Cleveland Housing Court Judge Ray Pianka dies suddenly at 65, Mayor Jackson, others offer condolences, including activist and journalist Kathy Wray Coleman, whose deceased husband, a former Cleveland cop, worked under Pianka as a housing court bailiff until his death.....Coleman says Pianka was especially sensitive and caring when she lost her husband as a relatively young woman, even attending funeral services after closing the court for the morning....Coleman says Pianka was loved and respected by his employees and supported the bailiff's in starting a union under the leadership of her now deceased husband....By editor-Kathy Wray Coleman of www.clevelandurbannews.com and the www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black digital news leaders
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| Cleveland Municipal Housing Court Judge Raymond Pianka |
(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com). Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog with some 3.5 million views on Google Plus alone. Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com
CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM-CLEVELAND, Ohio -Cleveland Municipal Housing Court Judge Raymond L. Pianka is dead at 65, and his death was sudden and has taken the community by surprise.
The judge's family has asked for privacy, and funeral arrangements are pending.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, a former city council president who served with Pianka, also a former councilman, on city council, offered condolences on behalf of the city, calling Pianka "a tireless advocate for his community."
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, a former city council president who served with Pianka, also a former councilman, on city council, offered condolences on behalf of the city, calling Pianka "a tireless advocate for his community."
Ward 2 Councilman Zack Reed, an east side city lawmaker contemplating a run for mayor this year, tweeted that Pianka was "a longtime friend."
Activist and journalist Kathy Wray Coleman, the surviving spouse of former Cleveland cop Wesley Maclin Jr, who was employed later as a housing court deputy bailiff for Pianka until his death in 2004 and started the first Cleveland housing court union for bailiff's with the judge's support, was caught off guard.
Coleman says she is shocked and that Pianka was especially sensitive and caring when she lost her husband as a relatively young woman, even attending funeral services after closing the court for the morning.
"We offer condolences to the Pianka family," said Coleman. "May the judge rest in peace."
Pianka reportedly died Sunday morning in the property behind his home on Ellen Avenue, though details are sketchy.
Judge Pianka was a former west side Cleveland councilman who lived in the Detroit Shoreway community his entire life, his court bio says.
He was first elected to housing court, which hears criminal cases involving violations of municipal codes and select civil cases, in 1995 and was repeatedly re-elected.
"He was loved and respected by his employees," Coleman said.
(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com). Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog with some 3.5 million views on Google Plus alone. Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com
(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com). Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog with some 3.5 million views on Google Plus alone. Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com
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