JOHN CHRIEN

1919 - 2019

was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 24th 1919. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson Jr. High in 1933 and West Tech High school in 1937. He was retired from Service Station Equipment Co. (DBA SSECO Solutions), the family company he founded in 1961. He is survived by his two children, David (Diana McDevitt), Myra (Dennis) Dria , four grandchildren , Lauren (Justin) Brown, Taylor Chrien, Mathew and Stephen Dria , two great grandchildren Evelyn and Penelope Brown and many nieces and nephews . He was preceded in death by his parents Frederick and Anna (Goraz) Chrien, his wife Ruth(Tisdall) and three brothers Andrew, Bill and Robert. During school, John was a stenographer and sports editor for the school newspaper, and after graduation used these skills while employed at the U.S. Housing Authority. John escorted Eleanor Roosevelt on her visit to the Lakeview Terrace Apartments project and took notes for her. The Lakeview Terrace Apartments, Cedar-Central and Outhwaite projects were among the first public housing projects built in the US. John became a manager for the Cedar-Central apartments from 1937 until 1942. During the war years (1942-1945), John worked at the GMC Cleveland Engine Division that made engines and parts for submarines. Following the war, he built his early career in Cleveland at AMCO Corp, a Chicago-based national petroleum equipment distribution business in the US and established the Cleveland office as the Branch Manager. He successfully grew this office over the next 15 years. In 1961, he founded his own company, Service Station Equipment Co. (DBA SSECO Solutions), which continues in business today led by his son, David and David's wife Diana McDevitt Chrien. John found innovative ways to modernize equipment and installations methods in an industry that was rapidly growing and changing. He loved solving his customer's problems and this in addition to his strong work ethic led in great part to his success. While leading SSECO, John developed and marketed the first "prefabricated trench drain" in the US, Preform Trench Drain Co LLC in 1970. John's love for his business was balanced by his dedication to the sports of roller and ice skating. John and his wife, Ruth, who were married for 53 years before Ruth's passing in 1998, were national roller skating partners, and later became national roller judges from 1942 thru 1960. John and Ruth also became involved in ice figure skating in 1962 when their children, David and Myra began skating. David and Myra became US National Dance Competitors and US National Medalists from 1970-1976. John's granddaughter, Lauren Chrien Brown, continued the family legacy by competing in ice dance at the national level. John served the US Figure Skating Association (USFSA) in many official capacities volunteering as a National Referee, National Accountant, and National Judge. In 2014 he was named Honorary Official in these capacities after 40 years of highly recognized Officiating Duties in the USFSA. A particular passion of John's was Precision or 'Synchronized' Skating (Team Skating) on ice and he later became heavily involved in translating the ice choreography to roller precision team skating. John served as team choreographer to the Brookpark (Ohio) Elite Precision roller Skating Team who won two consecutive national championships. John traveled with the team to Australia and later to Argentina as team choreographer translating many of the difficult moves he judged on ice to rollers. In 2004, John received his "40 Year Judge" pin from the USFSA and also awarded the designation "World Class Choreographer" by the United States Roller Association. John was a devoted father, supporting his children via his participation in school boards/committees, coaching baseball and numerous organizations in addition to skating. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, boating and fishing at the family lake house, tinkering and finding interesting tools and gadgets to add to his collection. John was a member of Divinity Lutheran Church for many years , he later joined Gesu Catholic Church where he was a full member until his passing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United States Skating Association, Attn: Memorial Fund, 20 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 or online at 1961MemorialFund.com Funeral Services will be held in Marian Chapel of Church of the Gesu, 2470 Miramar Blvd., University Hts., OH 44118 on Saturday, October 19 at 11 AM. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH 44120 ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 FROM 4 TO 7 PM. For additional information, directions and to sign the guestbook, please log online to: