Jonathan Gail Herrmann's Obituary
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
A. A. Milne
Jonathan Gail Herrmann
September 5, 1952 - February 1, 2023
Jonathan G. Herrmann, age 70, passed away on February 1, 2023. Cherished husband to Joanne E. (Meaney) Herrmann for 47 years; beloved father of Andrew (Jenna) J. Herrmann of Dublin, Ohio; Proud grandfather of Landon Herrmann, Andrew Herrmann and Thomas Herrmann.
Devoted brother to Jeffrey (Kathy) Herrmann of Erie, PA. and siblings-in-law: Barbara (Richard) Mastriana; Suzanne (Jeffrey) Kelly; and Lee (Kathy) Meaney, all of Northeast Ohio. Jon also leaves behind countless nieces, nephews and family friends who brought him joy.
He was predeceased by daughter Meredith and parents Catherine G. (Pinney) and Robert L. Herrmann.
Jonathan enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Often this time was spent at home and going to movies or out to dinner. For relaxation, he loved to listen to smooth jazz music. Jon also loved to travel and encouraged his family to visit most of the fifty states through family trips enjoyed with his wife and son. He was deeply passionate about the environment and loved the outdoors. When able, he loved hiking and camping with his son, Andrew. This love was exemplified by both his and his son’s involvement in Boy Scouts. Most notably he and his son were proud of their shared completion of a 112 mile hike on the Philmont Boy Scouts property in New Mexico and also Andrew’s eventual achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. Jon enjoyed watching sports and was a steady fan of Cincinnati and Ohio teams. He shared his son’s passion for soccer, enjoying competition at all levels from TimBits games played by his grandsons to the United States participation in numerous World Cups.
Jonathan graduated from Youngstown State University in 1975 with a B.S. in Engineering and maintained a certification as a Professional Engineer (PE). He later completed his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Xavier University in 1987. Jon was proud that his commitment to engineering also inspired his son Andrew, among others, to become engineers. Throughout his 37 year professional career, Jonathan aspired to the ideals of servant leadership, quietly and humbly supporting and leading teams in various capacities within the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to positively impact the environment and protect our country.
Jon took deep pride in his strength with startup projects, eventually serving as a consultant to other business leaders in his retirement years. The pinnacle example of this talent was at the peak of his career, when Jonathan served as the first National Director of Homeland Security for USEPA Research following the tragic events of 9/11. Jon was tasked with the development of an entirely new national program built to ensure that the United States has robust strategies and infrastructure guaranteeing the safety of the country’s water, air and infrastructure. After retirement, he went on to devote many hours as an Executive Board Member of FEIAA (Federal Executives Institute Alumni Association) where he chaired the annual national training event as a program director. Always subtle, even in light of his professional accomplishments, Jon was known first for his quiet humility and his loyalty to his country, his family and his friends.
Jonathan’s indomitable spirit enabled him to triumph as a professional, a husband and as a father. For most of his life, he fiercely battled chronic disease. Jon's resilience ensured that the illness did not hold him back from bringing his best self forward for the service of others. Jon survived countless treatments and surgeries, but continued to work to serve his country and care for his family - always wearing a smile that could light up a room. Jon endured an incredibly complex six organ transplant surgery at University Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in 2009, which amazingly added nearly fourteen additional years to his life. Despite a daunting recovery, Jon was able to work an additional four years and retired proudly. He was blessed to be able to dance at his son’s wedding and eventually get to know and love each of his three beloved grandsons. Until the very end, he smiled, laughed, and loved deeply.
A living private Celebration of Life was held with Jonathan and immediate family in the month leading up to his passing. Per his wishes, Jonathan’s ashes will be scattered at a beloved nature preserve and along the Gulf of Mexico. Trees will also be planted in his honor.
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