By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - About eight years ago, Jerry Babik and his wife, Susan, moved from their home in Madeira to a retirement community in Mason. They made the move not only for their own benefit, but for others as well.

"He moved because he wanted to give up that which entangled him. He didn't want to take care of the yard and those things anymore. He wanted to focus entirely on serving the people of his church and community - to keep the main things in life the main things in his life," said his son-in-law, J. Todd Snyder of Mansfield.

Jerry F. Babik, a former Cincinnati Bell Information Systems employee, died Tuesday at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash of prostate cancer. He was 72.

"He was above and beyond honorable in a time when doing the honorable thing isn't always done," his son-in-law said.

"He will be remembered for always doing the right thing. He and my mother worked together as a team and befriended a huge amount of people over the years. They built great friendships over time," said his son, David Babik of Florence.

Born and raised in Cleveland to Czechoslovakian immigrant parents, Mr. Babik was a star pitcher for Cleveland South High School, where he graduated as valedictorian in 1950.

He continued his education at Ohio State University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in social administration in 1954. He graduated summa cum laude.

Mr. Babik served in the Army's 4th Armored Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1955 to 1957. He then moved to Cincinnati, where his wife, Susan, had been a student at Cincinnati Bible College.

He worked as an engineer and systems analyst for Proctor & Gamble before he accepted a position in 1969 with the Allis-Chalmers Corp.

Mr. Babik then worked for Cincinnati Bell Information Systems from 1984 until his retirement in 1992.

He was passionate about the Cincinnati Reds, often watching the games on TV with the sound turned down and the radio volume up.

He was active in both the Madeira community and the Madeira Church of Christ, where he served as an elder, deacon and Sunday-school teacher.

In addition to his wife of 50 years, son and son-in-law, survivors include another son, Roger W. of Walton; a daughter, Linda A. Snyder of Mansfield; and nine grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Hodapp Funeral Home, 8815 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, West Chester. A second visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Friday at Madeira Church of Christ, 7421 E. Galbraith Road, Madeira. Service will follow at 11 a.m.

Burial will be in Grape Grove Cemetery, Ross Township, Greene County.

Memorials: Master Provisions, P.O. Box 17245, Covington, 41017-0245.

E-mail nhamilton@enquirer.com