Ann Slezak

Long-time Middletown restaurateur and caterer Ann Slezak, 94, passed away Friday March 20, at Atrium Medical Center following a brief illness. She and her late husband, Victor, opened The Clock Restaurant on Tytus Avenue in 1947. She continued to operate the well-known eatery and catering service after his death in 1983, working until she closed its doors in 2002.

The Slezaks were known for their generosity to the community. They frequently donated food and services to various community and church fund-raisers and provided meals to many at no charge. Their legacy was an annual spaghetti dinner for the benefit of the American Cancer Society Middletown Unit, begun in the mid-1970s after Vics first cancer diagnosis. Upon his death, the dinner was named the Victor M. Slezak Memorial Dinner. Ann continued to host the event for nearly 20 years after her husbands passing.

Born Annina Maria Gervasio in the tiny village of Bisaccia, Italy in 1920, she was the daughter of Antonio and Isabella (Piccolella) Gervasio. Her sister, Carmella (Gervasio) Pappano pre-deceased her as did two sisters and one brother who died in childhood. She is survived by her children Rose Huber (Walter) and Fred Slezak (Ruth); grandchildren David Ebbesmeyer, Angie Slezak, Greg Huber (Beth), Doug Huber (Noel) and Ken Huber (Lori); great-grandson, Ian Ebbesmeyer; and many special nieces, nephews and friends from the Middletown community, especially Holy Family Parish.

Known for her loquacious personality, Ann loved to talk about her coming to America in 1930 at age 9, after her father insisted the family leave southern Italy, where little Annina was forced to serve as a Mussolini soldierette at age 7. While both she and Vic (who emigrated from Brataslava, Czechoslovakia at age 4, in 1924) faced prejudice upon their arrival in the United States, throughout their lives they were fiercely patriotic.

Ann also loved to talk about her years in business during which she (Mrs. Clock) was especially known for her Italian meatballs and for catering nearly 2, 000 weddings for Middletonians spanning three generations. Even as her physical health declined, she remained sharp as a tack mentally and she continued to give to others through her crocheting, a skill she learned from the nuns in Italy at age 3. A myriad of relatives and friends have been the recipients of hand-crafted afghans; more than 100 chemo-therapy patients at Atrium Medical Center have received her personally designed caps; and another 100-plus Hospice patients have been provided with the cheerfully colored blankets she created.

Services for Ann are scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at Holy Family Parish-St. John Church. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m at church with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Parish 201 Clark St. Middletown, OH 45042.

Funeral Home:
Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding
3805 Roosevelt Blvd.
Middletown, OH
US 45044