Russell E. Nightengale
Russell E. Nightengale, 87, of Mentor, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Russ spent the last 56 years as a proud resident of Lake County.
Russ taught and coached in Bridgeport, Ohio, and at Triadelphia High School in Wheeling before moving to Ohio, where he served at Eastlake North, the Willoughby Tech Center, and Ledgemont High School.
He was the cherished father of Russell S. Nightengale and Melissa N. (Frank) Geric, and the loving grandfather of Dr. Katherine M. Geric and Dominic J. Nightengale. He adored his grandchildren—his pride in them never dimmed, and he was still telling everyone how wonderfully they were doing. We hope he is watching over us now, witnessing our life moments from heaven.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marjorie Gehringer Nightengale, his parents Russel W. “Pap“and Regina “Gam” (Kusenski) Nightengale, and his sister Joanne Knicely. He leaves behind nieces and nephews who meant the world to him: Mark Brown, Cheryl Brown, Kellie White, Greg Thorngate, Eric Thorngate, Michelle Thorngate Hall, Justin Anthony, Meggan Pasqualla, and Caleb Futey. Russ was the last patriarch of both sides of our family.
Calling hours will be held Friday, March 6th from 4–6 p.m. at Mentor Presbyterian Church, 5885 Hopkins Road, Mentor, Ohio. A celebration of life service (casual dress encouraged) will begin at 6 p.m. Friends are invited to share their funniest “Russ stories”—his final request. A second celebration of life in Wheeling, West Virginia will be planned for this summer.
A Life of Stories, Service, and Heart
Russ grew up modestly in Wheeling, learning the value of hard work and the joy of family. Gam and Russ were the silly ones—always laughing. Pap once nailed a peach basket to a tree and wired up a single lightbulb so Dad could practice basketball into the night. Russ made varsity as a freshman, went on to make the West Virginia All-State team in 1956 with Jerry West, and attended West Virginia University, West Liberty University, and Bethany College, where he earned his degree in Biology and Education. He quickly returned to Triadelphia to teach and coach, leading his boys’ team to the 1968 OVAC Championship. He also worked as a park ranger at Oglebay Park.
Russ was a gifted storyteller—often at his own expense—and we will be sharing those legendary tales at the service. If Russ was in the room, something hilarious was bound to happen. He loved his family, his students, and his friends with fierce loyalty. He noticed the small things, especially when someone felt left out, and quietly stepped in to help. That was Russ.
His teaching career began in 1960. During the space race, he secured grants that allowed him to build a state-of-the-art Biology wet lab and launch an AP program. Professors from nearby colleges toured his classroom and even borrowed his lesson plans. He taught AP Biology, Physiology, and coached men’s basketball, always with humor and energy. Many of his “kids,” as he called his students, still keep in touch.
An Ohio Legacy
When the family moved to Mentor, it was because a friend from Wheeling had built a state-of-the-art high school—and Russ was ready for a real gym. He and several colleagues drove to Edinboro College after school to earn their master’s degrees, even through the famous blizzards (and yes, dad got straight A’s—he was smart, even if he was silly).
He later became a guidance counselor at North and won Teacher of the Year. He coached boys’ cross country and led the 1971 team to the GCC Championship; they were inducted into the North High Sports Hall of Fame. He fought for girls’ sports during the early days of Title IX, securing equal court time and building a powerhouse program. His starting five all earned Division I scholarships at Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Ohio University, and Cleveland State. That team was inducted into the Eastlake North Hall of Fame in 2008. Russ was named Coach of the Year five times. True to form, he spent entire games on his feet—every second mattered.
We are all living legacies to the “Leader of the Band”
Family, Fun, and the Stories We’ll Never Forget
As a small family in a new town, we built a life with other teachers and our St. Paul’s church family. Russ never forgot his humble beginnings, often working two extra jobs while teaching. But when he was home, he made sure life was fun. He built Scott a minibike track with jumps in the woods, poured a concrete basketball court, and embodied full-on Clark Griswold energy—especially on our annual Disney World road trips.
There are countless stories—many involving Dad getting hurt through his own chaos (or maybe a bit of (“Missy’s assistance”).
Pets were a huge part of Dad’s heart. He cared for ours and any strays he met along the way. One year we got Marge a kitten—but the very next day, Tigger chose Dad as his person. They were inseparable. In Dad’s final days, that cat kept vigil right beside him. We’re certain Tigger was the first pet in line to greet him in heaven.
Strength Through Illness
Around 2020, Russ began battling Myasthenia Gravis, a cruel and progressive disease. His home health aides kept him in his wheelchair as long as possible, and Ohio Living Hospice treated him with respect and dignity—seeing him as a man, not a diagnosis. Even when he could no longer walk, family and friends came to sit with him, watch games, and share memories.
He will be remembered as a loving husband, a gentleman, a teacher, a coach, a mentor, and a friend—but to Scott and Missy, he will always be the best father we could ever have had.
In Lieu of Flowers
Donations to the family will support future programs in Russ’s honor. For those wishing to donate to the Oglebay Foundation, we are planning a memorial bench at Schenk Lake—please mark contributions “Russ Nightengale Bench.”
We also plan to create a foundation in his name to provide sports equipment—so no child has to use a peach basket to play basketball. Donations marked “to family” will be stewarded for this purpose.