Frank “Drew” Leyda

Frank D. (Drew) Leyda, a long-time resident of Calcutta Health Care Center, passed away on September 6, 2019. He was born on July 13, 1948 in East Liverpool, son of the late Frank H. Leyda and Rhoda J. Leyda. He was a 1966 graduate of Wellsville High School (a proud “Tiger”), a decorated veteran of the United States Army, and attended The Ohio State University, Kent State University and the University of Akron. He was employed most recently by the University of Akron, where he directed Audio-Visual Support activities. He was a dedicated lifelong learner, earning numerous degrees, certificates and citations in areas from ceramics to electronics, from psychology to computer science, from entomology to the care and feeding of hummingbirds. For him, learning for the sheer sake of learning was fun, and he was continually looking for opportunities to learn something new.
He is survived by a brother, Mark (Diane) Leyda of Brighton, Michigan and two sisters; Sue Ellen Tanaka (Dr. David) of Durham, North Carolina, and Jean Leyda of East Liverpool. He also is survived by four nieces: Julianne (Ben) Rybicki of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan; Amanda (Matt) Paletz of Rochester, Michigan; Dr. Kelly (Dr. Mark) Bowers of Brighton, Michigan, and; Jennifer (Andrew) Nowobilski of Costa Mesa, California. He was, is, and will continue to be an inspiration to six great-nieces (the eldest of whom, Raegan Rybicki, was his “special friend”) and five great- nephews, all of whom had the opportunity to watch him demonstrate in real time how to deal successfully with physical obstacles far greater, God willing, than they themselves will ever experience.
Drew suffered from chronic and debilitating health issues for virtually his entire life, and bore this unfair and undeserved burden with courage, strength and a remarkably positive outlook. He was a devoted and loving son, a loyal brother, a supportive uncle, a role model great uncle and a very good friend. A good man, a kind man, and a man of enormous courage. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service is being scheduled, in cooperation with Care Funeral and Cremation Specialists, MacLean Chapel, in Wellsville for Monday, September 23, 2019 at 11 AM.