Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Stephen Russell Shinn, son of the late George and Alexandria Shinn, died peacefully in his home on September 8th, 2021. He was born in Akron, Ohio on the 14th of January 1947, a birthday he shared with both his twin sister and their mother. After graduating from Green High School in 1965, Steve enrolled in the Goodyear Apprentice Program. In 1971, he completed his studies as a Machine Repairman and worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. until his retirement in 2002.
A man well-versed in engines of all kinds, Steve knew how to clean a cog and gently shift a gear so that a machine ran smoothly, with perfect efficiency. He applied this knowledge to all areas of his life—as a drag racer, a Mopar enthusiast, a softball coach, a devoted family man, and a friend to all, the rare someone who truly knew no enemies.
Steve lived a life of moral integrity. He believed in fairness, honesty, loyalty, courage, and fortitude. He believed that the way you presented yourself in all things mattered—even down to using your neatest handwriting on an envelope. He believed that you shouldn’t give your opinion unless you are asked, and even then, you should hesitate, especially regarding politics. He believed that if you had nothing kind to say, then you should say nothing at all. He believed that you should be kind to your friends, and sometimes even kinder to those who sought to hurt you. He believed that the best way to make change in this world was by fixing the things within your reach, to make the way easier for the person coming behind you.
Steve believed himself to be a common man, but he was nothing of the sort—he was a rare gem—a humble, generous, quick-witted, dry-humored human who took great joy in the simplicity of his own being and brought a sense of peace and security to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed, and long remembered by the actions of those whose lives he deeply influenced, and who attempt to continue his legacy of grace.
Besides his parents, Steve was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Cinda. He is survived by his daughter, Kelley (Scott Bradley) Shinn; son, Christopher (Robin Burbick) Shinn; grandchildren, Cecilia and Silas; sisters, Laura Pettus and Sandra (John) Smith; sister-in-law, Mindy (Terry) Hill; many loving nieces and nephews, waitresses and friends, especially his morning coffee klatch pals from the parking lot next to the Coventry McDonalds.
Funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. on Monday, September 13, 2021 at Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, Ohio 44319; Steve’s car show friends are asked to wax up and bring their best show pieces for a classic car procession to the cemetery. Family and friends may call on Sunday from 1 to 4 P.M. at the funeral home. Interment will take place at East Liberty Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in Steve’s name to northeast Ohio National Public Radio at wksu.org or WKSU, PO Box 5190, Kent Ohio 44242-0001. To leave a special message online for the family, visit our website at www.schermesserfh.com
SCHERMESSER
(330) 899-9107
www.schermesserfh.com
Memorial Contributions:
WKSU
Northeast Ohio National Public Radio
P.O. Box 5190
Kent OH 44242-0001
Web: https://www.wksu.org
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stephen R. Shinn, please visit our floral store.
WKSU (Northeast Ohio National Public Radio)
P.O. Box 5190, Kent OH 44242-0001
Web: https://www.wksu.org