Obituary of E. Hesser

E. Grant Hesser, who was an icon in the construction industry in Cincinnati,Ohio, died on December 26th at his home at Sand Hill Cove in Palm City, FL. at the age of 94. He was the husband of Joan S. Hesser of Palm City, FL. and the late Betty Maescher Hesser.

He was born in Bowling Green, Ohio on January 11, 1919 to George Ernest and Ethel Martin Hesser and grew up in Cincinnati. He was graduated from the Manhattan Friends School, New York City, Dartmouth College, and attended the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. He served in the US Navy in the Pacific in WII and achieved the rank of Lt. Commander.

He met his first wife, Betty, in the Les Cheneaux Islands, MI in 1938 and they were married in 1944. After the war, they moved back to Cincinnati and raised three sons. He worked at Maescher Industries,Inc.(the former Chas. V. Maescher &Co., Inc.) in the general construction industry and served as President until 1983, when he moved to The Yacht and Country Club in Stuart, FL, and Chairman until 1996.

He was highly respected in the construction industry and his contributions were many. A few of his contributions included: Founder and past president of the American Council of Construction Education and the Associated General Contractors of Ohio chapter; past president of the Allied Construction Industries in Cincinnati and the American Institute of Constructors; Life Director of the Associated General Contractors of America. He was honored in Cincinnati with the 2010 Spirit of Construction Award for his years of service to the industry.

His service and activities were not oriented only to construction, but to the communities in which he lived. He was a life member and past president of both University Club and the Gyro Club of Cincinnati, a past board member of the Cincinnati Country Club, member of The Cincinnatus Association, past president of the Cincinnati Dartmouth Club and served on many non-profit boards. He was an Eagle Scout and was recognized with the Silver Beaver Award for his dedication to scouting.

He was an accomplished sailor in his beloved summer home in the Les Cheneaux Islands, MI for 61 years, as well as an avid woodworker. He had a great

sense of humor. He was often heard humming and always had a smile and a hearty "Hello" for everyone he met.

Also surviving, are his three sons and their wives Grant V. (Carol), Peter L. (Nancy), and John M. (Tina) Hesser of Cincinnati, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two step daughters Susan Downs of Madison, WI and Nancy Lynn Ludcke of Oakland, CA.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, January 11 at the Palm City Presbyterian Church at 11 AM. A memorial service is being planned in Cincinnati, but no date has been set.

Memorials may be made to The Palm City Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati Gyro Club Foundation or Dan Beard Council of Cincinnati- Boy Scouts of America.

January 2, 2014

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