Alfred David DiVencenzo

Alfred David DiVencenzo

Alfred David DiVencenzo, 64, of Grafton Township, died July 24, 2018. He was born July 12, 1954 in Medina, OH and lived in Grafton Twp and the Grafton/Elyria area his whole life. He was a 1972 graduate of Midview High School and received an Associates Degree from LCCC in 1974. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Bowling Green State University in 1976 and his Master’s Degree in Education at Kent State University in 1981. Al was an educator in Lorain County for 30 years at various school districts including North Ridgeville, Keystone, and Educational Service Center of Lorain County 1976-2005 and an Adjunct professor of education for Bowling Green State University Firelands Campus in Huron from 2004-2018. Al’s favorite hobby was being a tree farmer. He operated a Christmas tree farm where he gave back to the community. He pioneered the concept of a “Scholarship Forest” of cut trees where a portion of the money paid for each sold tree went to a cause. Hundreds of dollars have gone to the endowment funds of the Midview Local Schools, the Grafton-Midview Public Library, North Ridgeville City Schools and St. Peter’s School in North Ridgeville. Al has been on the Ohio Christmas Tree Association Board of Directors since 2010. He volunteered to represent the OCTA at an ag booth at the Ohio State Fair for more than 20 years. Al participated in Operation Evergreen where Ohio Christmas trees are sent to troops overseas. Al was on the Lorain County Farm Bureau Board for 12 years. He was president on the county farm bureau for 6 yrs and was now an Ohio Farm Bureau State Trustee (since June, 2014) representing Lorain, Erie, Huron and Cuyahoga Counties on Farm Bureau’s state level and has been a state delegate on the national level. He sat on the State of Ohio Public Works Commission Natural Resource Assistance Council for District 9 representing Farm Bureau in Lorain, Huron and Medina Counties. Al has been the advisor of the Belden B’s and G’s (formerly known as the Belden Boys) for 45 years. He started with the group right after he graduated from high school in 1972 He was still an advisor even though his own children are well beyond the 4-H age. Some of the kids in the club are the children of former club members. Al was an active member of the Grafton Knights of Columbus Council #8369. He held every office in the organization and is currently the financial secretary and in charge of the monthly newsletter. He belongs to the Fourth Degree Council #3019 of the K of C in North Ridgeville. Al was a Parish School of Religion teacher at Assumption Church in Grafton in 1992. He progressed to become the principal of the Assumption Church PSR program until the Church merged with another Grafton church to become Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. Al is currently a member of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Valley City, OH. We have been blessed that Al was an avid blood donor and was able to be a postmortem donor to Lifebanc. Al is survived by his wife of thirty five years, Beth (nee Snider); sons, Alfred E (Valerie) of Ravenna and Joseph L (Hannah) of Grafton; daughter, Teresa of New York City; mother, Wanda DiVencenzo (nee Kobak) of Grafton; parents-in-law, Edward and Janet Snider; sisters, Lois Stoll (Bob) and Jan O’Dell (Tim); brother, David DiVencenzo (Marlita); grandchildren, Danica, Wyatt, Caleb, and Carmella; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Edward DiVencenzo. Friends will be received Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 2:00 PM-5:00 PM at Avon Oaks Country Club 32300 Detroit Road Avon, OH. A funeral Mass will be Monday, July 30, at 9:30 AM at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church 1800 Station Rd. Valley City, OH In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Al’s favorite causes: Operation Evergreen. Donations (checks) can be made payable to: OCTA, Operation Evergreen Ohio Christmas Tree Association, 6870 Licking Valley Rd Frazeysburg OH, 43822 ohiochristmastree.org or Lorain County 4-H Endowment Checks to: The Ohio State University Lorain Co. 4-H Endowment ℅ OSU Extension Lorain Co. 42110 Russia Rd. Elyria, OH 44035 or Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, “Growing Good Campaign” Checks to OFB Foundation 280 N. High St. 6th Floor Columbus, OH 43218. Dicken Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Elyria assisted with arrangements.

Visitation

Sunday, July 29, 2018
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Avon Oaks Country Club
32300 Detroit Road
Avon, OH

Memorial Service

Monday, July 30, 2018
9:30 AM

St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church
1800 Station Road
Valley City, OH

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