Richard Lee (Rick) Chesko

Richard Lee (Rick) Chesko, 66, of Linesville, passed away on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at UPMC Hamot in Erie.

Born January 16, 1948, in Ellwood City, he was the son of Rudolph and Sara Fowler Chesko.  He married Judy Mirkovich on July 20, 1974, at St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Beaver.

Rick graduated as president of his class in 1965 from Riverside High School in Ellwood City.  He then graduated from Slippery Rock State College with Bachelor of Science in Education.   He was drafted into the United States Army and served our country from 1971 until 1977.

Rick began his teaching career at Linesville Conneaut Summit High School in 1969 as an American History Teacher, retiring after 35 years in 2004.  While at Linesville High School he became a coaching legend holding numerous records that may never be broken.  His coaching career covered nearly four decades and winning championships was his forte as he won a golf championship; two boys basketball F.C.V.C. championships; a District X boys basketball championship; five girls basketball F.C. V. C. championships; five District X girls basketball championships; a P.I.A.A. state runner-up in 1985 and winning the ultimate prize a year later in 1986 the P.I.A.A. state championship.  During his 22 years as girls’ basketball coach his overall record was 405 wins and 173 losses.  His combined record in basketball exceeded 500 wins.  Coach Chesko’s accomplishments were equally impressive as a 25 year softball coach winning eight F.C.V.C. championships, three District X titles, and two trips to the state championships finishing third and second in Pennsylvania.  One more incredible record was his Junior High Girls Basketball career record of 224 wins and 12 defeats.  After retirement from Linesville High School, he continued his coaching career with the Conneaut Valley High School girls' basketball program from the junior high level to the varisty winning the Region 3 conference championship the final year prior to the consolidation of the three high schools in the Conneaut School District.  Often thought to be a very quiet individual, coach Chesko's records speak volumes of his dedication to the athletic programs at Linesville and later at Conneaut Valley.

He loved golfing and was a member and secretary of Oakland Beach Golf Course’s Monday Night Golf League.

Survivors include his loving wife of forty years, Judy Chesko; his mother, Sara Bowers of Ellwood City; a daughter, Beth Ann Unks and her husband, Bruce, of Gibsonia; a son, Stephen Richard Chesko and his wife, Kirsty, of New Freedom; three grandchildren, William Chesko, Maelyn Unks and Aria Chesko; two brothers, Randall Chesko and his wife, Janice, of Ellwood City and Scott Chesko and his wife, Lori, of Lenoir, North Carolina; and a sister, Lynda Oliver and her husband, Albert, of Penfield, New York.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rudolph Chesko.

Calling hours will be Friday from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U. S. Highway 6, Linesville.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the Linesville First Baptist Church, 6114 U. S. Highway 6, Linesville with Pastor Rich Jones of the Conneautville Church of Christ officiating.  A luncheon will follow at the church.

Burial will be private in Linesville Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association, 840 Southwestern Run, Youngstown, OH  44514 or the American Diabetes Association, 100 West Station Drive, Suite 1900, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or online at www.diabetes.org/Donate.

P lease share a condolence or memory of Rick for the family at royalcolemanfuneralhome.com.