Several notable residents passed away during 2012

LORAIN -- The following is a list of notable residents of Lorain County who died this past year.

o Herbert Jacoby, 84, who served as a Lorain County commissioner from 1985 to 1996, died Sept. 29.

In the political arena, Herbert Jacoby, a boxing aficionado, knew how to duck and weave and land a direct punch.

"It didn't matter who or what it was, it was full steam ahead, but not in a malicious way, but in a well-reasoned way," said George Koury, of Jacoby.


Koury served as a commissioner alongside Jacoby from 1985 to 1990. Koury described Jacoby as "a hardworking, principled guy who was not afraid to make the tough decision if it was in the best interests of the county."

Jacoby was responsible for getting adopted a solid waste management program, the recycling program, the emergency 911 program and helped with the formation of what began as Lorain County Together and became the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce and was responsible for the computerization of the justice system in the county, meaning the clerk of courts, the sheriff's office, the prosecutor's office and the court system. Jacoby is also credited with the passage of the county sales tax that generated nearly $7 million annually for the expansion of the Lorain County jail.

o Richard Kaplan, 59, of Elyria, a school board member and well-known businessman, died Dec. 10.

Kaplan and his family own Kaplan's Furniture, a downtown Elyria institution since 1936. Kaplan was elected to the school board in 2011, filling the seat left by Holly Brinda who was elected as Elyria's mayor.

In 1976, Kaplan joined his father, Lou, in working at the family furniture business founded by his grandfather, Sam Kaplan. In the mid-1990s, Kaplan guided the renovation and expansion of the Elyria store. In 2008, Kaplan's Furniture opened a store in North Olmsted.

The school board seat was Kaplan's first public office. He had previously chaired a 2003 school issue campaign and worked on other campaigns including the 2007 bond issue to fund the $70 million rebuilding of Elyria High School. Kaplan was a member of the Independent Citizens Committee which was instrumental in planning for the new high school.

o J. William McCray. 87, of Elyria, died Aug. 13.

McCray led a distinguished career in law that included more than 40 years of private practice. He also served as an assistant Lorain County prosecutor and acting Municipal court judge and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1958 and 1960. He then focused his energies on being a behind-the-scenes political player backing many successful politicians. and became a leading voice in a number of organizations that included his role as executive board member of the Disabled American veterans. His passion for flying led to his instrumental role in the formation of the Lorain County Regional Airport.

o Edward Imbrogno, 90, of Lorain, died Dec. 21.

He was born in Calabria, Italy and immigrated to the U.S. at age 6 with his family and made Lorain his lifelong home. He built a successful career in the precision machining industry and became known locally and nationally for his honesty and integrity as a businessman. His business career culminated as owner and president of Ohio Screw Products, Elyria, from 1977 to 2003. During that period of time, Imbrogno modernized and grew the company and developed a national sales network that allowed the company's products to be sold across the U.S. He was a former member and trustee for the Precision Machine Products Association and received its Gold Micrometer Award for noteworthy contributions to the industry.