Obituaries: Johnston And Tangye
George Johnston
OCALA, FL — George L. Johnston, founder and owner of the former George L. Johnston Co. in Detroit, MI, died here July 4. He was 96.According to his family, Mr. Johnston was born in Northwood, ON, Canada, moving to Detroit in 1923. After working for General Motors Corp. and Kelvinator, he started his own business in 1937.
Johnston Refrigeration Construction was a refrigeration business built with help from his wife, Betty. The company later became George L. Johnston Co., a wholesale-distributor of HVACR equipment.
George and Betty moved to Ocala in 1977, where he once more started a business, then selling it in 1985. George L. Johnston Co. was sold to Pameco Corp. in 1998.
Mr. Johnston was a member of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Ocala and a life member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
“He was a kind, sensitive, delightful man,” said one of his granddaughters, Ann Jucha. “My grandfather would constantly remind us to follow the golden rule, which he faithfully practiced.” Moreover, “He often told us how they worked around the clock, she [Betty Johnston] driving him from job to job so he could sleep en route.”
In addition to his wife of 70 years, Mr. Johnston’s survivors include a son, Lenard; a brother, Lyle; a sister, Eileen; two granddaughters, two step-granddaughters, and eight great-grandchildren. Another son, Lee, preceded him in death.
Memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army, 16130 Northland Drive, Southfield, MI 48075.
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William Tangye
BIRMINGHAM, AL — William J. Tangye, CEO of the International Code Council (ICC), passed away June 1 due to cancer and its complications. He was 57.Mr. Tangye joined the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) in 1975 as director of engineering services and chief engineer. In 1982, he was named CEO of the same organization. And before that, he was director of field engineering for the Building Owners and Code Administrators (BOCA) International.
“Bill was always the calming factor in the storm,” said William Duck Jr., president of SBCCI, to the ICC Newsletter. “Whenever he was in a meeting, he would let everyone have an opportunity to speak his piece.”
Mr. Tangye is survived by his wife, Elaine; sons James, William, and Benjamin; daughter Cayce; mother LaRue McKean; and sister Jeri McMillan.
The family has requested that memorials be sent to the William J. Tangye Scholarship Fund, SBCCI, 900 Montclair Rd., Birmingham, AL 35213; or to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, www.laf.org (website).
Publication date: 07/22/2002
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