George John Grabner, 98, died January 2, 2017. His career included chairman and CEO of The Weatherhead Company; chairman and CEO of Lamson & Sessions Company; and board member of multiple companies, including Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co. Inc.

He was the 1976-77 Industrial Fasteners Institute chairman and in 2011 received the IFI’s Soaring Eagle Award.

He was president of his class and a hockey player at Western Reserve University and attended Harvard Business School. He began his business career as a CPA with Ernst & Ernst.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer honored him as Business Man of the Year; Sales and Marketing Executives Man of the Year; and he received an honorary doctorate from Tri-State University. He was a founder of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association; chair of the Cleveland 500 Foundation; inducted into the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame; and a lifetime trustee of the University School and Case Western University. He was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame for bringing the Davis Cup Tournament to Cleveland and Mayor George Voinovich presented a Key to the City of Cleveland for his role in bringing financial stability to the city.

Survivors include children: George Jr. (Anne), Jan Casey (Thomas), John (Kathy); 8 grandchildren, 13 step grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three wives, Martha, Monica and Martha; and two children, Heidi and Thomas.

Memorial donations may be sent to: Recovery Resources, 3950 Chester Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 or University School, 2785 SOM Center Rd., Hunting Valley, OH 44022.

There will be a life celebration gathering from 3 pm to 5 pm January 13, 2017, at South Franklin Circle, 16575 South Franklin St., Chagrin Falls. Messages to the family: legacy.com/guestbooks/cleveland/george-john-grabner-condolences/183296198