KENT, Ohio — The city of Kent has confirmed longtime Mayor Jerry Fiala, who served more than a decade in the position, has died at the age of 82.

City Council President Pro Tempore Jack Amrhein confirmed Fiala's death during a meeting Wednesday. A cause of death was not given, though Amrhein noted Fiala had been ill in recent months.

"Jerry's roots were in this community — he was born and bred in Kent, Ohio. He referred to himself as a 'townie,'" an emotional Amrhein said prior to a moment of silence in Fiala's honor. "He helped to make Kent the best city to live in and the best city to visit in Northeastern Ohio."

Fiala originally entered politics in the mid-1980s as Kent's Ward 1 councilman and held the seat for 14 years, including a brief period as the appointed mayor following the

See Full Page