To appear in next weeks news hot off the press. Thanks to all those who have expressed sympathy. Now time to celebrate -- he was a good dude! See you saturday november 29. Harry T. Echlin of Grosse Pointe Farms passed away peacefully in his sleep October 24, a month shy of his 75th birthday and exactly two months after the passing of his brother Lewis H. Echlin III, also of Grosse Pointe Farms. He was born to Lewis H. Echlin Jr. and Josephine Tucker in Detroit November 26, 1939, and graduated from Austin Catholic Preparatory School where he was a varsity football player. There he caught the eye of future wife Maggie Nigro from Grosse Pointe High School. After a college football career at St. John’s College was cut short by a knee injury, he spent a brief time bartending with friends in Florida which was cut short by his father insisting he return to Detroit and start a career. Upon returning to Detroit, he hired into Ford Motor Company, working first as a Tour Guide in Dearborn, MI where he was pictured on the cover of the 1963 Ford Annual Report. He married Maggie, started a family, and began his career working in Fords Public Relations organization while earning his degree at Detroit College of Business at night. Harry’s career ultimately culminated as Governmental Affairs Manager for Ford Lansing, MI., where he acted as the Company’s chief lobbyist in the state’s capital before retiring in 1994. Harry served the community as tireless volunteer and board member for several organizations, including the Grosse Pointe Little League and the St. Pauls Dad’s Club and Lectors Guild. He served as Director of Detroit Catholic Social Services and was elected to the Grosse Pointe Farms city council where he served for over a decade, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem. He was an inspiring and compassionate baseball and basketball coach to countless Grosse Pointers, his three sons among them. He was also an avid boater and fisherman, teaching his children to fish off his beloved Chris-Craft, Pelican, and a lifelong supporter of the Grosse Pointe Farms Pier, where in his later years he could be found sunning, walking, and swimming with his visiting grandchildren. In the weeks before his passing, he was continuing to perfect his list of the birthdates, wedding anniversaries, and employment anniversaries of his children and grandchildren, and was studying and eager to share the rich genealogy of his family. He leaves behind a legacy of commitment to community involvement, dedication to coaching, and countless stories both from him and about him that his children and grandchildren will cherish for generations. He is survived by his sons, Harry T. Echlin, Jr. (engaged to Laurel Shriver) of Long Beach, CA, Ray N. Echlin (Kingsley Brosnan) of Long Beach, CA, Lewis H. Echlin IV (Dawn New), currently living in Shanghai, China, and his daughter Margaret Ann (Norman Rice) of Newcastle, NH, as well as eight adored grandchildren, Harry III, Josephine, Kingsley Quinnevere, Charlotte Grace, Lewis V, Elisabeth Mia, Norman IV and Maggie. He was predeceased by his wife, Maggie Echlin, brother Lewis H. Echlin III and sisters, George Anne Bidigare and Mary Nash. A Memorial Service is planned for the Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 29 at St. Paul’s Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, at 10am.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:11:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015