Martin John Vronick

Martin John Vronick (90) passed away on May 3, 2025. He was born on October 29, 1934, at home in Tallmadge, Ohio. He married Rose Marie Wilsac in 1962 and their marriage spanned over 60 years until she preceded him in death in 2023. Their greatest joy was raising their daughters Kyra Grathwohl and Mia (Steve) Rohweder. Called Dedo lovingly, he was cherished by six grandchildren: Michael, Nathan (Rachel), Evan, Natalie (Nicholas), Andrew, and Eric. He is survived by his eldest sister, Mary Bezbatchenko and sisters-in-law Sonja Harvischak, Phyllis George and Cindy (Dale) Fairclough. Preceded in death by parents Frank and Mary Vronick (Shushura) and sisters Dolores Christensen and Martha Vronick.
A lifelong Akron resident, Martin graduated from East High and University of Akron (BA education). At Akron, he was a Phi Delta Theta Member. In 1950, he proudly built and became the Akron Soap Box Derby Champion. Martin teased that his time at UofA had him on both Dean's Lists: the good and the bad. His varied career path involved math teacher at Innis Jr High, sales with Umbaugh Pole Building, Eastern Regional Manager with Gangnail, owning his own paint and wallpaper store in Mogadore and maintenance at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. He loved bringing home bushels of seafood from his sales trips and allowing his daughters to "play" with the lobsters before dinner. On the streets of Mogadore you could always spot the huge "Vronick's Russian Painter Man" van driving to various remodeling jobs. Martin would take the dogs to work with him daily. If on a Friday, Mogadore football night, a customer popped in to look at wallpaper: Martin would take the money from the till, leave them the book sign-out log, and tell them to lock the door on the way out because he was going to the game! Martin built/remodeled many homes, churches, and businesses. A proud moment for him was a refurbishment of the Phi Delta Theta house on Akron campus following a fire. He either built or remodeled every home he lived in, but the last was his favorite with its duplex layout, 3-season screened-in porch, stone wall fireplace from rocks he hand dug, extensive gardens and bird feeders and extra wide hallways that he designed for proper EMS access and to live in forever.
Martin was an Army veteran and tells the story of how he was 'assigned' (he snuck his recommendation onto the pile) to the Army-Navy choir stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The West's beauty never left his heart nor did his love for singing. He vacationed out West as much as he could and he had a song for every moment: wake up songs, crowded bathroom songs for his daughters, name songs for every girl he met, fraternity songs, cream of wheat songs, and so many more. Martin proudly sang in the Greater Canton Men's Chorus.
Martin and Ruza (Rose Marie) never sat still. The project list was never ending, and their adventures were many. Season ticket holders to UofA football and basketball and loyal fans of Mogadore football, a stuffed Zippy traveled with them all over the world, even to the Pyramids of Giza. He loved his 1969 Volvo P1800, affectionately called his 'chickee mobile'. Often projects were "fixed with a hammer" and labeled as "it's OK, it will be alright", and "you can't see it from downtown Akron". Once Martin put up a Christmas tree with a very unstable stand and Ruza commented at dinner that it needed rotated. Martin said, "the tree is not moving." Ruza continued complaining about rotating it until Martin very deliberately said "Ruza, you're not hearing me. The tree is not moving." Yes, my friends, Martin took a 16 penny and nailed the stand right through the carpet into the floor. Adventures always involved going off the beaten path: covered wagon trips, mountain pass winding single lane roads (Martin once drove across a farmer's field because the road was "on the map" and yes there were cattle!), shopping at every antique store everywhere, passing dirty playing cards with cowboys on horseback riding trips (yikes), and so many more. A favorite family memory and now a forever family joke came from a trip to the Everglades: Martin was reading aloud the self-guided tour about green Moses all over a rock. The family was confused until the realization he was referring to the mosses growing on the rock.... Moses and his staff were not really there!
Antics are the embodiment of the genuine, loving and fun man that Martin was. He always went along with all Rose Maries' crazy ideas. Nearly every important family event had a visit from the Russian Midget skit. He once answered emergency room doctors' inquires as to how he fell off scaffolding: "I didn't fall, I walked off", thankfully only a large cheek scar. He gave himself a permanent wedding ring by grounding it red hot to the lawn mower battery. He called every young woman "George" and enjoyed their smiles and kisses. Martin set fire to his own home by starting the frying pan then shopping at two stores for a T-bone steak. Upon his return he crawled into the extinguisher, put the flames out before going outside to sit on a railroad tie and call the Fire Dept while drinking a beer. He called Ruza who was wallpapering at her parent's home asking if she was "really good" at hanging wallpaper to break the news. He was by far the hardest working man who loved everyone deeply.
Ultimately, Martin's faith and dedication to St Nicholas Church was what gave him never ending strength. His love and dedication permeated every thought and action in his entire life. He served in every capacity that can be named from President to Custodian. His membership dates to pre-birth history as the founding service of the parish was held in his grandfather's living room. Whatever was asked of Martin by a church member, the priest, or his Lord, Martin answered unselfishly, never wanting anything in return. His home parish did however recognize his faith and dedication by honoring him with a certificate thanking him for his service in 2014. He also received the honor as the Fraternalist of the year from the Local RBO club. He served the greater national philanthropic church organization, the FROC (now FOCA) in capacities large and small. He was the true embodiment of the Time and Talent portions of Tithing.
Visitation and Panikihida will be May 6, 2025 at Anthony Funeral Home, 1990 S Main St, Akron, OH 44301 with visitation from 5-7:30 PM and Panikihida at 7:30 PM. His body will lie in state at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 755 S Cleveland Ave., Mogadore, Ohio 44685 on May 7, 2025 from 9 AM and Funeral Service at 10 AM. Interment at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cemetery and repass dinner back at St. Nicholas. The officiant will be the VRev. Nicholas Wyslutsky.
Special thank you goes to St. Edwards in Green for their kindness (cream of wheat or poached eggs each morning and field trips), his poker group who tried to take his money, fellow residents who provided constant baked goods, and Denise for her care of his room every Thursday afternoon. A meow thank you from Beaucou (Martin's cat) to Madison, Shawn and Jasper for without them, Beaucou could not have remained with Martin. And lastly, thank you to the Veterans Administration, his care team from Cornerstone and the hospice care team from Traditions. May God grant you all many blessed years!
Martin requested no flowers so in lieu, please donate to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in his name. The family will earmark donations to a building maintenance funded project because building was at the heart of Martin's calling.