Robert Guy Stabile

January 31, 1938 – September 26, 2023 

ROBERT G. STABILE, age 85, loving companion for 36 years of Rebecca Kimberly (nee Phelps); beloved father of Robert Thomas and Anne Stabile Fritz; devoted grandfather of Thomas Stabile, Paige Fritz and Daniel Fritz; cherished son of the late Carl and Catherine (nee Casassanta) Stabile; dearest brother of Mary Ann Lark (husband Don) and Jack Stabile (wife Joyce); dear brother-in-law, uncle and great-uncle of many.

Bob was born in 1938 to Carl Stabile and Catherine Casassanta Stabile in Rayland, Ohio. In 1945, following the accidental death of Carl Stabile, Catherine and her three young children, Robert, Mary Ann, and Jack,  moved in with family at a farm in Coalburg, Ohio, living there for three years. They then bought a house in Hubbard, Ohio, where the children attended the Hubbard schools. Bob graduated in 1956 with a 4.0 senior year GPA average. He excelled in football, basketball, and track and received a track scholarship to Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where he majored in science and minored in physical education. He was president of Phi Kappa Alpha and was voted “Outstanding Senior Man in Education” by that fraternity.

Bob graduated in 1960 and was hired by Bedford City Schools as a science teacher and coach of football, track, and cross country. His track and cross-country teams won Greater Cleveland Conference Championships. In 1965, with wife Alice Fortier Stabile and son Robert Thomas, Bob moved to Kent State where he worked toward a Ph.D. in school administration and served an internship, later becoming assistant to the superintendent, in Cuyahoga Falls Schools. He earned his Ph.D. in 1968 and was hired as superintendent of Manchester Local Schools where, at age 30, he was the youngest superintendent of schools in Ohio. In 1971 he was chosen as superintendent of Mayfield City Schools where he served for 20 years, earning the headline “The Marathon Man” in an article featured in the Plain Dealer. In 1991 he was selected as superintendent of Berea City Schools, serving for two years and retiring as a school administrator. He was then sought after by Franciscan University of Steubenville and became a professor of education, where he served for 10 years, giving him 45 years of service in education.

During his career Bob was active professionally, publishing dozens of articles in professional  journals and giving hundreds of presentations to professional and lay groups. He wrote seven books, one of which, “The Ohio School Finance Blue Book,” is in its 52^nd year of publication. He was president of the Mid-American Association of School Superintendents and of the Greater Cleveland School Superintendent Association, as well as first chairman and founding member of the Greater Cleveland Schools Council of Governments (now known as Ohio Schools Council). Bob was a charter member of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and remained active in that group throughout his career. He was also a long-time member of the Hillcrest Rotary Club, where he served as president. He was a charter member and frequent presenter for the Northeast Ohio Civil War Round Table. He served on the board of the Cleveland chapter of the American Red Cross and on the board of Hillcrest Hospital for 17 years.

Bob resided many years in Mayfield Heights. Beginning in 2005, he became a Florida resident, with many visits to Mayfield and summers in Chautauqua. He had a passion for the study of the Civil War, reenacted General Pickett amazingly well, and loved history in general. Bob recently enjoyed taking his many jokes to stand-up comedy on open “mic” nights. He enjoyed tennis, playing cards, reading books and newspapers, and boating – a highlight for him was being Becky’s boat driver as she waterskied. Mostly he loved spending time with his family. Gathering with friends and relatives on Christmas was a highlight of the year. Bob enjoyed getting together for lunch with his cousins, laughing and talking about the fun times they had growing up.  Many would say he was a force of life, a true Renaissance man. He was intellectual and witty and was always interested in other peoples’ thoughts. Bob passed away suddenly at his home in Mayfield on September 26, 2023. He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the honor of knowing and loving him and being in his presence.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Bob to Hillcrest Rotary Foundation, PO Box 352, 5247 Wilson Mills Road, Richmond Heights, OH, 44143 (or Click Here) or to Treasurer, Mayfield City Schools, 1101 SOM Center Road, Mayfield Heights, OH, 44124 ( or Click Here), for the Robert Stabile Scholarship Fund.

A Celebration of Life will take place on November 4th. Greeting of friends will begin at 11:00 AM followed by a service at 11:30 AM at Mayfield Church , 7747 Mayfield Rd., Chesterland, Ohio. Reception to follow. Services in Bonita Springs, FL to be announced in January. Arrangements entrusted to THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME.