MOHAR, JOSEPH

JOSEPH J. MOHAR, 88, died peacefully on December 31, 2015 at his home in North Olmsted, Ohio. Joe was born on August 8,1927 to Joseph and Florence (Daley) Mohar in Cleveland. He graduated from Benedictine High School and attended John Carroll University. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army (1945) as a cryptographer. Upon discharge, Joe married his high school sweetheart Loretta M. Wisniewski in 1949. Together they had 11 children, 27 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, with more to be expected. To Joe, his most significant accomplishment was his family. Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Loretta; favorite children, Robert (Kathleen), Gregory (Martha), Daniel (Lora), Kenneth, Karen Mohar-Wolf, Gerald (Cynthia), Susan Yencha (Jeff), Jo Ann Kelly (John), Lawrence (Denise), Richard (Stephanie), and Joel (Kelly). Also surviving are his siblings: Cecelia (Ronald) Brown and Jack (Patricia) and sister-in-law Sheila Mohar. Also, survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews. A licensed master plumber, Joe had a 40-year career as an executive for several mechanical contracting firms. Among his notable projects are the Dancing Fountains in Tower City. He concluded his career with the construction of the Cleveland Indians baseball stadium. Volunteerism was a major part of his life and he was active in many charitable organizations. Joe was a founding member of the Community of St. Malachi, and with others spearheaded the effort to establish the St. Malachi Center and the Malachi House. He was recognized by Cleveland Mayor, George Voinovich, with the 1987 Mayor’s Award for Volunteerism and was awarded at Soup for the Soul 2011 for his works as co-founder of the Malachi Center. As president of the Cleveland Junior Chamber of Commerce in the 1960s, Joe was instrumental in promoting the sale and installation of after-market seat belts before the adoption of such safety equipment by the automotive industry. He also served as Chair of the Board of Examiners of Plumbers for the City of Cleveland, Chair of the Community Development Block Grant Program in Lakewood, and first chairperson of St. Clement Parish Council. Donations in remembrance are suggested to be made to the Malachi Center www.malachicenter.org. Mass of Christian Burial, 11am, Saturday, January 9, 2016 at St. Malachi Church, 2459 Washington Ave, Cleveland. Visitation at the church 1 hour before Mass.