SPRING 2024
Distributor's Link Magazine Spring 2024 / Vol 47 No 2
Distributor's Link Magazine Spring 2024 / Vol 47 No 2
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50<br />
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK<br />
SPIROL INTERNATIONAL CORP.<br />
30 Rock Avenue, Danielson, CT 06239<br />
TEL 1-860-774-8571 EMAIL info@spirol.com WEB www.spirol.com<br />
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF HANS H. KOEHL<br />
December 19, 1934 – November 30, 2023<br />
Hans passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife<br />
Christina, son Jeff, and close friend Russ on November<br />
30, 2023. Born in Stolberg, Germany to the late Herman<br />
Koehl and Maria Altdorf Koehl, Hans immigrated with his<br />
mother, father and two sisters, Gerda and Emmy, to the<br />
United States in 1948 and settled in Woodstock, CT.<br />
Hans quickly mastered the English language and<br />
skipped ahead two grades within his first year at The<br />
Woodstock Academy. After graduating from Killingly<br />
High School in Dayville, CT, Hans went on to earn<br />
his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with<br />
distinction from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in<br />
1956, and his Juris Doctorate from Stanford University<br />
in 1958.<br />
A brilliant engineer and keen businessman, Hans<br />
joined Connecticut Engineering and Manufacturing<br />
Company (now called SPIROL) in 1959 after passing the<br />
bar in both California and Connecticut. Hans was elected<br />
Executive Vice President and Counsel in 1962, and<br />
President in 1965, before becoming Chairman and Chief<br />
Executive Officer in 1969. Under his leadership, the<br />
company was transformed from a small, family-owned<br />
business into a world-renowned manufacturing company<br />
with locations on 4 continents and in 13 countries.<br />
Hans retired from active management of SPIROL<br />
as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2004 after<br />
45 years of dedicated service, yet remained a steadfast<br />
leader as Chairman of the Holding Board of Directors and<br />
Managing Director of SPIROL Europe, and as Trustee and<br />
founding member of the SPIROL Charitable Foundation.<br />
In support of his commitment to education and passion<br />
for engineering, Hans spearheaded the establishment<br />
of the SPIROL Scholarship Program which has awarded<br />
over $1 million to local students dedicated to community<br />
service who pursue a degree in engineering, basic<br />
science and manufacturing technology. His unwavering<br />
financial support of local schools funded the expansion<br />
of facilities and the implementation of new programs in<br />
support of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,<br />
Art and Mathematics) at several local schools of<br />
Northeastern Connecticut.<br />
Firmly dedicated in giving back to the local<br />
community, Hans held several Directorships serving<br />
on the Board of Directors of the CT Bank & Trust, the<br />
Danielson Federal Savings and Loan Association, the<br />
Crystal Water Company, Linemaster Switch (Woodstock,<br />
CT) and Prym Dritz Corp (Spartanburg, SC).<br />
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 51