Chaptor History

The Akron/Canton chapter of ASHRAE was established in 1960. The geographic description of the Akron/Canton chapter (clockwise) is a narrow swath of land bordered on the north approximately 30 miles south of Lake Erie, to the Pennsylvania State line, south to the Stubenville area, west through Dover/New Philadelphia, Wooster, Loudenville, Mansfield, north following I-71 to the northern boundary of Summit County.

The Akron/Canton chapter was established to better serve the ASHRAE members in the Akron/Canton area. The Akron/Canton chapter wanted a separate identity from the Cleveland chapter, but also wanted to serve the needs of the members within this geographic area. Through the years, many things have been tried to strengthen the Akron/Canton chapter. With the territory so spread out, it was difficult to attract members to Akron for meetings. For a number of years we alternated meeting places between Akron and Canton. An eye was kept on attendance. Meetings were held convenient to members from Youngstown, and meetings convenient to Mansfield. When we left Akron regardless of direction, attendance suffered. We finally settled upon the location just south of Akron as being the best draw.

The founders of the Akron/Canton chapter were originally members of the Cleveland chapter and maintained a close relationship with their previous chapter. The Akron/Canton being the smaller chapter relied on the Cleveland chapter often using the same speakers on successive days for the chapter meetings. The tradition established to accommodate using the same speakers was to have the Cleveland chapter meetings on the third Mondays of each month and the Akron/Canton chapter to have their meetings on the Tuesday following the third Monday. In recent years, the use of common speakers has ceased except as a convenience to Vice-Chairmen when they are visiting the chapters.

In 1987 a new tradition of cooperation between the Cleveland and Akron/Canton chapters emerged with the first annual " Markets to You" tabletop trade show. Diane Coleman of the Cleveland chapter and William C. Miller of the Akron/Canton chapter were co-chairpersons for the event. This has become an annual event that is always the best-attended event of the year.

The roster of Past Presidents of the Akron/Canton chapter includes many retired and some deceased individuals. They all have added to the traditions and fellowship of the Akron/Canton chapter. By inclusion in the following roster we salute their dedication, and service to others.

Akron/Canton ASHRAE Past Presidents

Robert K. Kochel
1960-1962
Bernard Gardiner
1962-1964
Jerry Hoerbelt
1964-1965
Bob Hughes
1965-1966
James R. Armsrtong
1966-1967
Ron Black
1967-1968
Thomas Cunningham
1968-1969
Martin J. Wiseheart
1969-1970
Robert T. Halley
1970-1971
G. Murray Tonathy
1971-1972
James Patterson
1972-1973
James H. Christman
1973-1974
Edward T. Hanlon
1974-1975
Warren Saccucci
1975-1976
Richard Raben
1976-1977
Charles T. Hill
1977-1978
Robert L. Delker
1978-1979
William Kolosi
1979-1980
William B. Miller, Jr
1980-1981
Alfred C. Eynon
1981-1982
Marvin Touse
1982-1983
Robert W. Crosby
1983-1984
David Evans
1984-1985
Stanley A. Bassak, Jr
1985-1986
Guy Hicks
1986-1987
William C. Miller
1987-1988
Edward Bedell
1988-1989
Cliff Greive
1989-1991
Joe Patton
1991-1992
Jeff Cohen
1992-1993
Edward Belcastro
1993-1994
Walter Jacobe
1994-1995
James Pier, Jr
1995-1996
William Alexander
1996-1997
Cristy Smitth
1997-1999
Michael Varner
1999-2000
James Slovan
2000-2002
Pete Johnson
2002-2003
Steve Piesciuk
2003-2004
David Quirk
2004-2005
Anne Sosic 2005-2006
Greg Drensky 2006-2008