WESTLAKE, Ohio — Behind their Westlake roofing business, Lee and Angie Franciscus are building something from heartbreak.

Inside a warehouse they own is what will soon become Dillon's Place — a gathering space for young veterans where they can work out, game, talk, and most importantly, connect with others who understand.

"There'll be couches, there'll be gaming stuff, different things that they enjoy to do, and then they can do it together instead of sitting alone at home," Lee explains as he walks through the unfinished space.

The center is named after their son, Dillon Franciscus, who took his life in March 2025 at age 24.

'A mission kid'

"He was a mission kid, you know, whatever he set his mind to, he did," Lee says.

Dillon was a state champion linebacker at St. Edward High Sch

See Full Page