Ohio Senate Honors Life of War Hero and Former Ohio Senator Alan Zaleski

COLUMBUS—State Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) recognized the remarkable life and legacy of former Ohio Senator Alan Zaleski by presenting a resolution, on behalf of the Ohio Senate, honoring the war hero who passed on February 15.

Zaleski's wife Debra and their daughter Alison were in Senate Session on Wednesday to accept the resolution. He was born on August 12th, 1942, and was a resident of Vermilion, Ohio for the past 35 years.

Alan’s passing marks the loss of a veteran, a leader, and a beloved family man whose influence was felt by many. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Marines Corps, serving during the Vietnam War as a reconnaissance helicopter pilot, where he was awarded many medals of honor, including a Purple Heart. His commitment to our country and to his community never wavered.

A parishioner of Saint Mary Catholic Church, Alan was an active member of his community, where he served his fellow citizens as a city councilman and a county commissioner before being elected as a member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 13th District from 1982 to 1998.

Alan served with distinction on several important committees and in the 119th and 120th General Assemblies, and as the Assistant Minority Leader, a role that highlighted his leadership, vision, and dedication to serving Ohioans. Alan was friends with and worked with members on both sides of the aisle, and there was not a person he interacted with in the building that he didn’t treat with respect and kindness. 

One piece of legislation Senator Zaleski worked on that stands out is Senate Bill 195 from the 120th General Assembly. This bill sought to permit the introduction of a victim impact statement during the sentencing phase of a death penalty case. The bill’s language ultimately became part of the landmark Senate Bill 2 of the 121st General Assembly, which enacted many recommendations of the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission. This was a significant piece of legislation, and Alan's work as a cosponsor of Senate Bill 2 helped shape Ohio's criminal justice reform.

Following his time in the Senate, he successfully followed his dream of operating and owning a manufacturing company, called "Arthur Products" in Medina, Ohio. Alan's ability to work with all people, to make sure every person he worked with felt they mattered was part of what made him an impeccable leader and representative and is what his family and those who knew him say contributed to his incredible charisma.

Most notably, Alan was a loving husband to his wife of thirty-eight years, Debra, a devoted father to his children, Alison and Matthew, a caring grandfather to his grandson, Otto, and a cherished brother to his siblings, Madeline Stevens and Ronald Zaleski.  

Alan always used his talents to the benefit of others, and the achievements of his life stand as a tribute not only to him but also to those he left behind. Although the void his death has created can never be filled, the legacy of care and commitment he established will surely live on.

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