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Lee Fiedler, Former Cumberland Mayor & Kelly Exec Dies at 79

June 30th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

Lee N. Fiedler, loving husband and father of five passed away peacefully at the age of 79 on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Lee was born on November 8, 1941 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He attended St. Joseph School in Cuyahoga Falls, graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1959, Kent State University in 1963 and the Harvard Business School in 1987. His career began at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Squad in Akron. Advancing through positions at Goodyear he then was transferred to DuoTherm in LaGrange, Indiana in 1978. During the early 1990s Lee was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of The Kelly-Springfield Tire Company in Cumberland, Maryland. In 1999, Lee retired from Kelly-Springfield Tire at age 57. The following year Fiedler was elected Mayor of Cumberland, Maryland and served the city for over ten years. In 2001, Lee was inducted into the Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame. A devout Catholic, he was awarded the Archdiocese Medal of Honor in 2007 for contributions to his community and church. Mayor Fiedler also taught business classes at Frostburg State University in Maryland. In 2017 Lee received The Father Thomas Mahar Outstanding Alumni Award from Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School. The consummate entrepreneur and man of service to others, Lee always found time to serve on numerous boards in his community and church.

Accomplished and proud of his career Lee’s true love was his family. He married Teresa Cera and together they raised two sons and three daughters – Jim (Stacy) Fiedler of Ponte Vedra, Florida; Joe (Rome) Fiedler of Stow, Ohio; Leesa (Jeff) Blank of Frostburg, Maryland; Kate (Mark) Williams of Streetsboro, Ohio; Annie (Aaron) Deemer of Streetsboro, Ohio. His pride and joy are his grandchildren, Justin Deemer, Katie Blank, Nicholas Fiedler, Amie Blank, Bankston Fiedler, Nathan Fiedler, Katie Williams, Jacob Blank, Ashlyn Fiedler, Salee Blank, Mia Fiedler, Josh Williams, Matt Fiedler and Jeremy Williams. Survivors include Teresa, his wife of 55 years, his five children, fourteen grandchildren, brothers, John, Pat, Mark, sister, Marie, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Betty Fiedler, and brother, James Fiedler.

Lee was a man of many interests. He loved to golf, fish, and especially liked his hunting trips with his hunting buddies, sons, and his brother, Willie. Years of coaching basketball were always highlighted when his teams garnered state championships. Lee traveled extensively during his career but his most enjoyable trips were with his wife, Teresa, her sister Snook and husband, Mick. Lee was adept at board room strategies and being Mayor but truly talented when planning the annual family trip to Oglebay Park Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia. He would enjoy scavenger hunts and dressing in costumes to photo journal each member on a family calendar.

Visitation will be held at Dunn-Quigley Funeral Home, 3333 Kent Road, Stow, Ohio on Friday, July 2 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be at Holy Family Church on Saturday, July 3 at 11:00 am, 3179 Kent Road, Stow Ohio. Interment at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park 2613 Sackett Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Lee Fiedler’s name to Seton Catholic School, 6923 Stow Road, Hudson, Ohio 44236 www.setoncatholicschool.org.