Harry Herman Schlievert Feb 18, 1925 – May 22, 2021
Harry H. Schlievert passed at the age of 96 on May 22, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. Born of Arthur W and Mildred (Lister) Schlievert, Harry lived his full life in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Hamilton Elementary School, then Woodward HS. He worked into his teens alongside his uncle, father and grandfather at his family’s butcher shop, the Schlievert Meat Market on Mulberry St. It was in high school that he took up the trumpet and played in a band with schoolmates who then became lifelong friends. After graduating from Woodward in 1943, he joined the Army Air Corps and became a flight officer, and was almost sent to the front lines when the war then ended. He had many stories about his flying days and had a fascination for airplanes ever since. Upon his return to Toledo, he earned his education degree at The University of Toledo, and began his 35 year career with Toledo Public Schools, 22 of which were at Franklin Elementary School from where many of his former students still remember him fondly. He then taught instrumental music at several Toledo junior high schools until he retired in 1986. Throughout his teaching career, and for years after into his 80’s, he also taught private music lessons in brass and winds at many of the music stores and schools in Toledo including DePrisco Music, Bleckner’s, Grinnell’s, Penguin Music, Dr. Dave’s and also at Ursula Cauffiel and Forte Music Schools. It was his music career that brought he and his wife, singer Mary Ann Russo, together resulting in marriage in 1952. They were married for 50 years.
Though trumpet was his first instrument, Harry also taught himself to play the flute and saxophone. Early in his career he played with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Zoo Band. He worked with many jazz and big bands in the area including Jack Runyan, Johnny Knorr, Tony Celeste, Jerry DePrisco, the Rusty’s Big Band, the Toledo Jazz Orchestra, and even the German American Festival Band. He played at the Sports Arena ice shows, circuses and once with the Lawrence Welk Band.
Harry had many passions, the first being music. As a youth, he impressed friends with his tap dancing. As an adult he loved classic foreign cars, airplanes, Detroit Tigers baseball, supporting social and environmental causes. He loved Mary Ann’s cooking, and his wine and cigars until his late 80’s. He was a dedicated and supportive father to his four children and their five grandchildren. He loved cracking a joke even into his 90’s, and his sense of humor and ready smile charmed all that knew him.
Harry is survived by his sister, Virginia Nelson(CA), children Lisa Young, Tina Schlievert, Franz Schlievert (Sandy Powell), Mia (Dan) Kujawa , grandchildren Nick Vitou, Adrian (Erica) Vitou, Zoe Young, Karly Schlievert and Bennett Kujawa, and great-grandchildren, Bronson and Claire Vitou as well as nephews , Dennis (Sharon) Wieland, Bill Crawford, Dave Crawford and niece Jan Schlievert. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and “buddy in jazz”, Frank Russo and his children Melissa, Nino, Suzette and Sam.
Harry’s family would like to thank the health care heroes of Oak Leaf Village/The Grove, Flower & Toledo Hospitals, Mercy Health Care, and Perrysburg Hospice of NW Ohio for their continuous compassionate care.
Visitation will be held at Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania OH on Friday, June 18th from 4-8:00 pm with a memorial service on Saturday, June 19th at 11:00am.
The family asks that donations be made to The Nature Conservancy, the University of Toledo Bernard Sanchez Scholarship Fund (payable to UT Foundation), the Mary Ann Russo Memorial Scholarship (payable to Toledo School for the Arts), or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Online condolences to reebfuneralhome.com
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