Finance Director Jerry Apple Battled Cancer, But Kept Working

Jerry Apple fought cancer for months, but most people didn't know it — he showed up for work as  Fairlawn's Finance Director for as long as he could.

"He worked almost till the end," Mayor William Roth said. "Jerry wanted to just keep doing his job."

Apple, 70, died last week. A service was held Sunday in Akron.

Roth remembers him as a hard worker.

"He really put the city first. His integrity was second to none," Roth said.

Both Roth and Apple were elected to City Council in 1995. In 2003, Apple ran for finance director.

He was most recently re-elected to the post in 2011.

In addition to his city work, Apple was an accounting professor at the University of Akron.

Roth said that unless someone files petitions to run for the seat by next week, Tax Administrator Patricia Bertsch will serve in the position until a new finance director is elected in 2014.

"It's a big loss," Roth said. "I really enjoyed working with him. He was a nice guy."