John Harston

John S. Harston, beloved husband of Linda A. Harston nee Alexander of Pepper Pike, OH. Devoted father of David Andrew Harston Nancy Kawasaki of Louisville, CO and Beth Ross Andrew of Burlington, VT. Dear grandfather of Olivia Nagisa Harston, Sophia Minami Harston; Sarah Elizabeth Ross and Emily Harston Ross. Dear brother of Julie A. Harston of Miami Beach FL. The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to Business Advisors of Cleveland, 4614 Prospect Avenue, Suite 401, Cleveland, Ohio, 44103, or Church of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44118, where funeral services will be held Saturday, February 18th at 12 noon. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD, FRIDAY, FEB 17TH, FROM 6 TO 8PM. John grew up in the Cleveland area and graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1958. In his senior year, John met and started dating the love of his life, Linda Alexander, who was a sophomore at Shaker at the time. John attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. He went on to attend Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he earned a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations degree in 1964. That same year, John married Linda at the Church of the Saviour in Shaker Heights, Ohio. John began his almost 40-year career with the National Labor Relations Board where he conducted field examination work about four years. In 1968, John accepted a position with Inmont Corporation as an Industrial Relations Manager for the company's automotive group facility in Detroit, Michigan. A few years later, he moved to the company's offices in New York City where he was named the company's Director of Industrial Relations. In 1977, John moved to Syracuse, New York where he worked as a labor relation's Executive for Carrier Corporation. United Technologies Corporation acquired Carrier in 1982 and John moved into a labor relations position with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. In 1987 John moved to Louisville, Kentucky to work for Brown Foreman Corporation where he eventually retired as a Senior Vice President, Human Resources in 2002. When he retired, John and Linda moved back to the Cleveland area, settling in Pepper Pike. Never one to sit idle for long, John volunteered for several organizations. John enjoyed volunteering for the Republican Party. He was a trustee for the Church of the Saviour in Cleveland. Most notably, John was an active consultant for Business Advisers of Cleveland BAC for many years and also recently served as the organization's President. BAC provides free advice to entrepreneurs, small businesses and community service organizations. BAC is a privately financed, non-profit organization. The membership is comprised of retired men and women who were successful business executives and professionals in Cleveland area companies. John believed deeply in BAC's mission and enjoyed the opportunity to contribute anything he could to help newly formed and struggling small businesses and organizations survive and prosper. John was a proud and a great man who marched to the beat of his own drum. He encouraged those around him to do the same; to find what they love to do and to do it. He loved to laugh out loud and to make others laugh just as hard right along with him. Even if a joke or story he told was not all that funny to his audience, he would make everyone listening laugh by laughing out loud himself. John was an extrovert, gifted with both the desire and the uncanny ability to talk to anyone. He rarely walked down the street without striking up a conversation with someone, be they friend, colleague, or stranger. John was full of life. He had an opinion about almost everything and never hesitated to share it. He strived for excellence in everything he did and encouraged others to do the same. John loved the outdoors - from fishing, to hiking, to planting vegetables from seed, composting, or using natural ingredients to fertilize his plants and to chase away critters - John was a steward of the natural world. But most of all John loved his family unconditionally. He loved his wife Linda without bounds. He is the proud father of two children and grandfather of four grandchildren. He is a brother, a brother-in-law, a father-in-law, and an uncle. He dedicated his life to raising and providing for his family. He will be sorely missed by all of his family and friends who loved him more than words can express, but none more than his life-long partner, Linda, who will always be with him in soul and spirit.


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