Arthur J. Hatch Jr.

HATCH Arthur J. Jr. Arthur J. Hatch, Jr., age 97, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at the Kingston Care Center in Sylvania. Art was born September 26, 1910, across from the Toledo Museum of Art in the old Scottwood Apartments. A lifelong Toledo area resident, he attended Scott High School and then the University of Toledo, where he received a degree in electrical engineering in 1934. His first job was with Electric Autolite, testing automobile generators on a production line. The following year, he began working at Strong Electric Company, manufacturers of projection lighting equipment for movie theaters and producers of tank searchlights during WWII. In 1947, Art became vice-president of Strong and in 1956 took over as president when the company's founder, Harry Strong passed away. During his career, Art held 13 patents relating to various types of lighting technology and in 1966 received a Motion Picture Academy Award for the development of an air blown arc for projection. He was a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and had four technical articles published in their journal as well as many other articles in different trade journals. Art met Helen Bellows while he was a student at the University of Toledo and they married in 1936. Together, they had two sons, Arthur and David, and enjoyed traveling extensively throughout their happy marriage. Helen passed away shortly after their 68th wedding anniversary in 2004. An avid boater, Art logged over 50,000 miles on Lake Erie with his family and was a frequent visitor to the docks at Put-In-Bay where he was a member of Put-In-Bay Yacht Club. He was also active with the Power Squadron at Bay View Yacht Club, and won many predicted log races. He was one of the founding trustees of the University of Toledo Alumni Foundation and served as its president in 1963 and 1964. During that period the Tower Club was formed as recognition for certain givers. Art's other memberships included Toledo Rotary and various civic organizations. Art is survived by his son, David Richardson Hatch of Occidental, CA and granddaughter, Tamara Hatch Ruggiero of Ijamsville, MD. In addition to his wife, Art was preceded in death by his son, Arthur Wolcott Hatch. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 24th, 2008 at West Park Place, 3501 Executive Pkwy. Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthur J. Hatch Trust, c/o University of Toledo Foundation, 2801 Bancroft, ms 319, Toledo, OH 43606. Arrangements were made through the Walker Funeral Home, 419-841-2422. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting our website: www.walkerfuneralhomes.com