John A. Hakkio
May 19, 1920 — February 04, 2010
- Birthplace:
- Conneaut, Ohio
- Resided In:
- Fairview Park, Ohio
- Visitation:
- February 12, 2010 [ view details ]
- Service:
- February 13, 2010 [ view details ]
- Cemetery:
- Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery [ view details ]
As an engineer, John A. Hakkio’s life’s work spanned some of the great projects and advances of 20th century American history. From the Tennessee Valley Authority’s power program to space missions, he was a part of several significant milestones for the country. Mr. Hakkio died Thursday at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, after a long illness. Born on May 19, 1920, the son of Finnish immigrants, Mr. Hakkio grew up on his parents’ farms in Conneaut, OH, and in upstate New York, near Jamestown. He commuted daily by train from Conneaut to Fenn College (now Cleveland State University), graduating with a B.S. in engineering in 1943. While an undergraduate, he worked on the TVA hydropower construction programs in Oak Ridge, TN, developing the needed power sources to fuel the nation’s war efforts during WW II. After college, he became a lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers, commanding an all-African-American unit charged with building bridges for operations in the Pacific theatre. Joining Cleveland Pneumatic Company (later Pneumo Corp.) after the war, Mr. Hakkio rose to become its chief of structures and director of engineering, developing airplane brake systems as air travel around the country soared. In the 1960s, he left Cleveland Pneumatic for a short time to work at NASA’s Lewis Research Center on the Centaur program, which greatly boosted rocket payloads. In retirement, Mr. Hakkio and his wife, Olga, traveled and volunteered in the community in such efforts as Meals on Wheels. They were also active members of Fairview Baptist Church, where he was an officer. Olga Hakkio preceded her husband in death on November 1, 1999. Calling hours for Mr. Hakkio are Friday, February 12, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Jenkins Funeral Chapel, 2914 Dover Center Road in Westlake, with a funeral service to be held at Jenkins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 13. Burial will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Mr. Hakkio was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Arvo, Arthur and George, sister Selmi, and son-in-law, Stanley R. Kerr; and is survived by daughter Joan Kerr and sons John P. (Terry) and Craig S. (Barbara); grandchildren Russell Kerr (Nora) and Bevitt Gibney (Darren); Jessica Hakkio (fiancé Dan Skelly), Matthew Lucarini and Christine Hakkio; and Andrew McCann (Nikki) and Rebecca McCann (fiancé Steven Burnett); and great-grandchildren Eamon Kerr, Patrick and Cameron Grealis, and Addison and Maci McCann.