Login | November 25, 2024
Summit DD Board pays tribute to Russ Pry
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: October 4, 2016
It’s been about two months since Summit County Executive Russ Pry passed away on July 31 after a short battle with colon cancer.
Members of the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board or Summit DD are doing their part to be sure the man who advocated on behalf of people with disabilities is not forgotten.
That’s why on Aug. 25 the Summit DD board passed a resolution to rename the Barberton Work Center the “Russ Pry Barberton Center.”
Randy Briggs, former Summit DD board president and deputy mayor for labor relations for the city of Akron, introduced the motion.
“Russ was a good friend to the DD board,” said Briggs, Pry’s former law partner and longtime friend. “He took an interest in what was going on and was always supportive of our levies. I think he is the only county executive who has ever been to our properties.”
Summit DD connects over 4,000 adults and children with developmental disabilities and their families to services in the county. While the nonprofit operates out of multiple locations, Briggs said renaming the one at 501 W. Hopocan Ave. in honor of Pry seemed the most fitting.
“The reason we chose the Barberton Center was that it’s our newest center and as a champion of working people and unions Russ would have felt most at home in the Barberton Center,” said Briggs.
Summit DD Superintendent John Trunk said the decision was made for several reasons.
“The county executive is required to appoint five of our seven board members,” said Trunk. “Two of those five need to be family members of people with disabilities. Russ Pry took particular care in making sure the people he appointed would move the board in the right direction.
He also made sure that the board was included in any conversations about employment and housing so that persons with disabilities were not overlooked when it came to employment opportunities and access to high quality affordable housing.”
Trunk said Pry’s First Things First initiative, which sought to improve the physical, mental health and early learning opportunities for young children in Summit County, helped those with developmental disabilities.
“By coincidence Russ was on hand for our ribbon-cutting ceremony when we opened the Barberton Center in 2010,” said Trunk.
“Collaboration with community partners, innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion were values that Russ lived by in serving the people of Summit County and we are very thankful that he practiced what he preached.”
While no official date has been set for the dedication ceremony, Trunk said it is expected to take place during the month of November.