PEP Mourns the Passing of Former CEO Frank Fecser
By Eric Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Positive Education Program
Our PEP community is deeply saddened to share the passing of Dr. Frank Fecser, who served as PEP’s CEO for 20 years and dedicated more than four decades of his life to the organization and the children and families it serves.
I was first introduced to Frank early in my career at Cleveland Metropolitan School District. A tragic event turned our attention to school safety, and we quickly recognized that the answer was not only new hardware, but new Humanware as it came to be known. Dr. David Osher with American Institutes for Research became CMSD’s trusted advisor in this work. One of the first things David told me is that I had a person with deep expertise right here in our own backyard in Dr. Frank Fecser.
Frank quickly became a treasured and valued partner. He came to me as a true collaborator, showing up in his characteristic humble way. His goal was simple – he wanted to share the expertise and knowledge PEP had gained so that our CMSD scholars would have every opportunity to thrive.
It truly is a special honor to continue Frank’s legacy in my current role as PEP’s CEO, leading the agency where Frank spent his career.
Frank began his work at PEP as a teacher-counselor and went on to serve as a case manager, principal, and eventually CEO. Over those 40 years, he remained guided by a belief that defined his work from the beginning: that a trusting relationship between a child and a caring adult can change the course of a life.
As a leader, Frank embraced the Re-ED philosophy developed by Dr. Nicholas Hobbs, which continues to guide PEP’s work today. Colleagues remember Frank as humble, thoughtful, and deeply committed to the people around him. He spoke often about the dedication of PEP’s teacher-counselors and held a deep respect for the compassion, skill, and perseverance they bring to their work with children every day.
Frank’s passion for Re-ED and for children with complex needs shaped not only PEP’s programs, but also the lives of countless young people, families, educators, and partners across the region. Even after retiring in 2018, his influence continued to be felt throughout the organization.
“Re-ED begins with an attitude of unconditional caring – not just for troubled and troubling children, but for all people.”
— Dr. Frank Fecser
Those words reflect the spirit Frank brought to his work and to the PEP community. Frank’s legacy lives on in the relationships built in classrooms every day and in PEP’s continued commitment to strengthening minds with heart.
Those wishing to honor Frank’s memory may make a gift to PEP’s Frank Fecser Innovation Fund, which supports new ideas that advance PEP’s work with children and families. Please indicate that the gift is made in honor of Frank Fecser.
Find Frank Fecser's obituary here.
Pictured above: Left to right, Frank Fecser and Eric Gordon. Photo taken at 2015 PEP Rally for Kids event when Eric Gordon, then CEO of Cleveland Metropolitan School District, was the event’s honoree.
Donate to the Frank Fecser Innovation Fund