John Richard Ehrmin

1941 - 2024

John Richard Ehrmin

John was born to Richard Ehrmin, carpenter and architect, and Wave Ehrmin, in August of 1941. He succumbed to pancreatic cancer. He was a curious person interested in many things.

He attended DeVeaux Grade School, and then DeVilbiss High School in the class of 1959. He played trumpet in the concert band, marching band, and in teen town bands. He achieved the National Honor Society. He was a paperboy out of the Toledo Blade Butler Station.

He was given a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati's Engineering College Cooperative Engineering School from Surface Combustion, and received a BSME degree. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Later he received a MSME from The University of Toledo. Upon graduation from UC, he returned to his co-op job at Surface, where he was an engineer in the Kathabar department (manufacturers of industrial dehumidification systems).

Later he joined Samborn, Steketee, Otis, and Evans, where his father was an architect. He became a registered engineer, PE, in Ohio, and Michigan. His career was in building mechanical systems, including HVAC, plumbing, and fire sprinkler systems; energy conservation for institutional and commercial buildings; and industrial process support. While at SSOE he became an associate and chief HVAC Engineer.

Preferring to design, he moved to Rightmyer, Johnson, and Associates in 1981, becoming a partner. During his time at SSOE and RJA he had literally hundreds of designs in industrial, commercial, health, religious, and educational institutions. His last professional adventure was at the University of Michigan as an Operations and Maintenance Engineer in Ann Arbor, where his responsibility was the North Campus, including the School of Engineering, Art, and Architecture, and the Music building. During his time there, the Walgreen Drama Center, a Computer Science building, and a doubling of a computer chip clean room were constructed. He did the hydraulic and control design for a 10,000 ton chilled water plant. He became a certified building commissioner, and a certified energy manager.

After retirement, he did part time consulting for the JDI group. There he did a new lab for the Toledo BP Refinery, the elephant bull and cow barns for The Toledo Zoo, an expansion at the Honda East Liberty Assembly Plant, consolidated the chiller plant, and replaced chillers for the UTMC medical campus.

He met Irene Rogers, also from Toledo, at UC, where she was a UC nursing student, and they were married in 1964. They just made it to their 60th anniversary. He is survived by Irene; his daughters, Dr. Joanna Ehrmin, Julia Burtscher (Todd); brother, James (Mary); niece and nephews; and Foster and Kransberger cousins. After marrying Irene he became an active Episcopalian, serving on the vestry and as property chairman at St Mark's, and as a vestryman and property chairman at St Michaels in the Hills. He was co-chair of the committee that obtained the Karl Wilhelm organ. He was a choir singer in both churches with Irene for 60 years.

He was active in community affairs. He joined The Toledo Rotary Club in 1986, achieved 17 years of perfect attendance, and was a chairman of the Community Services Committee. He did the plumbing for two Habitat for Humanity houses. He served as a president of the local ASHRAE Chapter and was a member of ASME. He took glass blowing lessons at The Toledo Museum of Art, and was a founding member of The Toledo Area Glass Guild, where he served as treasurer for many years. He was juried into the Crosby Art Festival, and twice into the Toledo Artists' May show. He sold glass through The Work of Art at Portside, TMA Collectors Corner, and The Glass Apple. He also studied blacksmithing and other art classes at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Other interests included home remodeling, gardening (even working at a greenhouse), reading, travel, bicycling, swimming, airplanes, trains, and cats. He had a private pilot's license, and recently rode in a P-51 Mustang, and a B-29 bomber. He was an engineer and fireman on the Toledo Lake Erie and Western steam train that ran on what is now the University Parks Trail. He was a member of the Michigan Small Scale Live Steamers, and had a G gauge track in his yard. He and Irene were able to visit many railroad spots, was a member of The Society for Industrial Archeology, and has toured many industrial plants.

He and Irene enjoyed travel. They have been in almost all U.S. states, including Hawaii and Alaska, and many Canadian Provinces. They attended the Oberammergau Passion Play in 2010, which included Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Later they toured the U.K., where they visited origins of Irene's ancestors in Western England. They have cruised the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, on the Columbia River, the Delta Queen, in Belgium, and the Netherlands.

He is very grateful for the 83 years he was granted for his abilities, experiences, and adventures; for his wonderful wife and companion Irene for 64 years; and, his daughters. Every day was an adventure.

The Funeral Service for John will be Saturday, October 26, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4718 Brittany Road, Ottawa Hills, OH 43615, followed by a reception. John will be laid to rest in the Memorial Garden at St. Michael's in the Hills Church.

Any donations may be by a connection to ASHRAE Research Fund, The Toledo Rotary Club Foundation, St Michael's in the Hills Music Fund for organ recitals, Toledo Area Glass Guild, Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, Toledo Humane Society, or BGSU Horn Club.