Bernard J. Kosar Sr. 1938-2025

Among the many mementos on the walls of his office is a photo of an old log cabin in Perryopolis, Pa., that Bernie Kosar Sr. pointed to with pride as his birthplace. After moving to Youngstown, Bernie grew up on the West Side in the 1940s and 1950s — the boom years of the local steel mills. Following graduation from Chaney High School, he earned his engineering degree from Youngstown State University in 1959, having been registered as a professional engineer in Ohio since 1969. His career spanned various management positions with the U.S. Steel Corporation, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and Air Power of Ohio, and he proudly served as a captain in the United States Army Reserve until 1974.

Among his community and professional activities included terms as president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Mahoning Valley Technical Society Council; chairman of the Youngstown State University Edison Office of Entrepreneurship; trustee of the Youngstown State University Alumni Association; director of The Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism at YSU; director of the Mahoning Valley Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame; director of Second Harvest Food Bank; member of the Finance Council, Byzantine Archdiocese of Pittsburgh; and membership in the YSU Penguin Club, the YSU Centennial Committee and the Italian Scholarship League. One of his most cherished roles was leading the effort to raise $1.4 million for the construction of the Veterans Resource Center on YSU’s campus, later named after his dear friend, Carl Nunziato, in 2018, which opened in 2014 and currently serves over 300 veterans and military-connected students.

At a time when many of his peers were winding down their careers and anticipating more relaxation and recreation, the senior Kosar became an auxiliary policeman with the Canfield Police Department and later the mayor of Canfield, an experience he looked upon fondly near the end of his life.

Bernie Sr. and his wife of 62 years, Geri Krajcirik Kosar, resided in Canfield. His final years were spent doing the things he loved most — visiting with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, telling jokes to his friends, watching old war movies and spending time with Geri.

In addition to his wife, Bernie Sr. leaves behind two sons, Bernie Jr. and Brian (Nicole); a daughter, Beth (Tony) Vivo; a brother, Leonard Kosar; a sister, Carol Kosar; and special friends, Scott (Beth Ann) and Noah Zoldan, Steve (Sheri) Horger, Jeff Wardle and Ryan Hart, whom he considered as family.

The family asks, in lieu of flowers, that any donations be made to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 356 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509; The Veteran Center, 633 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH 44502; and The Rich Center for Autism, 1 University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555.

A Catholic Mass took place at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church with family members only.

Bernie Sr. will be laid to rest in Resurrection Cemetery in Austintown.

Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home handled all of the arrangements for the family.

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