Kenneth J Fogle

Kenneth J. Fogle, age 74, passed away peacefully in the company of his family on December 12, 2025.

Ken was born on August 23, 1951, to Roberta and Howard Fogle. Ken grew up in Katonah, New York, and graduated from John Jay High School in 1969. Ken and Janet, met in high school and attended both their Junior and Senior Proms together. Janet and Ken married in April of 1970, raised two children in Kent, Cleveland Heights, and finally in Chagrin Falls; the home Ken and Janet designed together.

Ken was enrolled in the School of Architecture at Kent State University. Their first year in Ohio was interrupted by the Kent State riots, causing them to seek refuge in New York. Ken returned to complete his undergraduate work, receiving a BS in Architecture in 1973. He continued on for his Master’s in Architecture and Urban Design after Dean Joseph Morbito offered Ken a teaching fellowship to help establish a graduate program in Architecture.

During graduate school, Ken worked at the firm of Fred Toguchi Architects and had the pleasure of directly working with Mr. Toguchi on the design of the State Office Tower in downtown Cleveland, an experience Ken often referred to as the best learning experience he had in developing his approach to architecture. While with this firm, Ken was placed in charge of programming for an 11-building master development plan for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD). Through this effort, Ken was subsequently hired by Dr. Michael A. Donzella, Superintendent for the board, as Executive Assistant, charged with implementing the 11-building master plan. The capital plan was completed in five years, and Dr. Donzella became a lifelong mentor and friend.

Ken briefly joined the firm Collins Rimer Architects, where he met his future and lifelong business partner, Jeff Stenzel. Together they formed the firm Fogle/Stenzel Architects, Inc. and enjoyed a 35-year partnership providing service to the developmentally disabled community as well as numerous highway patrol posts in a small firm practice. Together, Jeff and Ken contributed to changing building codes within Ohio to accommodate the unique needs of the developmentally disabled community. The firm provided small-scale housing for more than 1,000 disabled adults and designed schools and workshops for the DD community over the span of the firm’s practice. Ken received a commendation from the Cuyahoga County Board upon his retirement in December of 2021.

Outside of his professional life, Ken became an active member of Rotary after having been chosen to be part of a Group Study Exchange with a Rotary District in the Southern Philippines. This experience furthered Ken’s love of international travel and cross-cultural exchange. He went on to serve as President of the Chagrin Valley Rotary Club, Assistant Governor for Northeast Ohio’s Rotary District 6630, and held numerous other posts. He chaired the District’s Group Study Exchange program for 10 years. In 2002, he worked with Past District Governor Jim Frame to found Gift of Life Northeast Ohio. GoLNEO provides lifesaving surgeries to children from the developing world born with congenital heart disease. Ken drafted the 501(c)(3) filing for the organization and chaired the GoLNEO board from 2009 through 2025.

Ken and Janet fostered a family passion for international travel, visiting many countries. Janet and Ken both looked upon their trip to Egypt in connection with GoLNEO as formative. Ken often mentioned the month-long visit to Barcelona and the works of Antoni Gaudí as the most memorable of their vacation trips together. His most recent trips ranged from a Disney world trip with grandchildren to a Scandinavian cruise which took them a stone's throw away from Russia to Estonia.

Ken was an instrument-rated pilot who loved flying across the country, including annual trips with his brother to Oshkosh. He commuted to and from the hangar on the same motorcycle he enjoyed teaching his older grandchildren how to ride. More recently, Ken joined the Corvair Club after purchasing a 1966 Corvair Monza convertible.

Ken leaves his cherished memories to his loving wife Janet, his son, Kenneth Jr. and wife, Jenna Fogle, daughter Megan Kopka (Keith, deceased), grandchildren Bruce and Jaden Kopka, Aoife, August, Rowan, and Albina Fogle, as well as his brother and sister-in-law Dan & Ginny, his sister Mary Anne (Kirk, deceased), sister-in-law Hope (Larry deceased) & Lynn (deceased), and their respective children and grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 pm on December 20th at St. John Funeral Home, 16381 Chillicothe Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022. Visiting hours will be held prior to the service starting at 1 pm.

Donations in lieu of flowers are encouraged to Gift of Life Northeast Ohio, Chagrin Valley Rotary Club, or the Modern Widows Club.