condolences with the Nickoloff Family, please visit www.gluvna.net.