Rick Amos, whose record of public service in the Perry community spanned more than 30 years, died on Dec. 20. Amos, who was 74 years old and resided in Perry Township, died after a battle with cancer. He finished a 20-year stretch as a Perry Township trustee at the end of 2023. Previously, Amos was a member of the Perry School Board for 14 years. Amos will be deeply missed by many people in the Perry community, said Perry Township Trustee Robert Dawson. “Rick contributed a great deal to the positive way of life we enjoy here in Perry,” Dawson said. “Rick and I were similarly involved in public service over the years and he was always somebody that I could run things by and get a fresh and intelligent perspective from. I will miss him as a good friend and associate.” Amos graduated from Perry High School in 1968. He served as class president during all four years of high school; as vice president of the student council as a junior, and as student council president during his senior year. He was a member of the Perry School Board from January 1990 through December 2003. The district’s current School Board and administration “all are deeply saddened by Rick’s passing,” said board President Nicole Trefzger. “His life was devoted to making the Perry Schools and the Perry community a better place,” she said. “He exemplified his love for Perry through his years on the school board and as a township trustee, as well as countless other contributions through the years. We will miss him dearly and wish his family and friends peace in this time of sorrow.” Amos was in the midst of a fourth four-year term on Perry School Board when Perry Township trustees contacted him in December 2003 about an immediate vacancy on their panel. Amos was asked if he wanted to succeed Trustee Thomas Advey, who died of cancer on Dec. 2, 2003. He accepted and then in 2005 ran unopposed to finish out the final two years of Advey’s unexpired term. From there, he went on to win a string of four-year terms spanning from 2007 to 2019. Perry Township trustees are elected by voters not only from the township; but also Perry and North Perry villages. During most of his years as a trustee, Amos functioned as the panel’s chairman. He also served on boards of directors for groups such as the Perry Area Joint Recreation District; the Perry High School Alumni Association; the Perry Foundation; the Greater Cleveland Cemetery Association and the Lake County Township Association. Perry Village Councilman Phil Cassella got to work closely with Amos when they both served on the Perry Area Joint Recreation District Board. “From my standpoint, everything I was able to garner from Rick really led me to kind of follow in his footsteps, as far as his leadership style was concerned,” said Cassella, who served 15 years on council. Cassella was appointed to fill a Perry Village Council vacancy in 2008 and elected to his first four-year term on the panel in 2009. Village voters then re-elected Cassella to council in 2013, 2017 and 2021. He decided to retire from council at the end of 2023, two years before his latest term was set to expire. For Cassella, serving with Amos on the recreation district board was a great learning experience. Amos was so knowledgeable about so many different areas, Casella said. “And he taught me about being patient and making decisions and taking all factors into consideration,” Cassella said. “Even though he was younger than me, he taught me a great deal of things that I was able to implement in my own career.” Rick Amos (Courtesy of Perry Township) Amos wrapped up 34 consecutive years as an elected official when he decided to not seek a new term in the November 2023 General Election. Amos said one of his proudest accomplishments as a trustee was being part of a board that spearheaded construction of the Perry Community Center and worked to ensure that programming for senior citizens would take place in that building. Amos, who was also a 1972 graduate of Bowling Green State University, said some other key achievements which occurred during his tenure on the trustee board included: • Enhancing Township Park with new playground equipment and upgrades to the site’s baseball fields. • Installation of three columbariums at Center Road Cemetery. Each columbarium contains 32 niches for the above-ground placement of urns with the cremated ashes of deceased people. Amos’ seat on the Perry Township trustee board was filled by longtime township Fiscal Officer Christine Page, who defeated two other candidates on the 2023 ballot. In a December 2023 interview, Amos said his long duration in Perry community government proved to be an enjoyable experience. “I got back more than I gave — that’s kind of the way I look at it,” he said. “There were a lot of sacrifices, and most people wouldn’t do it, and they don’t do it. That’s why you have so few people getting involved (in running for local government offices).” Outside of his involvement in local government and civic groups, Amos achieved career success over the past 29 years as owner and operator of Amos Insurance and Financial Services in Painesville. Calling hours for Amos will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Dec.  27 at Johnson Funeral Home, 368 Mentor Ave. in  Painesville. A private family service will be held at a later date.