George Janik, ’56, was a true Kent State champion, passionate businessman, leader, outstanding athlete, and above all, devoted family man.
George grew up in Slavic Village in Cleveland with three siblings and parents who came to America from Serbia and Croatia. Neither of his parents spoke English upon their arrival, and finances were very tight. Despite these challenges and other hardships growing up, George was surrounded by a loving family and determined to succeed.
George graduated from Cleveland South High School in 1948. At first, college was out of the question given there was no money, so he took a job at Erie Railroad and later joined the U.S. Navy. After working those jobs for a few years, he realized he wanted more out of life. That’s when he discovered Kent State University.
“Family was important to him so Kent State was a logical choice rather than leaving to attend a school far away,” his son, Greg Janik, said. “It was a choice he was proud of.”
Being a first-generation college student can be challenging, but George immediately took advantage of all that Kent State offered. He hoped to become a teacher and coach, so he majored in education with concentrations in speech and history. He made the most out of his time at Kent State and joined the Sigma Nu Fraternity and played on the baseball team as an outstanding catcher.
“It was a privilege for him to go to college. He was a nose-to-the-grindstone type of guy who studied hard,” his daughter, Lisa Graham, ’88, said. And it showed. After his first year, he received an academic scholarship.
If that wasn’t enough, he also worked two jobs on the weekend. It was at one of these jobs, while sweeping sidewalks at Captain Brady’s, that he met the love of his life, Nellie Lou, ’54.
“My mom would regularly walk past Captain Brady’s on the way to her classes, completely oblivious to him, but my dad noticed her every day ,” Lisa said. “She was involved in Delta Gamma sorority and other organizations on campus and was also very dedicated to her studies, just like my dad.”
Both he and his wife were passionate about music. Their love of music radiated through his family life. George and Nellie brought the family to campus every year for the Kent State Folk Festival, and it became a cherished tradition both Greg and Lisa will always remember. Kent State was a huge part of their family life.
Not only did Kent State bring him his future wife, but another unexpected encounter in the student union led him to change his career path. During his senior year, George injured his leg playing baseball and started spending a lot more time in the student union. When corporate recruiters came on campus for students to meet with, George cleaned the only suit he had and set up interviews with General Electric, IBM and others.
“He described it as love at first sight with IBM. He felt like the position had everything that he was looking for and it was also a company dedicated to giving back to communities and encouraging their employees to get involved,” Lisa said.
He was hired his senior year, launching the start of a successful 31-year career with IBM and served as branch manager of the Cleveland Division.
During his time at IBM, Janik never forgot about Kent State, and he continued to embody the Golden Flash spirit of giving back.
He was involved with the Kent State Alumni Association, Blue and Gold Club, the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) and Kent State athletic organizations. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988 for his impressive baseball career.
He also served as a member of Kent State’s Board of Trustees and was appointed chairman of the board in 1977. After leaving that role, Anthony Petrarca, the current chairman of the board at the time, said in a 1987 press release, “George Janik served Kent State University with special care, quality and enthusiasm for more than 13 years. His counsel to three presidents and his close work with over 20 trustees were invaluable. Few will ever fully know the hours that he devoted to promoting and extending the quality of academic, student and business affairs of the University.”
Upon retiring from the Board of Trustees, George served as the Goodyear Chair in Free Enterprise at the Business School. He taught undergraduate business classes and served as an advisor to Students in Free Enterprise, a former student organization.
“He loved Kent State and giving back was just what he believed in and his responsibility,” Lisa said. “He enjoyed being around students and believed if you are interested you will make the time, get involved and you can make positive things happen.”
He and his wife created the George Janik Endowed Scholarship at Kent State to encourage students from their hometown of Hudson, Ohio, to pursue higher education.
“He taught me so much growing up and helped to instill strong values in me and my brother. He was a profound leader in all he did,” Lisa said. “He had a strong mindset, was incredibly loyal and loved to tell jokes. He knew how to connect with people and was always the guy starting up a conversation with just about anyone he came in contact with.”
George was committed to Kent State University, spending decades offering his time, talent and treasure to provide students with the same kind of collegiate experience that shaped him as a young man. Though George passed away on Sept. 5 at the age of 94, his legacy at Kent State University will live on for generations to come. Janik Drive, which runs past the Design Innovation Hub near Stopher and Johnson halls, honors his service to the university. It is only one of the many lasting marks George Janik left upon Kent State.