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Beloved teacher is laid to rest
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The late Michael Soroka
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Funeral services for Campbell Memorial High School teacher Michael “Mickey” Soroka, 49, who died suddenly Tuesday, were in St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church on Saturday. The Rev. Basil Marchak officiated.
By Sean Barron
CAMPBELL
Many incoming freshmen such as Ryan Phillips are naturally nervous and a bit intimidated about entering high school.
Unlike most ninth-graders, though, Ryan had Michael “Mickey” Soroka in his corner.
“He made me want to be a freshman and have him the rest of my high-school career,” Ryan, a Campbell Memorial High School junior, said of Soroka, a popular teacher who collapsed Tuesday morning in the school’s multimedia room and died a short time later. He was 49.
Ryan also was one of hundreds of students, colleagues, family members and friends who attended a Saturday morning memorial and funeral in St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church to honor the longtime teacher.
Soroka is a 1980 Campbell Memorial graduate who began teaching at the school in 1990. He taught 11th- and 12th-grade calculus and precalculus, ran the school’s Channel 19 TV studio and multimedia programs for grades nine through 12, served as assistant football coach and, in 1994, as head football coach.
Beyond his academic achievements, however, Soroka will be fondly remembered for going out of his way to help others as well as for his compassion, unselfishness and zest for life, say many who knew him.
Even though Ryan had Soroka in ninth grade only, the teacher spent time helping him with math during his sophomore year, Ryan recalled. He added that he often helped Soroka with some multimedia projects for Channel 19 and the school’s drama club.
“He was one of my best friends,” said junior Thomas Merva, who had Soroka for precalculus and multimedia classes this year. It was common, especially close to test days, for Soroka to stay after school until 7 or 8 p.m. on his own time to prepare the students for success and ensure they understood the lessons, noted Thomas, who plans to attend Youngstown State University to be a physician’s assistant.
“He never had a frown on his face; you could never be sad when in his class,” the 11th-grader said. “He’s irreplaceable.”
The two students and other people fondly recalled Soroka’s mischievous side and his penchant for coming up with countless nicknames for others — all in fun.
One of the many people who was not immune to Soroka’s playful teasing was his sister, Denise Mote, of Kent.
“He was wonderful to everyone,” said Mote, a first-year math teacher in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. “To his four nieces, he was like a second dad and mentor.”
It was typical for her younger brother, who also was a fitness buff, to rise around 4 or 5 a.m. and exercise every morning before school, she continued. Wherever Soroka went, people had positive stories to relate about him, she said, adding that Soroka offered encouragement regarding her decision to become a teacher.
Soroka, whose passions included reading science-fiction books, golfing and attending Ohio State University home football games, loved giving his time to anyone who sought him, said Keith Gates, a cousin.
When Soroka was young, his mother, Rose, sometimes read aloud portions of the Bible to improve his reading skills. “It improved his reading, but not his spelling,” Gates said to laughter before sharing several other humorous recollections.
Soroka also was a member of St. Michael’s, where he served as an altar boy during his youth.
Officiating for the service was the Rev. Basil Marchak.
Soroka was buried at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Coitsville Township. Wasko Funeral Home handled the arrangements.