Though Irving J. Olson and his late wife, Ruth, moved away from Akron 18 years ago, their hearts never left their hometown.
Mr. Olson passed away on Oct. 1 in his sleep at his home in Oro Valley, Ariz. He was 102.
Mr. Olson moved to Akron at age 6 and “vowed to make a financial success of his life, travel the world and pursue his interests,” according to his obituary.
He did all of those things — and then some.
“The Olsons were a very colorful couple in Akron and into lots of things that mattered in town,” said longtime friend and Akron civic leader Mary Ann Jackson.
While both were very supportive of the arts in Akron, Mr. Olson’s love was the Akron Symphony and Mrs. Olson’s love was the Ohio Ballet, Jackson said. Mr. Olson even won the chance to conduct the Akron Symphony a few times via an auction and loved it so much that he won a similar chance to conduct the Tuscon Symphony after he moved to Arizona, Jackson said.
Mr. Olson’s obituary requested in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Akron Symphony in his honor.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to Irving Olson and his family for the years of support they have provided to the community through their contributions to the Akron Symphony,” said Paul Jarrett, executive director of the Akron Symphony. “He will be greatly missed.”
Mr. Olson started a one-man radio repair business in downtown Akron and built it into Olson Electronics, a coast-to-coast, 95-store chain and mail-order business. He sold the business to Teledyne in 1968.
He retired at the age of 50.
The Olsons traveled the world extensively, logging 135 countries before his dislike of airports caused him to end his travels at age 98, his obituary said. His wife of 71 years, Ruth, passed away in 2011.
He is survived by his son, Stephen (Laura) Olson of San Francisco; daughter Carolyn (Michael) Stelman of Oro Valley, Ariz.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Among Mr. Olson’s hobbies were building steam engines and clocks from scratch.
But his lifelong passion was photography. It earned him international awards. According to his obituary, he was the first amateur photographer invited to have a one-man exhibit in New York’s Grand Central Station.
At age 98, he became widely known for his development of “water drop photographs.”
Right before Mr. Olson turned 100, friends and family celebrated his birthday a week early. “He wasn’t taking any chances,” Jackson said.
During the celebration, he was surprised with an honorary doctorate from the University of Akron.
“The degree from the university was a total surprise. He was very thrilled,” said Jackson. Olson had attended the UA shortly before leaving to start his business after a “spotty academic career,” according to his obituary.
“His reputation was redeemed on his 100th birthday when he was presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree by that same university,” his obituary said.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty