Nicholas Spano 1951-2024

He was born Feb. 18, 1951, in Clarksburg, W.Va., the son of Joe and Helen Simon Spano and had been a longtime Warren resident, moving to Ashtabula about 20 years ago.

A graduate of Kent State University, he earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 1973 and then went on to earn his master’s degree from Mount St. Joseph College, Cincinnati in 1985.

Prior to his retirement, Nicholas spent his career as an educator. He taught high school math at Warren Western Reserve High School for nine years and later, John F. Kennedy High School, for over 30 years. He spoke at many local, state and national math conferences under the umbrella of the National Council of Teacher of Math organization and always enjoyed volunteering to work with students who struggled in math. He invented several math learning games to assist students in learning basic arithmetic facts and thinking logically, especially “Add-A-Boy! Add-A-Girl!” During the five years he organized and facilitated the Ohio Proficiency Test Prep at the high school, all students passed! His many accomplishments led him to be nominated for Ohio Math Teacher of the Year.

During his teaching career, he wrote his own curriculum and taught study skills as well as managing or coaching golf, track and field, basketball, baseball and football, where he worked with the kickers and was known as “Nick the Toe.”

Nick had written and published two books to assist students in learning in a fun and easy way, “Rainy-Day Math; A Cloudburst of Ideas!” and “Puddle of Fun Math Activities!” He was proud of motivating students to pursue solutions to challenging problems without giving a homework assignment.

He served as the president of the Eastern Ohio Council of Teachers of Math for two consecutive terms; as president of the JFK High School Alumni organization for two years; on the Board of the Warren Sports Hall of Fame for 11 years; and as Howland Park Commissioner for three years.

A devout Catholic, he was an active member of Assumption Church in Geneva and the Knights of Columbus, Geneva-Madison Council 5286, where he was a Grand Knight and participated in most all of their activities.

Nick was also an avid fan of all Cleveland sports and a founder of Family Day in Warren, which he pushed to make a National Holiday in the 1990s because family was so important to him.

He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Ted Nicopolis; and his parents.

Nicholas is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary Margison Spano, whom he married Dec. 22, 1979; two sons, Joseph Spano of Ashtabula and Tedd (Larissa) Spano of Yorktown, Virginia; grandchildren, Johnny, Emma, Isabella and Justin; his sister, Sharon Nicopolis of Strongsville; and his niece, Michelle (Mike Gallagher) Nicopolis.

Calling hours will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at the Zaback-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home, 500 W. Prospect Road, Ashtabula.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 30 Lockwood St. Geneva, with the Rev. Conor Hetzel presiding. Burial will follow in All Souls Cemetery, Cortland.

Memorials may be made to Mya Women’s Center, 517 W. Prospect Road C, Ashtabula, OH 44004.

Online condolences can be made at www.ducro.com.

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