Cover photo for Les Leon Sudranski's Obituary
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1904 Les 2006

Les Leon Sudranski

October 22, 1904 — May 18, 2006

Mr. L.L. 'Les' Sudranski, age 101, of Cortland, Ohio, died Thursday, May 18, 2006, at St. Joseph Health Center in Warren, Ohio. He was born on October 22, 1904 in New York City, NY. Les grew up in Greencastle, Indiana, and studied electrical engineering at Purdue University. In 1928 he relocated to Anderson, Indiana, to work as an electrician for Delco Remy Division of General Motors. Les also played trumpet in the Delco Remy band. His work at Delco Remy was short-lived at this time, however. The Great Depression arrived, and, in late 1929, Les was laid off. He regrouped quickly and went to work as a guard for the Indiana State Prison Farm, which was a minimum security prison. In 1932 he was transferred to a 'better job' and begin serving as a guard for the maximum security Indiana Reformatory in Pendleton. Near the end of the Depression, in late 1933, General Motors began to hire again, and Les returned to Delco Remy, this time as powerhouse technician. In1939 he was transferred to the Packard Electric Division in Warren as Director of Plant Engineering, a post he held until his retirement in 1969. When Les retired, he had about 700 people reporting to him. He was responsible for building design, building construction, plant maintenance, plant layout engineering, material handling engineering and package design. One of Les's greatest accomplishments at Packard was the design and construction follow-up for the North River Road complex. Without outside architects or engineers, Les and his staff designed and entire two and a half million square foot Packard North River road facility. When Les retired from Packard Electric, only two days elapsed before he began his second career- this one at Trumbull Memorial Hospital where he served for five years as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. He then had about two years of actual retirement before he joined St. Joseph Riverside. Les first came to the hospital in 1976 to assist with a construction program known as 'Radiology Addition'. He was supposed to work part-time, three hours or so a day, a couple of days a week. Within a few weeks, however, he was on the job full-time, a status he had maintained. Upon completion of the Radiology addition, plans were being formulated for Project 80's, a major construction and renovation program which included the creation of the hospital's South Wing. Les stayed on to oversee that monumental project and pick up various other responsibilities as time went by. He was also often involved with special projects on behalf of the hospital. Les had become a full-time administrator with the departments of Environmental Services, Laundry and Linen, Biochemical/Electronic Services, Maintenance, and Communications reporting to him on a regular basis. He had also been covering the Physical Therapy, Dietary, and Medical Diagnostic Services departments on an interim basis. He was known for his 'common sense' style of management and his respect for each individual. For those who knew and worked with Les, age was never a factor- most would never guess how many years he had under his belt. What they did see in Les was an energetic and experienced mover- a man who identifies a job and sets about getting it done. He did just that at St. Joe's for about 13 years, before retiring in 1990. Les had been active with St. Paul's Lutheran Church, serving on the Worship and Music Committees and having worked as Chairman of the Building Committee for a 1960's addition. He was a registered professional engineer, a member of the American Hospital Association, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. In the late 1960's he was chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Highway Committee which focused on the creation of the Warren Bypass. In the early 1970's he served as Warren Mayor Raymond Schryver's Chairman of the Safety and Highway Committee, and in 2000, he was inducted into the Packard Electric Hall of Fame. He enjoyed playing the trumpet, target shooting, and at one time, qualified as a pistol master. Les is survived by his wife of 62 years, Maxine Elizabeth Winters Sundranski, whom he married on March 20, 1944. Also surviving are his three daughters, Lynne Sudranski Bleier who has three children and lives in Melbourne, Fl., with her husband Barry Bleier, Kathryn Marie Green who has three children and lives in Albuquerque, NM., with her husband Rodney Green;, and Dianne Sudranski Runnestrand who has one child and lives in Cortland, OH., with her husband Jon Runnestrand. The family will receive friends at their home, this evening, May 19, 2006, from 6:00 PM - 8:00, located at 2345 HowlandWilson Rd. Cortland, OH. For Directions, please call: 330-637-4986. Services will be Saturday, May 20, 2006, at 12:00 pm at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Warren , OH, with calling hours one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Shafer-Winans Funeral Chapel, 164 N. High St. Cortland, OH. 44410. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Cortland, Ohio In lieu of flowers, material contributions can be made to: St. Puls Lutheran Chruch 2860 East Market St. Warren, OH. 44483 or/ St. Joseph Development Foundation 667 Eastland Ave. S.E. Warren, Oh. 44484 Friends and family may view this obituary and send condolences at: www.shaferwinanschapel.com

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Friday, May 19, 2006

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Saturday, May 20, 2006

12:00 - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Cemetery

Saturday, May 20, 2006

1:30 - 2:15 pm (Eastern time)

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