Jack Cera
Jack Cera, a native son of Belmont County hailing from Bellaire, Ohio, and former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, passed away on Sunday, July 13th. He was with his wife, Becky (Mick), and beloved dog, Poppy. He leaves behind his daughters, Jaclyn Yocum (Brent) and Bethany Trifonoff (Jimmy), and granddaughters, Scarlett and Lena Yocum, and Finley Trifonoff. The 69-year-old waged a valiant battle with cancer for 2 ½ years. Jack is preceded in death by his mother, Sally Bickmeier and a special uncle for whom he was named after, Jack Boston.
Jack was a 1974 graduate of Bellaire High School and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brown University in 1978.
Jack was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His deep devotion to his beloved wife Becky nurtured a beautiful marriage that flourished for 40 memorable years. He adored her endlessly, and their adventures across the country were filled with laughter, shared wonder, and a bond that only grew stronger with every mile.
He treasured spending time with his granddaughters who adored the man they called “Pappy Jack”. He was witty, intelligent, and had a dry sense of humor. He loved listening to music, especially classic rock and roll. Later in life, he developed a taste for jazz music. Friends and family often heard him speak of Joe Bonamassa and a local band spearheaded by Joe Zelek. Music became a treasured thread that wove Jack and his daughter, Jaclyn, even closer together, as they joyfully shared their love for new bands and songs.
He loved cheering on Cleveland sports teams, sharing in their hard-fought wins and agonizing in their heartbreaking defeats. Whether it was the Browns on a Sunday afternoon, the Cavaliers during a nail-biting playoff series, or the Guardians battling through a tough season, he was always fully invested—yelling at the TV, celebrating every touchdown and home run, and lamenting every missed opportunity like it was his own. One of his greatest joys was spending countless hours discussing Cleveland sports with his son-in-law, Jimmy. Their conversations would range from hopeful predictions about the next season to deep dives into draft picks, trades, and coaching decisions.
His passion for sports found its greatest joy in cheering for his daughter Bethany, whose softball journey he followed with unwavering pride and deep love, always her biggest fan.
Jack shared a deep love of history with his son-in-law, Brent, and they often engaged in thoughtful conversations about historical events and their significance in shaping the nation. Their shared passion also led them on many meaningful journeys together, visiting battlefields, museums, and historical landmarks.
Jack first served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1983-1996 and again from 2011 through 2020. Throughout the three decades that he served in the Ohio legislature, he represented families from Belmont, Monroe, Noble, Jefferson, and the northern part of Washington Counties with distinction.
During his tenure in the Ohio House of Representatives, his vast experience and skillset were often called upon by leadership in the Ohio House to serve on various important committees such as Finance, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Public Utilities, and Natural Resources. His knowledge would also serve him well in his own leadership roles on Select Committees on Workers Compensation and Longwall Mining in the Riffe era. Other special committees throughout his tenure in the Ohio Legislature included the Coal Technical Advisory Committee, Board on Unreclaimed Stripmined Lands, Legislative Sportsman Caucus, the 2020 Tax Study Committee, and the Energy Mandates Study Committee. He also served as the Minority Whip for the Democratic Caucus in 2016.
His no-nonsense approach to listening to both sides of an issue and gathering facts led to important conversations with members on both sides of the aisle. He understood the importance of bipartisanship and compromise. These traits afforded him the opportunity to secure amendments to legislation to benefit the families of Eastern Ohio.
In the early years of his career, he was instrumental to starting the Roadwork Development Fund which directed gas tax funding to economic development for the first time and for the expansion of the flood warning system following the deadly floods of 1990 near Shadyside, Ohio. During the last half of his service. Jack worked on legislation that called for returning dollars to the local government fund from the severance tax, knowing full well the importance of a sound infrastructure for jobs and development. Additionally, he worked with numerous local officials on many water, sewer, and road projects as well as helped in naming numerous highways after those serving our country.
Jack also worked for the Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services as a Workforce Development Director after leaving the state legislature in the 90s. From there, he joined the Jefferson Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority prior to his 2011 appointment to the Ohio House of Representatives. He also served as a volunteer on various boards including: The Belmont County Port Authority Board, The Belmont County Planning Commission, the Bellaire Public Library Board, the Bellaire Park District Board, the Bellaire Girls Softball Association, and the East Ohio Girl Softball Association. After term limits forced Jack from the Ohio Legislature in 2020, he joined Sunday Creek Horizons, a lobbying and advocacy firm founded by Zack Space. However, cancer treatment forced him to take a backseat in his role as Senior Vice President for the firm.
Over the years, Jack earned numerous honors, some of which included: 2013 Upper Ohio Valley Central Labor Council AFL.CIO Legislator of the Year Award, 2014 Ohio Association of Election Officials’ Legislature of the Year, 2014 Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development Legislative Center Association Legislative Leadership Award, and the 2015 Ohio Education Service Center Association Legislative Leadership Award. He also took pride in being presented with the 2024 Outstanding Alumnus Award by his beloved Alma Mater, Bellaire High School. (Go Big Reds!)
Jack was Honored to be a member of the Ohio Legislature. He took pride in being a strong voice for his district and a true advocate for the families of eastern Ohio. Throughout his legislative career, he maintained an open-door policy and his office worked diligently to assist constituents with issues and questions. He was a true Statesman who wanted to make Ohio a better place for the next generation.
Jack will be remembered for his integrity, sharp wit, and unwavering love and commitment to his family and community. He leaves behind a legacy of leadership, a willingness and conviction to serve, and a life well-lived.
The family offers their deepest appreciation and gratitude to all friends and family who helped Jack during the end stages of his life. An open visitation from 10:00 a.m. to the start of the memorial service at 1:30 p.m. will take place at South Bellaire Methodist Church on July 19th, with burial at the discretion of the family. Arrangements are entrusted to Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to any of the following groups or organizations: Bellaire Big Reds Endowment Fund, Bellaire Big Reds Touchdown Club, Bellaire Girls Softball Association, the James Cancer Institute, or Liza’s Place.