cancer.

Woytovech owned the Roseto Club with Anna, his wife of 33 years, and made it one of Akron's enduring establishments serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community

for 11 years.

The guests at Roseto speak fondly of Woytovech, who wasn't there much the past year, having gone through seven surgeries. He was known for his generosity, his kindness and

his "big heart."

"He was an icon to us," said Missy Villers, a longtime friend. "He did things for me that my own family wouldn't do."

They also love the fabulous decorations in Roseto, which was all John's doing, according to Anna.

During the early years of ownership of Roseto, John and Anna struggled, choosing to lose their home to save the bar. He worked at Carousel Dinner Theater as a dishwasher and she worked in a factory to cover the bar's losses.

Yet, more recently, Woytovech was, often anonymously, a major contributor to nearly every organization serving the

needs of the GLBT community, especially if he knew there was a need.

The Roseto was always made available for benefits and car washes. Woytovech very quietly slipped organizations like Stonewall Akron, Violet's Cupboard, the Akron Women's Shelter, the Akron Area Pride Collective, and the Columbus Women's Festival hundreds of dollars at times when the money was critical.

Woytovech also contributed to the burn unit at Akron Children's Hospital, the Humane Society, and the Ohio AIDS Coalition. He was always one of the first bar owners to volunteer staff for the beer garden at the Cleveland Pride festival.

"John put his heart and soul into this community," said Villers.

John met Anna while traveling in Poland. They married there and soon moved to New York, where they stayed for 13 years. While there, Woytovech managed Anthony's, an upscale

Manhattan restaurant. He loved Anna, theater, his dogs Inga and Missy, and being at Roseto.

Anna plans to continue ownership of the Roseto Club.

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Stonewall Akron is dedicated to the achievement of civil rights, civil liberties, and personal security through the elimination of discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people. Stonewall Akron will promote legislation, public discussion, community education, and other lawful activity which furthers this purpose.