PASSINGS: Gary Distelhorst
Garis (Gary) F. Distelhorst, 84, former CEO of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), on July 6 in Avon Lake, Ohio.
Distelhorst led the staff of the MIA (now the Natural Stone Institute) from 2002-2012. He guided the organization to meet the challenges of both the stone industry’s unprecedented growth in the early 2000s and its contraction during the Great Recession. During his term, the MIA strengthened its mission of industry education with coast-to-coast regional seminars and reached out for greater international cooperation with foreign stone-industry groups.
Prior to joining the MIA, Distelhorst worked for as CEO and executive vice president of the National Association of College Stores (NACS) and its for-profit subsidiary NACSCORP. After leaving the MIA, he served as executive director of Lorain County Community College Foundation. He also served on the board of the foundation.
Distelhorst also was a 47-year member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). He served on the group’s elected board of directors, ultimately as its chairman in 1995-1996. He received the group’s highest honor, the Key Award, in 1984, and also chaired the ASAE Foundation.
Distelhorst was born on Jan. 21, 1942, in Columbus, Ohio, to Harold and Ruth Distelhorst. He graduated in 1965 from The Ohio State University.
While attending the university, he joined the Navy ROTC program and received a commission as a U.S. Navy Ensign upon graduation. He served as ship supply officer on the USS Charles P. Cecil off the coast of Vietnam during the late 1960s and later served as Chief Administrative Officer at the Navy Supply Corps in Washington. During his service, he received the Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Commendation.
Distelhorst is survived by his wife of 53 years, Helen; a brother, Neil Disterhorst; son Garen and daughters Kristen and Alison, and nine grandchildren.
Visitation will be tomorrow (July 9) from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon Belden Road, in Avon Lake. Mass of Christian burial will be Friday (July 10) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 32929 Lake Road in Avon Lake.
Interment will be at a later date at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville, Ohio.
Gifts in his memory can be made to the Lorain County Community College Foundation.
