William S. Gaskill

William Stickel Gaskill, former Administrator of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and former Director of Administration of the law firm Jones Day, was born to Lova and Dillen Gaskill on February 26, 1939, in Randolph Township, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Burke; four children, Graham, Christopher, Kelly Anne Sustar, and Shannon Marie Seward; and nine grandchildren (Lois, Monica, Kanan, Rory, William, Shay, Brooks, Poppy and Teddy). He was predeceased by a daughter, Allison, and his brother, James.

Bill attended Randolph High School and was active in school activities, including serving as chair of the Junior Council on World Affairs, Dayton region. After graduating with honors from Ohio Wesleyan University, receiving his Master's in Governmental Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and serving in the Army, he entered public service with the City of East Cleveland, where he served as City Manager. As City Manager, he demonstrated his lifelong belief in fairness and equality and was beloved by the community. Bill also served as Director of Public Utilities for the City of Cleveland (Stokes Administration), Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Washington, D.C., and County Administrator of Cuyahoga County (1973-1979). He retired from public service in 1980 and became the Firm Director of Administration for the law firm Jones Day. He served in that role for 29 years. When he began his service at Jones Day, the firm had four offices in the United States. When he retired in 2009, there were 32 offices around the world.

Although he joined the private sector, Bill never truly left public service. He served on the MetroHealth Medical System board of trustees for 32 years, including several terms as board chair. After his board service, he volunteered as an infant caregiver in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. His volunteer community service also included serving as President of the Citizens League, President of the National Association of County Administrators, adjunct professor and member of the Visiting Committee at the Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs, the Ohio Supreme Court’s Futures Commission, the board of Ruffing Montessori School, and various other community organizations.

Above all, Bill was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He showed his family what it means to work hard, love deeply, and put family first. He took great pride in his wife's achievements, including serving as the first female President of the Ohio State Bar Association and the first female Director of the Ohio Lottery, and completing her career as a Federal Magistrate Judge.

He was a mentor to many, including those who worked with him in government and at Jones Day; family members; and friends. In addition to MetroHealth, his passions and interests included classical music (especially the Cleveland Orchestra), railroads, and World War II.

Bill’s kindness was something he lived every day — caring for others, showing up without expecting anything in return, and carrying a quiet strength that those around him came to rely on. He believed in people, often seeing in them what they had not yet seen in themselves, and giving them the confidence to reach for it. He held a special tenderness for his grandchildren, who will always carry with them the feeling of being safe in his arms. His legacy is found not in his titles or accomplishments, but in the people he loved and the family he built.

A reception for friends and family will be held at the Brown-Forward Funeral Home, 17022 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH 44120, on Saturday, September 12, at a time to be determined. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the MetroHealth Foundation, with the designation to the James W. Campbell MD, MS Endowment in Geriatric Medicine. 

https://www.metrohealth.org/en/foundation/donate/endowment-giving/