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SPRING 2024

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

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