If somebody ever writes a e-book sooner or later about excellent Perry space residents who lived within the twentieth and twenty first centuries, they need to undoubtedly embrace a bit on Phil Cassella.
That thought crossed our minds after studying that Cassella shall be stepping down from the Perry Village Council on December thirty first. He’s leaving halfway by means of his present four-year time period.
The Perry Village authorities revealed Cassella’s resolution in a information launch issued on the Nov. 9 council assembly.
Village Legal professional James O’Leary distributed copies of the discharge to group council members and directors, then learn the announcement to all in attendance.
Cassella was appointed to fill a emptiness on the Village Council in 2008 and elected to his first four-year time period on the panel in 2009. Village voters then re-elected Cassella to council in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
Throughout a stretch of about 15 years on the council, he has served on many committees, together with a panel that plans and executes the annual Perry Fall Competition, the information launch stated.
The Fall Competition Steering Committee, underneath Cassella’s management, has helped the Perry Fall Competition develop “from a small native occasion to a regional gem, together with fireworks, video games and distributors, whereas sustaining the native enchantment,” the information launch added.
He additionally grew to become well-known in the neighborhood as a trainer, coach, assistant principal and longtime athletic director at Perry Excessive College.
“Phil was instrumental within the planning, building and administration of the Perry Group Health and Athletic Heart,” the press launch stated. “He additionally organized many athletic occasions within the Northeast Ohio district that Perry hosted.”
Cassella, who retired from training in 2002 after a 36-year profession within the occupation, was additionally honored in 1989 because the Northeast Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrator of the 12 months.
After O’Leary completed studying the press launch, Cassella addressed the viewers.
He stated Perry gave him and his spouse, Pat, a secure place to lift their three youngsters — Jeffrey, David and Alissa. The Perry College District was additionally an “glorious academic setting” for his youngsters to attend faculty, he added.
Whereas Cassella loved working at Perry Colleges, he additionally felt the necessity to give again to the group at giant.
“It began with a name to signify the village as a board member of the Perry Space Joint Recreation District,” he stated. “With that starting, you recognize my years of continued involvement with native authorities. I’m so proud to have been part of the achievements within the village. We’ve got come a good distance.”
Throughout the Nov. 9 assembly, Councilman Mike Glover thanked Cassella for her years of dedication to the village.
“I’ve to say you have been my mentor on the council,” Glover stated. “Your capability to place collectively an agenda and maintain issues so as is phenomenal.”
Glover concluded his tribute by describing Cassella as a driving drive on the council.
“And we cannot be higher off with out you,” he stated. “However by all means, we want you all of the happiness on the planet.”
The village press launch acknowledged that after Cassella retires from the municipality on the finish of the yr, he plans to get pleasure from extra time together with his household.
If Cassella needs to reside life at a extra leisurely tempo after he ends his time period on the council, we hope he is ready to obtain that objective.
In any case, Cassella has spent a lot time and vitality serving others as an area official and as a trainer, training administrator and athletic director. We hope Perry space residents respect all the nice issues he has performed.