HUDSON, Ohio (Dec. 15) — Ernest H. Zielasko, founder, editor and publisher of Rubber & Plastics News, passed away Dec. 13, following a short illness, at age 84.
Zielasko co-founded RPN in 1971, and sold the publication to Crain Communications Inc. in 1976. He stayed with the company for 10 years, continuing to serve as RPN editor and publisher and retiring as Crain vice president of rubber industry publications.
Zielasko began his journalism career in 1947 after joining the B.F. Goodrich Rubber Co. in Akron as a public relations writer. He then spent 13 years at "Modern Tire Dealer" magazine, serving as editor and publisher.
He earned several honors during his career, including the John S. Knight Award for journalism from the Buckeye Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 1985; the Distinguished Service Award from the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society in 1986; and election into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame by the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association in 1993.
Zielasko was a World War II veteran, a member of the First Congregational Church of Hudson, and a book author. His book, "Jeff's Denial," was a self-published memoir of his son Jeff's fight against leukemia.
He leaves behind his wife Mary; sons and daughters-law David and Gwen of Silver, Lake, Ohio, and Philip and Lisa of Naperville, Ill.; brother and sister-in-law Gus and Marilyn of North Canton, Ohio; and three granddaughters Sarah, Katie and Annie. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 41 years, Rosetta; and his son Jeff.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the First Congregational Church of Hudson Memorial Fund, 47 Aurora St., Hudson, Ohio 44236, or to the Jeffrey W. Zielasko Memorial Scholarship, Rochester Institute of Technology, Office of Development, 116 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, N.Y. 14623.
A memorial service will be held Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Hudson. Friends will be received at Johnson-Romito, A Golden Rule Funeral Home, 19 E. Main St., Hudson, on Dec. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. Johnson-Romito's phone number is 330-650-4181.