'God made him very special': Central Catholic community mourns death of Rev. Robert Kaylor

PERRY TWNP. — The Rev. Robert Kaylor, a popular priest who served as principal of Central Catholic High School, died Friday evening after a long illness.

His passing was announced Saturday on the Friends of Canton Central Catholic Facebook page.

"Crusader family, it is with great emotion that we announce the passing of our beloved Rev. Robert Kaylor," the post said. "His family shared that he passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening."

The notice said that Kaylor served the Crusader family and the larger community as a priest, educator, principal, president, civic leader and friend.

"He had the true heart of a Crusader, continually advocating for his students and staff, cheering them on from the sidelines, or offering prayers for his community," the post said. "His commitment to Central Catholic High School has influenced countless students, parents, staff members, and administrators. His legacy will live on in each person who has or will walk our halls."

A native of Massillon, Kaylor graduated in 1962 from Central, the same school he would go on to serve for more than 40 years.

During his senior year in high school, a youthful aspiration to become a disc jockey or maybe a lawyer was detoured by a divine calling to the priesthood.

Kaylor graduated from John Carroll University and completed his seminary studies at St. Gregory and Mount St. Mary in Cincinnati. He also graduated from the Athenaeum of Ohio and acquired a master's degree from Mount St. Mary.

Following Kaylor's ordination in 1970, his first pastoral assignment was as an assistant priest at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Plain Township, where he later served as priest for three years.

In 1972, Kaylor joined the faculty at Central Catholic as a part-time religion teacher, an assignment that became his full-time vocation starting in 1975. He also served as an administrator at the former St. Paul parish in Canton and as pastor of St. Therese parish in Brewster, which later merged with St. Clement parish in Navarre to become Holy Family parish.

In 1988, Kaylor was appointed principal at Central Catholic, located in Perry Township. He became the school's president in 2011, a post he held until his retirement in 2017 following a stroke.

Following Kaylor's retirement, the diocese appointed a single president to serve both Central Catholic and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville.

In recognition of his service to Central Catholic, the Crusaders football team wore commemorative decals on their helmets during the 2017 season.

Kaylor boosted Central Catholic The face of Central Catholic

In 2022, Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio built two homes in Massillon in Kaylor's honor.

In addition to his educational career, Kaylor remained true to his calling as a priest, celebrating hundreds of wedding and funeral Masses throughout Stark County. He also served as a chaplain for the Catholic Young Adult Club of Stark County and was a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus.

The announcement from the Friends of Canton Central Catholic said details of funeral arrangements will be shared when they are available.

Tributes to the late priest poured into the Friends of Canton Central Catholic Facebook page on Saturday.

"Father was not only my high school principal but I was blessed to attend the church that he sometimes worked out in Brewster for Christmas mass," wrote Erin LaFountain. "When I was a high school student he tried to write me a personal check to a competition that I was competing in and took the time to attend another competition with me. He was a good man with a great heart."

Kristen Osborne wrote this: "A wonderful man…. Helped start my faith journey - baptizing me way back when. Such a blessing to all of us."

Tim Mitan also mourned his passing.

"What a shame, a truly great man indeed," Mitan wrote. "My son graduated in 2010 and I saw him and spoke to him often."

"Dear Fr Bob finally made it to Heaven," wrote Mary Jo Ebner. "Hopefully he is dancing with the angels. I never did know a priest quite like him, God made him very special. He also will take a bit of CCHS with him. RIP Fr Kaylor."

Staff writer Nancy Molnar contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Rev. Robert Kaylor, former Central Catholic High School principal, dies