JAMES C. REDINGER, age 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 15, 2024. He was the son of the late Catherine "Kitty" Collins and Ruel Otis Redinger, born in Canonsburg, PA on March 21, 1937. Jim was the youngest of four children, Patricia Redinger Lee, Ruel Otis Redinger Jr. and Thomas Buffington Redinger.  The family moved to Bay Village, OH in 1941 when Jim was five and remained there until the late 1990s.

Jim loved to compete in nearly every sport. He earned 10 varsity letters at Bay High School in football, basketball and baseball. He was captain of the baseball team in 1954, captain of the basketball team in 1954-55, and captain of Bay's only undefeated football team in 1954. He played both catcher and pitcher in high school and threw a no-hitter during his senior year. Jim was recognized as one of the top players in all of Ohio for both football and baseball capturing attention from the likes of The Cleveland Indians and multiple universities. He was inducted in the Bay High Athletic Hall of Fame and was honored with the Otto Graham Award for his accomplishments in football. Proudly, he accepted a full athletic scholarship to Purdue University and lettered in varsity football as a fullback (#40) from 1957-1958. He played professional football in the American Football League with the Boston Patriots before it merged with the NFL as we know today.

In 1959, he received a degree in Economics from Purdue University. After graduation, Jim joined the US Air Force Reserves and became a military police office (MP) while there. He married Elizabeth "Liz" Ann Gustason on September 9, 1961 at St. Raphael Catholic Church, Bay Village, OH. He is survived by his wife Liz, James Michael and Barb, Jill Ann and Mike, Andrew Thomas and Gina, Patrick Collins and Laura,
Susan Elizabeth and Chris. Jim and Liz were married for 62 years and have 15 grandchildren.

Jim and Liz were high school sweethearts attending Bay Village school together. He was extremely devoted to his family and community coaching teams at St. Raphael Catholic Church in CYO leagues, in Bay Recreation leagues and at Bay Village High School leading all to multiple playoff berths and championships but more importantly changing the lives of many along the way. To this day, his players still talk about the important life-lessons Jim taught them through sports.

Jim's professional career began in the 1960s with Proctor & Gamble. He entered the financial industry in 1971 with JN Russell, eventually joining McDonald & Company, Key Bank, and UBS. While at McDonald and Key Bank he was Managing Director of the Equity Division.

Jim was a fair, kind, deeply loving, sincere, an ever-giving husband, father, grandpa, uncle, coach, mentor, co-worker and friend to many throughout his life. He always put others interests and needs in front of his own. He taught us how to be not only successful but a servant to others. His personal interests were music, the outdoors, animals and horses and travel out West. Jim and Liz enjoyed trips to Jackson Hole, WY staying at the R Lazy S Ranch together. He and Liz built JLR Stables in Marblehead, OH where they enjoyed owning horses together. He will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, tribute donations can be made to Cleveland Catholic Charities – Diocese of Cleveland. This is a great way to honor, recognize and remember Jim Redinger by giving back to others in need or less fortunate. Tribute donations can be given online or through the mail. If you would like to mail your donation, send to: Catholic Community Foundation, 1404 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44114. For online, go to ccdocle.org and locate Tribute Donations.

Friends received at THE ZEIS-McGREEVEY FUNERAL HOME, 16105 DETROIT AVE. LAKEWOOD , from 3-7 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 . A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, March 21, at 10:30 AM, at St. Raphael Church, 525 Dover Center Rd., Bay Village.  Please meet at church.  Private family interment at Lakewood Park Cemetery.

Arrangements by LATEK & RYBICKI, A GOLDEN RULE FUNERAL HOME. (440-546-5353)