Jeff Vrabel Sr. 1969-2024

Jeff was born April 12, 1969, in Youngstown, to Joseph and Nadene Marshall Vrabel.

He attended Byzantine Catholic Central School and would go on to graduate from Poland Seminary High School and Mahoning County Joint Vocational School.

It was in high school when he started coaching the Poland Bulldog softball team. His love for coaching led Jeff to proudly coach all three of his son’s baseball teams, including Phillip’s 9-year-old Little League all-star team.

His love for sports extended beyond coaching. Umpiring for 41 years, he umped his first game at 14. This passion brought him to teach his son Kenneth how to umpire, also starting at 14. They enjoyed umpiring games together this season.

He was a member of the Poland Community Baseball Association for over 25 years, serving in various capacities including player, manager, coach, umpire, publicity director, member of the board of trustees, umpire-in-chief and assistant tournament director for various tournaments, including two Little League baseball Ohio state tournaments. He was also a member of the Tri-T Baseball / Softball League, where he served as secretary, vice president, member of the board of directors, umpire-in-chief and publicity director. He was currently serving as a field director and West Region, East Zone Baseball umpire-in-chief for PONY baseball / softball, and has umpired the PONY League World Series 11 times and one Colt Baseball World Series, including six assignments as home plate umpire in PONY baseball international championship games.

When he moved from Poland to Grove City, he quickly became involved in youth sports. He sat on the Grove City Little League Advisory Board, and was an Ohio District 6 Little League assistant district administrator, serving as district safety officer. In 2021, he was an umpire at the Little League Baseball Central Region Tournament in Whitestown, Indiana.

In addition to umpiring baseball, Jeff had a love for everything football. He refereed NCAA football with the North Coast Athletic Conference and was a former official in the Presidents Athletic Conference and the Mountain East Conference with the Tri-State Intercollegiate Football Officials Association and the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Jeff was fortunate enough to referee the Ohio State football spring game for several consecutive years. He was also a basketball and football official for the Ohio High School Athletic Association and has volunteered as a referee with Mahoning County Special Olympics. At the local level, he was the secretary for the Bulldog Turf Club that raised nearly $1 million to install turf at Poland Seminary High School’s Dave Pavlansky Field, and was also involved with the Poland Touchdown Club Golf Outing Committee.

Jeff was a charter and life member of Sons of The American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15. He had been commander of Squadron 15 since its creation, 30 years ago. He held every position in the Dynamic Ninth District, including three terms as commander. Jeff moved on and held several positions at the detachment level, and during the 2005-2006 membership year, served as detachment commander. In 2002, Jeff received the Ohio Sons of The American Legion Earl Cox Outstanding Member of the Year Award. He served on the joint American Legion Post 15 Family Honor Guard, as well as its color guard, and since 2010, had been chairman of the Poland Memorial Day procession and ceremonies. Jeff also served at the national level on various committees and was the editor of the national newsletter. During the 2021-2022 membership year, he served as national vice commander, central region.

In addition to his involvement with Sons of The American Legion, Jeff was also involved with many other veteran service organizations. He was a charter and former member of Sons of Amvets Post 44 in Struthers and was currently a member of Lewis R Hall Post 1928, where he served as adjutant. He was a member of the Catholic War Veterans Auxiliary Saint Stanislaus Post 1222 in Youngstown.

For all of his work for veterans, Jeff was named the 2011 citizen of the year by the United Veterans Council of Youngstown for outstanding service to veterans and Americanism. Jeff was additionally a former associate member of Korean War Veterans Association 137 and Vietnam Veterans Association 135.

At the age of 18, Jeff was elected to the Poland Village Council. At that time, he was the youngest elected councilman in the state of Ohio. This thrust him into a lifetime interest in politics, having also served as a precinct committeeman. Two separate times he sat on the board of trustees for the Western Reserve Joint Fire District. He would go on to serve as the clerk of council, prior to moving to Grove City.

For 27 years Jeff worked in the pupil transportation industry in the public and private sectors. He was two-time past president of the Ohio Association of Pupil Transportation, past chair of the State and National Associations Council of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, where he served on the board of directors. He was also a past member of the board of directors of the Ohio Association for School Business Officials.

In 2012, he was named the Outstanding Transportation Director of the Year by the Ohio Association for School Business Officials Foundation for School Business Management. In 2013, the Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation named him the William Rice Award of Excellence for Pupil Transportation supervisor of the year.

He was currently employed by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation as motor fleet coordinator supervisor.

Jeff married the former Mary Porter on Feb. 14, 1999. They recently celebrated 25 years of marriage.

He leaves his mother, Nadene of Poland; his wife, Mary; their three sons, Jeff Jr., Kenneth and Phillip; and mother-in-law, Flo Porter. He is also survived by his sister, Melissa (Andy) Cardinal; siblings, David, Joseph, Kathy, Lori and Janice; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Teresa (Matthew) Loll, Katie (Jason) Wilson and Sara Rodgers; goddaughter, Mandy Poo Poo; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Vrabel; a sibling; father-in-law, Tom Porter; grandparents, Mark Marshall Sr., Mildred Mae Pennell, and Joseph and Nancy Vrabel; and several aunts and uncles.

There will be calling hours 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington. A prayer service will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Additional calling hours will take place 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2024, at Rossi Brothers and Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave., Boardman. Pastor Jeremy Hollingshead will offer prayers at 6 p.m., followed by a Catholic War Veterans Auxiliary Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. and a memorial service conducted by the Ohio Past Detachment Commanders at 7 p.m.

There will be additional viewing from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2024, at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, 463 Robinson Road, Campbell, followed by a funeral Divine Liturgy, officiated by Father Kevin Marks.

Interment will follow in historic Poland Riverside Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the Jackson Township Fire Department Rescue. Also, a “special thank you to Jimmy, Darcia, Ryan, Hunter and Evan Sielschott, for becoming the family we need when the bottle flips.”

(special notice)