Paul E Feher

1947 - 2021

(News story) Paul E. Feher, a longtime inspector at the Toledo Machining Plant, who developed a successful sidelight as a photographer, died July 15 in Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center. He was 74.

He developed acute respiratory distress, his wife, Vicki Feher, said.

Mr. Feher of Oregon retired in 2016 from the machining plant in Perrysburg Township, then operated by FCA US LLC, successor to Chrysler Corp., which hired him 40 years earlier. As an inspector, he examined auto parts "to make sure they were built correctly, and [he] worked on quality control teams," his wife said.

He long had an interest in photography, and while in Japan during his Navy service, he bought several cameras. In the late 1970s, a friend asked him to photograph a wedding.

"He found he enjoyed it," his wife said. "And then we formed our own business, and he did portraiture and weddings."

Paul Feher Photography operated out of the family home, with his wife handling bookkeeping and other business details - and sometimes accompanying him to the one or two weddings he shot most weekends.

"He loved being the innovator. He loved learning," his wife said. "He loved interacting with his clients."

He took classes. He taught classes. And he was an active member of Professional Photographers of Northwest Ohio. Janet Hudson, a former president of the now-defunct group, recalled that he was technical minded and eager to take part in seminars.

"He had a very successful studio," Ms. Hudson said. "He was a really nice guy. He was very good with his portrait photography, but he did a bit of everything, as we all did."

He received first place awards for his portraits in professional photographers' competitions, his wife said.

By the late 1980s, he closed the business to devote after-work hours to his children's sports pursuits. He became a youth baseball and softball coach through Oregon's recreation program.

"I coached our son for about eight years. I coached our daughters at the same time," his wife said. "He made sure the kids learned the correct skills. He did not believe in pushing them. He wanted them to learn."

He was there for practices. He picked up players who needed rides, and the Fehers brought treats for the team.

"He was there because he felt a sense of duty," said Ralph Burgess, who usually was the head coach. "I considered him more of a co-coach than an assistant coach. He was the epitome of the face of volunteerism when it comes to a youth sports program of any type."

He was born June 25, 1947, to Margaret and John Feher and grew up on Payne Street in East Toledo's Birmingham neighborhood. He was a 1965 graduate of Macomber Vocational High School. He was in the Navy from 1969-73, serving for a time aboard a vessel off the coast of Vietnam during the war.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, the former Vicki Ovall; daughters Amanda Konczal and Jessica Donofrio; son, Justin Feher; brother, Timothy Feher; sister, Nancy McLaughlin, and six grandchildren.

A memorial mass is to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Stephen Church, with a gathering in the narthex after 10 a.m. Arrangements are by Freck Funeral Chapel, Oregon

The family suggests tributes to Metroparks Toledo to support fishing conservation efforts.

This is a news story by Mark Zaborney. Contact him at mzaborney@theblade.com.