Rolland Edwin Haring

With a warm autumn breeze blowing through the room, Rolland Edwin Haring went home to be with the Lord on October 24, 2010, after a courageous and hard-fought 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Rollie was born on August 5, 1940 in Lodi, Ohio, and was the only child to Judith Maxine (Seeley) and Edwin G. Haring. He graduated from Buckeye High School in 1958 and went on to Kent State University where he graduated with a master's degree in mathematics. He taught math at Black River High School for nine years, and also coached cross country and basketball - playing numerous pranks on his opponents. With a lifelong love for horses, Rollie raced harness horses for several years from the late 60s to early 80s.

As a walking encyclopedia of sports trivia and facts, Rollie was a true sports lover. His favorites included NCAA and NBA basketball - especially the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Ohio State Buckeyes and golf. Over the years, he was fortunate enough to attend several NCAA Final Four tournaments, Master's Golf tournaments, Kentucky Derbys, World Series games, Ohio State football games and NBA Finals following his beloved Cavaliers with family and friends.

However, Rollie's greatest love of sports was playing golf. From coast to coast, he spent some of his best days in the company of his greatest friends playing at the top courses in the country.

In 1958, Rollie began his career with Carter Lumber unloading box cars in Medina. He worked his way up the ranks and remained employed as corporate vice president of logistics until his death. While at Carter, Rollie won the hearts and friendships of all who knew him. He was a mentor, a confidante, a teacher, a friend, and someone who always had a joke to tell and could make you laugh.

Rollie was from the era where a handshake and a gentleman's agreement were just as good as a written contract. He had innumerable friends, enemies too few to count, but all who knew him respected him.

In September of 2009, roughly 150 of Rollie's closest friends from more than 10 states and Canada joined together in celebration of his spirit and friendship, and to rally behind him in his fight against cancer at F.O.R.E. - Friends of Rollie Event golf outing at Raintree Country Club. In show of support, friends presented Rollie with a plaque that truly encapsulated his character. It read: ``Money might make you wealthy, but friends make you rich.' And when it came to friends, Rollie had an endless supply of wealth.

With a life full of laughter and joy, Rollie embodied the Christmas spirit, and this was evident in his holiday light display. Each year, Rollie decorated his family's home with thousands of bulbs and even dressed as Santa to spread cheer and happiness to children and families from near and far.

Rollie was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Maxine Haring. He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Margie (Hornick); daughters, Bonnie Coombes (Dave Jurcich), Tracy Read (Randy), Debbie Steffas (Jim), Cathy Krska (Rich) and Sarah Lucas; as well as 10 grandchildren: Chad Coombes, Adam, Darrin and Danielle Read, Matthew, Steven and Nathan Steffas, and Colton, Logan and Brock Krska; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.

Special thanks to Doctors Pelley and Gutgsell and their staff at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute for their care and support. Also to Akron General Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice Care Center of Fairlawn.

To join family and friends in celebrating the life of Rollie, calling hours will be Thursday, 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Medina Chapel, 765 N. Court St., Medina, OH 44256. Funeral service will be held Friday, 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Valley City. The Rev. Dennis Murawski will preside. Burial will be at York Township Cemetery. No one should battle cancer. Be a hero, and join the fight against pancreatic cancer. Know it. Fight it. End it.

Please donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memoriam of Rollie Haring at 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245 or at https://netcommunity.pancan.org, or to Hospice of VNS, Attn: Development, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Akron, OH 44333.