Edward F. Villella

Edward Fiore Villella

Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Educator, and Servant of Faith May 24, 1952 – May 21, 2025

Ed Villella, a devoted educator, steadfast man of faith, and proud Pittsburgh native, passed away peacefully, at home on May 21, surrounded by his loving family. Ed was the patriarch and the heart of his family. A truly remarkable man, he was a humble soul whose quiet strength and love will forever guide us.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ed carried a deep love for his hometown throughout his life. He instilled his passion for the city - its culture, traditions, and especially its revered Steelers - into his children. A loyal fan through and through, he and his wife Kathy have been Pittsburgh Steelers season ticket holders since 1972, proudly donning black and gold for over five decades. He was also a proud alumnus of South Hills Catholic.

Ed’s professional life was defined by an unwavering commitment to education and leadership. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1974 and an MBA in 1979, both from Youngstown State University, where he also served as a Graduate Assistant in the Marketing Department. In 1988, he completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Kent State University.

He began his academic career at Kent State University’s Regional Campuses in 1979 and continued teaching there until his retirement 37 years later. He taught business courses in management, leadership, marketing, and sales at both the associate and bachelor’s levels. In addition to teaching, he held administrative roles.

Ed lived out his personal values through service and mentorship to his family, his church, and his community.

He served his church faithfully as both a lector and Eucharistic minister. He and Kathy were a marriage sponsor couple for many years. Guided by a deep and abiding Catholic faith and a profound devotion to St. Therese, Ed’s spiritual life was the foundation of his identity. His faith shaped his every role – son, brother, husband, father, uncle, godfather, and friend - and guided his every decision.

He refereed high school basketball for 15 years and had the pleasure of coaching his children’s sports teams - experiences he truly enjoyed and experiences his children may cherish more as adults than at the time he was “Coach Dad”.

Fulfilling his vow of “in sickness and in health,” Ed retired early to become the full-time caregiver to his beloved wife, providing her with a life full of dignity and joy surrounded by family and friends. It was a role he embraced with love, grace, and compassion. He had an immense love for vacationing at the beach and made sure the family continued to vacation together despite physical challenges faced in the past several years. Big Ed was a simple soul whose family was always at the root of his daily prayers, and a man who made friends quickly feel they were family, too.

Ed is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Kathleen (Coppola) Villella; his children Samantha Villella (Daniel Thomas), Nikki (Ryan) Snyder, and Brent (Stefanie) Villella; his grandchildren Nico, Ella, and Esmae (arriving in June) and his sister Janet Basso. He also leaves many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Edward and Angela (Panzino) Villella, his sister Diane Hirak, and his grandson Stryker Snyder.

Ed’s family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all those who lovingly cared for him over the past two years, especially in his final days. A special thank you to Jamie, Julie, Christy, Courtney, Mary Ellen, Kim, and McKenna, as well as the dedicated teams at Akeso Home Health Care, Harmony Hospice Care, Mercy Health Boardman 4 South, and the Cleveland Clinic - including Dr. Hill, Chris, and Catherine. Their unwavering love, compassion, and commitment brought great comfort to Ed and his family and will never be forgotten.

A special thank you goes to Julie, whose extraordinary care for Dad went above and beyond. Her compassion, dedication, and unwavering love are a true testament to her calling and commitment to caring for others. Our family is forever grateful.

Ed’s legacy will live on through the countless students he mentored, the lives he touched with his kindness and faith, and the family he loved and protected fiercely.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 27 from 4 -7 p.m. at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Boardman-Canfield Chapel (3701 Starr Centre Drive, Canfield OH 44406) and on Wednesday, May 28 from 10 - 10:45 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, St. Charles Borromeo Church (7345 Westview Drive, Boardman OH 44512). Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM.

One of Ed’s deepest prayers was that Kathy could remain in their home, surrounded by comfort and care. In honoring that wish, any contribution will go toward continuing in-home care for Kathy. Contributions can be sent via Venmo to @Kathleen-Villella or mailed to Kathy at P.O. Box 113, Canfield, Ohio 44406. Additionally, donations may be made in Ed’s memory to the Silver Lining Cancer Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 401, Canfield, Ohio 44406.