Obituary of Max H. Keck

  Max H. Keck passed away on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at Akron City Hospital.  He was born in Konstanz, Germany in 1919, and immigrated to the USA with his parents in 1924.  Max’s father was one of the twelve German aeronautical engineers who were brought to Akron by the Goodyear Zeppelin Corp. to design and build the great rigid airships “Akron” and “Macon”.   Max graduated from the College of Wooster in 1941 and earned his MS in chemistry from the University of Akron in 1945.  He worked as a research chemist for Goodyear Tire & Rubber for 43 years.   From 1943-1948, Max had the privilege of being a member of the polymer research team headed by Dr. Paul J. Flory, who left Goodyear in 1948 and later, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1974.  While at Goodyear, Max was granted 17 U.S. patents, and was granted numerous other patents which were issued in foreign countries.   He is listed in the 12th edition of “Who’s Who in the Midwest”.      A person of many interests and hobbies, Max enjoyed fishing, sailing, kayaking, tennis, gardening, listening to classical music, caring for his cats and the wildlife.  Photography was another passion; and over the years, he won many prizes and his photos of friends and family will be cherished forever.      He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joan; daughters Allison and Cindy, grandchildren Michael and Matthew Marignoni; Ryan and Lindsey Schultz.   A special thanks to the T-3 ICU and the Acute Palliative Care Unit at Summa for their compassionate care.   According to the wishes of Max and his family, there will be no calling hours or service.    In lieu of flowers, memorials could be made to One of a Kind Pets, 1929 W. Market St, Akron, Oh  44313 (oneofakindpets.org) or the American Heart Association, Great Rivers Affiliate, P.O. Box 15120, Chicago, IL 60693.