George L. Kiteley

George Leon Kiteley, passed away peacefully at his home in Olmsted Township on September 10, 2025 from pancreatic cancer. Born in Longmont, Colorado, May 30, 1944 to John and Elizabeth Kiteley (deceased) and preceded in death by Janiece Kelley-Kiteley, his beloved wife of 32 years and brother Sam. Survived by brother John, sister-in-law Theresa, stepson Shawn Kelley (Ju), grandson Rondo, loving nieces and nephews and Karen Kannenberg Seifert, his ‘significant other’ for more than a decade.  

George left Colorado in 1971 to become the first full-time Professor of Percussion at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, and remained in this position until his retirement in 2000. In addition to his percussion work at BW, he directed the BW Jazz Band for 20 years. As a performer, he was timpanist and principal percussionist with the Ohio Chamber Orchestra and Cleveland Ballet for the entire run of those two entities, and later with the subsequent “Red {An Orchestra}”. He also founded Battu, a percussion ensemble in residence at BW focusing on world music.

In recent years George’s performing included the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Blossom Festival Band, Warren, Mansfield and Lakeside/Chautauqua Symphonies, the Strongsville Community Band and Cleveland TOPS Swing Band with whom he played his final performance on August 20, 2025. He was a self-proclaimed “man with too many interests.” His lifelong interest in clocks became a meaningful part of retirement with a part-time position repairing clocks at Suburban Clock and Repair in Berea.

George was the youngest of three brothers who shared a passion for music and the outdoors. Their youth was filled with hiking, skiing, and mountain climbing – activities that remained with him throughout his life. The Kiteley family cabin near the Wild Basin entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park held a special place in George’s heart. He was grateful to return to this place of happiness and hike a month before his death.

A concert in celebration of George’s life will be presented by the Strongsville Community Band and the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of the Performing Arts on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 7 pm in Gamble Auditorium in the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Kulas Musical Arts Building (96 Front Street, Berea, 44017). The program will include performances by former students and special friends.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Strongsville Community Band https://www.strongsvillecommunityband.com/#donate, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts https://www.bw.edu/schools/conservatory/support/ or the charity of your choice. 

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