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Nick R. Drazich, 92 , of Steubenville, Ohio, passed away Friday, April 13, 2018 at Trinity West. He was born in Steubenville, son of the late Radonja and Dragica Wukelic Drazich. Nick graduated from Steubenville High School, enlisted in the Army and was a waist gunner on the B-24 Liberator with the 15th Army Air Force, 460th Bomb Squadron stationed in Italy. On his second mission over Germany, his plane was hit and crashed into the Adriatic Sea in the dark of night. Nick, being a certified lifeguard, had to locate the life rafts on the plane's wings, inflate them, and helped three of his buddies and himself into the life raft. For this he received The Soldier's Medal. He also received the Purple Heart and Air Medal. After R&R, he flew 21 more missions. Nick was a graduate of The Ohio State University and received a Masters Degree in Elementary Industrial Arts and Minor Degree in Lifesaving and Drivers Training. He was very active in the Red Cross and taught swimming at the YMCA He also taught swimming at the Steubenville Country Club. He was a boy scout and remained an active member going to summer camps. He began his teaching career at Wintersville Junior High. A year later, he became a teacher and then principal in the Steubenville City School System. He accepted a principal position in the Indian Creek Schools and remained at Indian Creek until he officially retired after thirty-six years. He then became a substitute teacher throughout Jefferson County for twenty years. Nick was an active member of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church. He was a former financial secretary, tutor and church Kum. He was a member of the Serbian Men's Club. Nick was the first editor of the church bulletin, The Herald. He also was active with the Diocesan Summer Camp in Shadeland, Pa., serving as arts & crafts director. Nick also supported and sponsored a Bosnian war orphan. Nick was a life member of the National Education Association, Ohio Retired Teachers Association and The Ohio State Alumni Association. He enjoyed taking kids for their first exposure at an OSU football game. He was also a member of Pilgrim Lodge 691 F & AM, American Legion Argonne Post #33 and was a 2005 Herald Star Community Star. He was a football and basketball official in the Ohio Valley. He enjoyed going to flea markets, garage and yard sales and planting flowers and trees. He traveled throughout the USA and Europe. He was an avid reader of westerns. Nick was preceded in death by brothers Peter and Bill Drazich; sister Mildred Drazich Mamula; niece Doreen Woods and sister-in-law Danica Zatezalo. He is survived by Mary Sladoje Drazich, his wife of 62 years; sisters-in-law Ann Lawhorne of Summerfield, NC and Mildred Prosser of Columbus; brothers-in-law, Mark Sladoje of Columbus, Donald Sladoje of Ocala, FL. and George Sladoje of Glenview IL; cousins Steve (Eleanor) Drazich of Wintersville and Ella (Perry) Lazic of North Canton and many special nieces and nephews. Friends may call at Shorac Funeral Home (formerly McClave Funeral Home), 611 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, Ohio on Sunday 3-7 p.m. On Monday, friends may call at Holy Resurrection Serbian Church, 530 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, Ohio, from 10 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m. with Very Rev. Rade Merick officiating. Burial at Union Cemetery, Steubenville, Ohio. Pomen services 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad will conduct military services at the cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Holy Resurrection Serbian Church or Holy Resurrection Cemetery Endowment Fund.
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