Richard Auken

Richard A. Van Auken 78 of Fairlawn passed away on September 9 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents B. Loretta and Lewis C. Van Auken; and his sister Joan Van Auken Kennedy. Dick is survived by his loving wife Susan Duffy Van Auken; his children Bradley A. (Ann Currie) Van Auken Jill V. (William) Akins Mark A. Van Auken Duffy (Lori) Stanton David T. (Tricia) Stanton and Brian M. Stanton; grandchildren Ashley E. and Alexander J. Akins Jessica N. and Lindsay S. Stanton Ryan P. and Sarah M. Stanton; brothers Lewis C. (Lois) Van Auken II and Robert W. (Mary Ann) Van Auken. A Memorial Mass will take place at 1:00 PM Friday September 14 2012 at St. Hilary Catholic Church 2750 W. Market St Fairlawn OH 44333. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the University of Notre Dame Attn: Donor Services 1251 N. Eddy St South Bend IN 46617-1478; St. Ignatius High School 1911 W. 30th. St Cleveland OH 44113; Ashland University Attn: Development Office 401 College Ave Ashland OH 44805; and Beaumont School 3301 N. Park Blvd Cleveland Heights OH 44118. Dick was born and raised in Cleveland Heights Ohio. He attended St. Ann's and then St. Ignatius High School. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1956 - he played football for Notre Dame and was also in ROTC - he fulfilled his obligation to the Army and was a Captain at the end of his duty. He married Ann McPolin of Cleveland Heights Ohio and had three children: Bradley Jill (Van Auken) Akins and Mark He began his architectural career in Cleveland with Hayes and Ruth worked for Dalton Dalton Newport was a partner with Outcalt Guenther and opened up his own firm Van Auken Bridges which eventually became Van Auken Bridges Pimm Poggianti. He developed Quail Hollow Resort and Golf Club in Painesville Ohio working with the renowned Von Hagge Devlin design firm to build its first 18 hole golf course. Dick also devoted 3 years of his career serving as an executive for URS Corporation the global engineering services firm and opened their office in Detroit. His work in Cleveland and throughout the country was extensive and focused on educational facilities banks and industrial facilities. He bought Jennings and Churella Construction Co. in Wellington Ohio in 1987 turning it into a very successful Design/Build and Construction Management firm and also opened RAV Construction in Akron. Dick retired in 1998. He served on the University of Notre Dame Engineering College Board of Advisors for a number of years in the late 1970's and early 1980's leading the development of the Masters of Architecture program and the addition of the new School of Engineering facilities. Dick was Chairman of the Board at Ashland College transforming the school to a University in the late 1980's. Dick received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University. Dick married Susan in 1977 and helped raise her three sons Duffy David and Brian. Dick's three children all reside in the Cleveland area Brad graduated from Notre Dame and is Vice President General Counsel & Secretary at Associated Estates Realty Corporation Jill graduated from Notre Dame as well and is Founding Principal of Van Auken Akins Architects LLC; Mark resides in Norwalk and is responsible for maintaining a number of apartment buildings. Duffy and David Stanton both graduated from Bowling Green and followed in Dick's footsteps into the construction field with Duffy at Gunton Corporation and David with Industrial First. Brian received his degree from Ashland University and works for EGC. Dick has six grandchildren. Jill and her husband William's daughter Ashley who is a Junior studying Early Childhood Education at Ashland University and their son Alex a 7th grader at University School who enjoys Dick's favorite sports playing football and shooting skeet; Duffy and Lori's son Ryan a ninth grader and ace basketball player and daughter Sarah their soccer star; and David and Tricia's daughter Jessica a high school senior who loves to play flute and softball and daughter Lindsay a ninth grader who loves to compete in cheer and cheerlead. Dick was a great outdoorsman enjoyed golf hunting and horseback riding and was very involved in giving back to the community both philanthropically and with his time to many educational institutions feeding the homeless and taking meals to the infirmed through Mobile Meals.