Hans-Axel Stechow passed away Saturday, August 28, 2010 at New Life Hospice of St. Joseph in Lorain, Ohio.
Born in Gottingen, Germany, in 1933, naturalized in 1945, grew up in Oberlin, Ohio.
He graduated from Oberlin High school in 1950, attended Oberlin College (‘55), radar training at the Naval Air Station in Memphis, and electronics engineering at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute New York.
He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corp. (‘50-’54 Korea); ‘56-’58 he worked under government contract for Butler Aviation, La Guardia, NY installing radar systems in Europe. After working for RCA Cherry Hill, NJ as a technical representative in Europe, he transferred to a position with the Strategic Air Command where he conducted classes in electronic theory and supervised the repair of systems manufactured by RCA. Under government contract with Unitec Corporation, Timonium, MD as a field engineer stationed in Southern Germany, he supervised men on a special assignment to Turkey visiting Turkish military establishments. With Brush Instruments Division (Clevite Corporation - Cleveland, OH) in Belgium, he provided technical support at International electronics expositions, and conducted demonstration tours through-out the continent.
Employment in Oberlin - first at Gilford Instrument Laboratories (technical writing of operators’ and maintenance manuals; sales office manager; advertising manager). In Cleveland, he was senior account executive at Brand & Gerber & Shick.
Before his debilitating stroke in ‘93 he served as Director of External Affairs; Director of Bridge to Asia at the National Association of College Store, Oberlin, OH.
Stechow was a member and former president of the Prospect School PTO, president of the Oberlin City Club, past member of Rotary, past secretary of Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), member of Cleveland Advertising Club and American Society of Association Executives; served as council member then five years as president at Grace Lutheran Church; a member of Gideon Bible Society; a member of the American Legion.
Hans’ ability to communicate really touched people; writing, editing, music, public speaking. He was a voracious reader and possessed an exuberant curiosity. His interests included music, animals, sports, table tennis, pool/billiards, languages, puns, chess, tournament bridge, motorcycles and sports cars. Three dogs, a variety of birds, ferrets, a skunk, and Rex rabbit owned Hans. He was a golfer and bowler on local leagues as well as basketball player in his earlier years, most notably on various Marine Corp. teams. As a teenager, he won several awards as a cellist and in 1950 was first-chair cellist in the Ohio All-State High School Orchestra. As a self-taught jazz pianist he was much in demand in the Cleveland area and for his extensive musical talent at weddings and civic entertainment.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years Norma (nee Gordon); sons Peter Wolfgang (Laurie Nixon), LaGrange; Keith Richard, Oberlin; Michael Ara-Thomas (Marijana Andjelkovic) - Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia; David Bryan - Buffalo, NY; six grandchildren Alexander Wolfgang, Alyssa Stechow; Jennifer, Jonathan - U.S. Marine Corp., Andrew and Lauren (Dan) Stechow Schilke; two great-grandchildren Wesley and Meira Schilke. Sisters Barbara (Robert) Harris, Lansing, Mich.; Nicola (John) Memmott, Oberlin.
Predeceased parents Professor of Art History Wolfgang and French Teacher Ursula Hoff Stechow.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Oasis Animal Shelter, Oberlin OH, New Life Hospice of St. Joseph - Lorain, OH, Grace Lutheran Church, Oberlin, Ohio.
Celebration of Hans’ life will be held September 11, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 310 West Lorain Street, Oberlin, Ohio. Burial was at Oberlin Westwood Cemetery at 10:00 that morning.
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