John M. Didich

John M. Didich, 81, of Ashland, Ohio passed away on January 24, 2023 after battling a rare neurodegenerative disease that mimics Parkinson's.

John was born in Warren, Ohio on June 26, 1941 to John and Katherine (Beskid) Didich. During his youth, he served as an altar boy at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, which his grandfather, Joseph Beskid, helped establish. After graduating from Warren G. Harding High School in 1959, with aspirations of becoming a band director, he entered the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University.

He put his education on hold when he joined the United States Air Force in September 1961. While stationed at Westover Airforce Strategic Air Command Base, Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts and a base near Madrid, Spain, John participated in the Air Force Sports program. He was often a contender and winner at Track and Field meets. John was honorably discharged in September 1967.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education, Special K-12 Health and Physical Education at Bowling Green State University in 1968, he went on to earn a Masters in Education at the University of Dayton in 1979. He completed post Graduate Studies at Ashland University. 

In 1968 John started teaching at Findlay High School in a special grant funded Driver Education Program. Besides actual on-road training, students trained on 16 car simulators with life and death driving film scenarios. During his fifteen years at FHS, he made unprecedented history for the school, leading the Trojans to victory in the 1974 AAA State Cross Country meet. Forty-eight years later, Coach Didich’s State Championship still stands today. John was quoted in the Republican-Courier newspaper, "It just proves if you have the attitude and are willing to work, you can be great." This was John’s philosophy in life and how he inspired others. He spent 6 years as a high school administrator between Coshocton and Ashland High Schools. The highlight of his teaching career was when he returned as a K - 6 Physical Education teacher in Ashland City Schools.

John met Karen at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH and they married on June 10, 1967. They will always be members of the recognized BGSU Alumni Affinity group, the Falcon Flames. They retired in 2000 to start another chapter of life traveling across the USA and Canada in their motorhome.   

John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Karen (Steinhauer) Didich; his three children, Michelle (Kenneth) Kowalewski, of Reynoldsburg; Kathy Didich of Ashland; and Michael Didich of Kettering; along with his grandchildren Alexander and Christopher.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in John’s name to Saints Constantine and Helen Orthodox Church. 

Visitation begins at 11:00 am on February 1, 2023 at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 265 W. Third Street, Mansfield, Ohio; followed immediately by a service at noon, Father Michael Ellis officiating. Military Funeral Honors will take place at 1:30 pm at the Ashland Cemetery, 533 West Main Street, Ashland, OH with Father Ellis leading us in a brief prayer service afterwards.

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