Tom Bernabei ’68

Tom Bernabei ’68, of Canton, Ohio; Dec. 11, following a brief illness. After Brown, he served four years in the U.S. Army as a captain, including one tour of duty in Vietnam. He graduated at the top of his class from Ohio State University’s law school in 1975. He began his long and distinguished career in public service as an assistant prosecutor in Massillon Municipal Court. He later served as an assistant law director in Canton and was elected Canton law director in 1989. After retiring in 2000, he was elected to the Canton City Council and served one term as councilman-at-large. He subsequently worked as the director of public service in Canton from 2008 to 2009 and as Stark Area Regional Transit Authority’s interim executive director in 2009. He was elected Stark county Commissioner and served from 2010 to 2015. He served as the mayor of Canton for two terms (2016 –2023) and led Canton through several landmark projects that included the development of Centennial Plaza. He is survived by wife Bebe Bernabei, three children and their spouses, five grandchildren, and a sister.