Retired Firestone Communications Executive, Mike Connor, Dies

Michael J. Connor, retired head of public relations and marketing communications for the former Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., passed away on July 12. He was 81.

Connor was instrumental in Firestone’s sports marketing activities, including major motorsport and professional golf and bowling events like the Indianapolis 500, PGA events at the Firestone Country Club and the Firestone Tournament of Champions PBA event held in Akron.

After retiring from the then Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., Connor spent five years as commissioner of the Professional Bowlers Association.

The graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University became a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving in the military, Connor joined Firestone, spending 34 years in advertising, public relations and marketing, retiring as vice president of marketing services.

He was an active community leader in Akron, and over the years served as chairman of the Akron Regional Development Board, president of the Akron Roundtable, president of the Board of Trustees of the Akron Golf Charities, and as a trustee for Akron City Hospital, the Akron Community Foundation, the Akron-Canton Regional Airport and the Sisler-McFawn Foundation.

In addition to his wife of nearly 60 years, Patti; Connor leaves behind his three children, Christopher Connor of Hunting Valley, Ohio; Tricia Connor Selio Arnold of Hudson, Ohio; Colleen Connor Coyne of Hudson, Ohio; their respective spouses Sara Herminghausen Connor, Thomas Arnold and Kevin Coyne; and grandchildren Daniel and Kevin Connor, Erin Connor Reif and her husband Nicholas Reif, John and Emily Selio, and Sean, Katie, and Timothy Coyne.

GRI recently conducted programs in Sri Lanka to empower women and motivate children under its Green x Circle initiative. The company said these endeavors aimed to address the needs of the community, focusing on both women empowerment and youth motivation.

GRI recently organized a training program titled "Management of household finance under current economic conditions" at the Ingiriya Rubber Collecting Center in Sri Lanka, South Asia led by Shashika Nimali, an NLP practitioner and life coach. The company said this initiative provided women in the industry with essential skills and knowledge to effectively manage household finances. GRI's tailored training sessions equipped participants with tools for informed decision-making, ultimately fostering greater financial security and independence, the company said.