Stephen Stranahan ’57

Stephen Stranahan ’57 died January 7 in Chicago. Steve grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio, and attended Maumee Valley Country Day School and Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts. A pianist and a music major, he was a member of Psi Upsilon, the Handel Society, the Glee Club, and Dragon. After graduation he was in the Ohio National Guard. Although he came from a prominent Toledo, Ohio, family, entitlement was not in his nature. Through the years he built a reputation as a local businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist. His first job was in marketing for Champion Spark Plug Co., founded by his grandfather. An affinity for aviation came from his father, who was a pioneer of Champion’s spark plugs for airplanes. Steve owned and operated a small airport. In the 1960s he was president of Downtown Toledo Associates and the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce. He helped arrange for the return of minor league baseball with the Toledo Mud Hens. As president of Civic Pride Inc., he owned the Toledo Blades hockey team. Steve eventually became a director at Champion. Steve was also chairman of the Small Business Assistance Corp. and board president of the Toledo Symphony. His influence at the University of Toledo was instrumental in taking it from a municipal school to a state school. Under the aegis of Entelco, Steve and his wife, Ann, built Home Ranch in northwest Colorado as a family vacation and outdoor activity resort. Steve is survived by Ann, and four children.