Eastlake is known for its Boulevard of 500 Flags but on this day the one’s that fly can be found at half staff. A tribute to the man who has been this city’s biggest champion and for the last decade its leader, Mayor Dennis Morley. Morley died on Sunday, according to Judy Moran, an administrative assistant with the city.
Moran said Morley died "after a short battle with an aggressive cancer."
"Everyone that knew him knows his first concern while he fought was for his two amazing daughters. He absolutely loved serving as the mayor of such a great community," said Moran.
Morley has served as Eastlake’s mayor since 2014 and was in his third term. Outside City Hall on Monday city worker was working to place new lights and a black banner around the city's script Eastlake sign.
“A great guy, one of the best bosses I’ve ever had," said Gamber. “He was very easy to work for I mean he really cared about the city and the people and the people that worked for him. The staff and the employees here are pretty upset about what happened it’s just, it’s very sad.”
Count Eastlake’s Police Chief Larry Reik among them. “Just somber and stunned," said Reik of the mood in the department. In addition to being mayor since 2014 Morley served in the dual role as the city’s safety director. Police and fire may have technically answered to him but he always knew he answered to the people.
“We had flooding, we had the tornado recently and he’s out riding around six, seven hours in the middle of the night. It’s just not what most mayors have done in the past for sure," Chief Reik told News 5.
"It's a great loss to Eastlake, but all of Lake County," said Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik. "Dennis was a friend to everyone and really a leader in the mayor's [office] and the councils for Lake County."
"People jokingly called him the king of Lake County because he mentored and really brought up the new mayor's and council people."
Previously, he served as a Councilman at Large from 2005 to 2014 and as council president from 2010 to 2014.
"Dennis spent most of his adult life from bringing Eastlake to a point of a really difficult fiscal position to prosperity. You'll recall Eastlake was in fiscal emergency years ago, and Dennis stepped up as a resident and said 'I'm going to run for council, I'm going to run for mayor, and I'm going to take my city from a point of bankruptcy to one of the strongest fiscal positions of any city in Ohio,'" Plecnik said.
"Today Eastlake really is the jewel of Lake County, and it's because of Dennis Morley. He came to this situation as a resident who wanted to make Eastlake better and he's left us as arguably the greatest mayor in Eastlake's history."
Morley grew up in Willowick before moving to Eastlake in 1981. He was a graduate of Eastlake North High School’s class of 1976.
Morley's devotion to Eastlake earned him a nickname among his colleagues and a unique gift upon being elected mayor.
"When Dennis was first elected mayor, his supporters gave him a Batman costume as a gift because he was the hero who came in to save the day, and Batman was his nickname amongst all of his friends," Plecnik said.
Morley leaves behind two daughters, Renee and Vicki.
