Leo A. Deininger

LEO ALBERT DEININGER

January 1,1938 - August 16, 2025

Leo Deininger was an educator, a naturalist and a hiker. Leo earned his B.S. in Biology at John Carroll University and M.S. in Biology at Michigan State. He taught at Collinwood and Lincoln West High Schools and was adjunct professor at Cleveland State U and Ursuline College He wrote science curriculum for Cleveland Public Schools and conducted in-service workshops for other teachers. He was also an informal educator. He read widely and was always ready to draw on his store of knowledge to explain something to anyone who asked. He also could be relied upon explain natural phenomenon, point out interesting plants and animals, identify birds or observe weather conditions as well as recall weather records as he hiked.

His naturalist work began in the ‘60s when he was a natural resource employee at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. When teaching, he was a seasonal naturalist for several years at Brecksville and North Chagrin Metroparks. But his love of nature began much earlier as he spent most of his childhood free time in the parklands at Shaker Lakes. He began birding at age12 and was a long-time member of the Kirtland Bird Club. He learned to identify trees and native plants and could answer the question “What is it good for?”

His hiking also began as a kid when he walked everywhere (his dad did not drive, so there was no family car) and when he and his buddies would explore the Doan Brook Gorge and surrounding areas. By the time he was in college Leo was leading hikes for friends and knew most of the trails in the eastside Metroparks. He joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1974 hiking over 39,000 miles with the club both locally and abroad. (Slovenia was a favorite.)

Leo and his wife, Ruth own a tree farm in Coshocton County which they manage using forestry best management practices. They have taken advantage of many Department of Agriculture grants to address natural resource concerns. The forest is managed for timber and wildlife as well as personal enjoyment.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Helen Steigerwald Deininger, and brothers Robert and Larry (Wiletta) and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ruth Skuly, sisters-in-law Marie Toth (Louis) and Barbara Skuly (David), many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

At Leo’s request, there will be no services, his ashes will be scattered at a favorite place of his, and there will be a celebration of his life later this summer.