When Ken Montlack passed away in 2023, we lost a loving family member, a good friend, a wise colleague, and a devoted community servant. Later in the summer the Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium (FSC), an organization of twenty inner ring suburbs surrounding the city of Cleveland founded by Ken, awarded an FSC Ken Montlack Leadership Award and an FSC Community Program Award at a special meeting honoring Ken. Later, FSC proposed the idea of creating a scholarship in Ken’s honor for college students who are studying some form of urban or community development. Jennifer Kuzma, Director of FSC, met with members of Ken’s family, and, after speaking with a representative from Cleveland State University, we agreed to establish the Ken Montlack First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship Fund to be awarded to local students in the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. The scholarship will be used to provide emergency funds to students in need of extra help in order to stay in school.
This scholarship will be funded by contributions. The First Suburbs Consortium itself will contribute $1,500 annually, Montlack Management, Ken’s family realty company, will also contribute, and Ken’s immediate family is donating as well. We are inviting you, as someone who knew and remembers Ken in a way that makes you smile, brings up a fond memory or whose paths crossed personally or professionally, to contribute to this fund to help students who are interested in carrying on Ken’s legacy of civil and community service in the Cleveland area.
Ken believed that everyone brought something to the table – an idea, experience, or an interest in becoming a member of the group. He was welcoming, committed and used his humor to bring levity to heavy moments. Ken helped people with his law expertise, providing connections or bringing resolve to the difficulties of life. The Ken Montlack First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship will honor Ken by helping those who need it most. Cleveland State University will use these funds to provide financial assistance to Levin students who find themselves in need – maybe books are too expensive one semester or there is a one-time financial struggle that threatens their ability to complete classwork. Many of our leaders were once students working hard to meet the demands of their personal, professional, and academic lives. For many, a little assistance is needed from time to time, and it is the goal of Ken Montlack First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Fund to provide a cushion to those in need so they can later do the same for someone else.
Please consider supporting this scholarship fund on Giving Day 2026!
