Edward C. Jerdonek, Sr. passed away on October 12, 2025 in The Villages, Florida— just two days before celebrating his 90th birthday.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Ed lived a full and accomplished life marked by devotion to family, faith, and hard work. Ed married the love of his life, Phyllis, and together they raised a family. In 1998, they moved from Louisville, Ohio to the Villages, Florida, where they enjoyed the warmth of retirement in the La Reynalda community. In his own words, Ed was “an avid pickleball player and a tepid golfer.”
Mr. Jerdonek earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1957 and an M.B.A. in Industry from Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve) in Cleveland in 1963. His entire business career was spent in the Basic Steel Industry, having been employed by, among others, Jones and Laughlin Steel, Jones and Laughlin Stainless Steel, J&L Specialty Products, LTV Steel, WCI Steel, the latter, a facility formerly owned by Republic Steel. Ed was fond of saying that he had never resigned from an employer, but nonetheless, worked for several due to mergers, sales, and acquisitions, during some forty years in the turbulent industry.
Over the years, Ed’s work took him to Cleveland, Louisville, Youngstown, and Warren, Ohio; Pittsburgh and Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Detroit, Michigan. Wherever he went, Ed built lasting friendships and was respected for his intelligence, integrity, and easygoing nature.
Ed was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Phyllis in 2023. He was deeply proud of his children, sons Edward (Tammi) and Matthew (Sharon), and daughters Cindy Sescleifer and Susan (Mike) Lind. Ed was a loving grandfather to 11 grandchildren (2 predeceased), 2 great-grandchildren, and a brother to Donna (deceased) and Diane.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 27, 2025.