Harold H Koppel

Harry was born on July 30, 1927, in Cologne, Germany, joining his parents Edith Koppel (Hayum), Siegfried (Fred) Koppel, and his sister Anneliese. The family escaped Germany in 1939 and moved to the United Kingdom until they succeeded in immigrating to the United States in 1940. They first settled in Ashtabula, Ohio, and then moved to Cleveland.

Harry is survived by his wife Lenore Koppel (Pfeffer), daughters Margie Jackel (Steve), Ruth Rosenblum (Barnett), and son Ted. Extended family includes seven grandchildren: Yuval Cohen, Hilla Lev, Allison Choate, Sara Koppel, Hannah Rosenblum, Jason Rosenblum, and Yanai Cohen z”l. Harry was the proud great-grandfather of six, Lawson and Layla Choate, Imri, Itamar, and Avigail Lev, and Madelyn Rosenblum.

Harry graduated from Collinwood High School in 1944, joined the Navy in 1945 and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Waukegan, IL until the war ended. He then returned to Cleveland where he attended Case Institute of Technology and received an M.S. in Electrical Engineering. He later attended John Carroll University for his M.B.A.

In July 1951 Harry married Lenore Pfeffer, the beginning of a nearly 74-year marriage.

Harry’s working career included two phases: He worked at Bailey Meter Company (later, Babcock and Wilcox) as an electrical engineer in the field of pressure vessels for power plants. Following his retirement from there, he achieved an M.B.A. and began a second career in the nuclear radiation detection product field with Harshaw Chemical Company (later St. Gobain Corporation).

Following retirement, Harry loved nothing more than traveling the world with Lenore, including destinations such as China, Brazil, South Africa, many places in Europe, along with several trips to Israel. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He also was an early adopter of any kind of technology. Until just months before his death, he texted, Zoomed, paid bills online, and played his favorite classical music via an app.

Harry was an indefatigable walker, often taking multi-mile treks through Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights, listening to music on his headphones. He enjoyed culture and the arts; he was a frequent visitor to the Cleveland Art Museum, and a long-term member of the Cleveland Chamber Music Society. He also attended Cleveland Orchestra concerts regularly.

Harry (and Lenore) moved to Judson Park in 2017 when Harry was age 90, where they made many new friends. Harry was elected President of the Residents’ Committee a few years later and was a friend to everyone who lived there. Until just weeks before his death, he played Scrabble and Bridge with friends at Judson Park

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Memorial Service 1:30PM Sunday, May 25 at Judson Park Mansion Meeting Room.

A In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Harry’s memory to either the Cleveland Art Museum or to the Judson Park Foundation.

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