John E. Lester

John Edward Lester, age 70, passed away on Friday, September 18, 2026. John was born on February 20, 1956, and grew up in Proctorville, Ohio. John is preceded in death by his father Thomas E. Lester; and brother Brent Lester. John was a 1974 graduate of Symmes Valley High School and a 1978 graduate of Morehead State University. John was a local, state, and national educational consultant and author specializing in the fields of classroom differentiation and leadership. His background included teaching at the elementary, middle school, and high school grades, curriculum, administration, and serving as a local and county gifted education coordinator. He was the past president of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children and was the founder and Executive Director of Ohio Leadership Institute, which provides leadership opportunities for students and teachers. He was also the founder and director of the Ohio Model United Nations program, Ohio’s largest global education and leadership program and Ohio Leadership Training Camps, which have been providing leadership development skills for students for over 30 years. John was also a past Kiwanis Club president and has served as president of local and statewide organizations. John is survived by his mother Connie Ferris Lester; brother Chris (Kelli) Lester; sisters Kathy (Jimmy) Lundy, Lisa (Nick) Geswein, Pammie (Jack) Hunt, Tammie (Gene) Myers, Jamie (Mike) Meade, and Lindsay (Larry) Pernestti; 19 nieces & nephews Morgan Lester Slone and Jordan Lester, Sheena and Corey Thomas, Taylor McKnight, Hannah Geswein Williamson, Lauren Geswein Green, Garrett Geswein, Jacob Lester, Brooke Hunt Beckett, Drew Hunt, Kalli Hunt Gates, Cassie Myers Lunsford, Kelsie Myers Sayre, Cody Myers, Wyatt and Lexie Meade, and Lauren Pernestti Beam and Lorenzo Pernestti; and 22 great-nieces and nephews. A Celebration of John’s Life will be held from 4:00-7:00pm on Friday, October 2, 2026 at SCHOEDINGER MIDTOWN, 229 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories and condolences.