Obituaries
Frederick Aho, 81
Frederick Aho, 81, of Lititz, passed away on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009, at Lancaster General Hospital. Born in Ely, MN, he was the son of the late Gustav A. and Helia (Tuikka) Aho. Fred was married to Mary Jo (Reutter) Aho on August 23rd, 1952, in Valley City, Ohio. He served his country in the U.S. Army during WW II. He was a life member of the New Jersey Association of Secondary School Principals and Supervisors and of the Ohio State University Alumni Association and a member of the Ohio State University Buckeye Club. He was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Lititz, PA. Fred loved to travel and had visited all fifty states and many countries throughout the world. He enjoyed reading and had special interests in Civil War history and railroading. He was a sports fan and closely followed the Ohio State Buckeyes, holding season football tickets for many years.
Dr. Aho was a graduate of Harvey High School in Painesville, Ohio, and received B.S. and Masters Degrees from the Ohio State University. He was awarded a Doctorate in Education from Rutgers University. He taught high school English and history for 2½ years and was a principal for 21 years in four different high schools in Ohio and New Jersey. In 1963 he received the WABC Principal of the Year All Americans Salute. He retired as Executive Director of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1990. He chaired numerous evaluation committees in public and private high schools and co-authored school evaluation publications. He served on the Executive Committee of the National Study of School Evaluation and on the Board of Trustees of the American School in Lansing, IL. He received distinguished service awards from the N.J. Principals and Supervisors Association, the National Study of School Evaluation Association, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education, the American School, and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Jo; two sons, Mark, husband of Donna Aho of Lancaster and Gavin, husband of Stacie Kahl-McLane of Red Lion, one daughter, Kristi, wife of James Kraft of Owings Mills, MD; nine grandchildren, Andrew Aho, Erin Aho, Daniel Kraft, Aaron Kraft, Evan Aho, Michael Aho, Samantha Kahl, Natasha McLane, Lilly Aho; and one sister, Katrine Aho, of Memphis, TN. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Gerhard, Jonathan, and Edmond Aho and one sister, Edith Boylan.
A Memorial Service will be held at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church 308 Petersburg Rd, Lititz, PA, 17543 on Thursday, April 16th, 2009, at 11AM with Rev. Jeffrey N. Webb officiating. There will be a visitation from 10AM until the time of the service. Interment will be at Indiantown Gap VA National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Fred’s memory to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. Arrangements by the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Chapel Inc. Lititz, PA, 17543 (717) 560-5100. To send an online condolence, please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.com.
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Condolences to the Family
October 11, 2014
Dr. Aho was the most amazingly kind and tolerant principal. I know because he put up with me and even encouraged me. He was a good sport.
Kevin Dunn
Ramsey High Class of 1974
February 19, 2014
Fred Aho was the initial principal of the newly built Governor Livingston Regional High School in Berkeley Heights NJ. I was in its first freshman class. Fred Aho was a very well respected and loved man at our school. When we first opened in 1960, the Vice Principal announced that our principal had come “from the midwest” and to make him feel at home the elongated oval of grass between the road and the school’s drive would be called “Aho’s Prarie” and was to remain in perfect condition — untrod and unlitered. And so it did during my four years there.
In the fall of my junior year (62/63) we students participated in the “Principal of the Year” contest sponsored by WABC radio in NYC, NY. Just before the contest closed, we delivered multilple truckloads of boxes containing our ballots to WABC, 30 miles from our school. It took WABC months to validate and count our ballots! Thus we won the contest mentioned in this obituary and won a console, color TV for Fred Aho. The prize was presented by the famous WABC DJ “Cousin Brucie” at a school assembly in the Spring of 1963.
I have very fond memories of this man.
Jim Frysinger (born and raised through 8th grade in Lima OH)
Dear Mary Jo and kids,
My dad called and told me about Fred and to say the least, I was shocked and saddened. You all hold a special place in our hearts not only for the special relationship between Fred and my Dad, but the way your family helped ours through the years. It’s hard to believe that we won’t be hearing "Geez Carl" anymore. Those two were so competitive with each other. As we all look back, there are special people and special moments that help to define our cherished memories, Fred was certainly one of those special people, and he was part of many special moments. All of our love and prayers to you all.
Chuck Crawford
To Mark & Donna Aho
My deepest condolences.
Bill Clayton
Dear Mary Jo, I have such happy and fun, as well as admiring, memories of Fred. He was a wonderful "first" boss for me at Ramsey High School beginning in January 1973. I missed him when he left to go to Middle States. He was always so willing to listen to ideas from everyone from the top to the bottom which was a breath of fresh air. I was widowed 12 years ago and have recently remarried very happily. You and your entire family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Fondly, Cynthia Porter MacKinnon
I was privileged to work for and with Fred Aho at Ramsey High School in NJ. He was a kind man, a true professional, and a pleasure to know. I know his friends and family will miss this special guy. I am sorry for your great loss. Sincerely,
Sue Simon
Cape Cod, MA
To the Aho Family,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Fred. I worked for him at Ramsey High School in the late ’70’s. He was a good and caring man who was passionate about education. He introduced me to the Middle States Association, and I served on many committees over the years.
I regret that I did not get to see him recently at the viewing of Ed Cooper.
My thoughts are with you.
Tom Melville
