Hans-Axel Stechow passed away Saturday, August 28, 2010, at New Life Hos­pice of St. Joseph in Lorain. He was born in Gottingen, Germany in 1933, naturalized in 1945 and grew up in Oberlin. 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 in Korea); ‘56 – ‘58, he worked under government contract for Butler Aviation, LaGuar­dia New York, installing radar systems in Europe. After working for RCA, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 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, Maryland, 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 Ohio) 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 a senior account executive at Brand & Gerber & Shick. served as council member, then five years as president at Grace Lutheran Church; a member of Gideon Bible Society and a member of the American Legion.

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.

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;

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 New York; 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 and sisters, Barbara (Robert) Harris, Lansing, Michigan, Nicola (John) Memmott, Oberlin.

He was preceded in death by his 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, P.O. Box 11, Oberlin OH 44074, New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, 3700 Kolbe Rd., Lorain, OH 44053.

A Celebration of Hans’ life will be held Saturday, Sep­tember 11, 2010, at 3 P.M., at Grace Lutheran Church, 310 West Lorain Street, Oberlin.

---

Print this story
Report an innappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.