DEER ISLE, Maine—Eric A. Sheard, founder, owner and president of Lescon Inc., died April 7 in Deer Isle, Maine, after a short illness. He was 83.
He was active in the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association, the New York Rubber Group and the Philadelphia Rubber Group. He held various key posts at all three organizations, including president and director of the PMA, chairman and director of the New York Rubber Group and director of the Philadelphia Rubber Group.
Sheard was employed at Johns-Manville Engineering in Mansville, N.J.; Trenton, N.J.-based Thiokol Chemical Co.; and Henley & Co. in New York City before launching Lescon in 1975. The company specialized in liquid elastomer, polyurethane, urethane raw materials, equipment and test units.
“Eric and I go back a long way at the PMA ... to the first meetings the association held (starting in 1971),” said Walt Smith, CEO and chairman of Thombert Inc. and a charter member of the organization.
“He and I attended every meeting since then until a year or two ago when he missed some meetings. He always gave unselfishly to the PMA. He was a good man.”
Sheard was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the PMA, where he chaired numerous committees, and the New York Rubber Group Appreciation Award.
He was a member and director of the Trenton Section of the American Chemical Society and was on the editorial advisory board of Elastomerics magazine.
A graduate of Newark College of Engineering, he served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56, assigned for much of the time to posts in Germany.
Sheard served as an elder/trustee of both the Hamilton Square and Flemington, N.J., Presbyterian churches before moving to Maine, where he was the moderator of the Deer Isle/Sunset Congregational Church for nine years. He sang in church choirs for most of his life and performed with the Peter's Cove Men's Chorale and the Bagaduce Chorale in Blue Hill, Maine.
An Eagle Scout, he was a 32nd degree Master Mason, formerly of the Grand Masonic Lodge in Trenton, and more recently with the Marine Masonic Lodge of Deer Isle. An avid sailor, he skippered for many years with the Princeton Ski and Sail Club of Princeton, N.J.
Sheard is survived by his wife of 56 years, Norma Voorhees Sheard, daughter Beth, son Jeff and their families.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name can be sent to the Music Fund, Deer Isle/Sunset Congregational Church, P.O. Box 292, Deer Isle, Maine 04627 or the Music Fund, Island Nursing Home, 587 N. Deer Road, Deer Isle, Maine 04627.
Mark D. Finn
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.—Mark D. Finn, who spent 35 years at the McLube Division of McGee Industries Inc., died April 20 after a long battle with cancer. He was 59.
Finn, born in Wilmington, Del., was vice president at McGee, located in Aston, Pa.
After earning his bachelor's degree at the University of Delaware, Finn joined McLube's sales team. He later earned his master's degree from West Chester University. In 2000, Finn was promoted to vice president of marketing and sales.
Finn was a member of several organizations, including the ACS Rubber Division; Association of Rubber Product Manufacturers; the Society of Tribologists; National Lubricating Grease Institute; Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering; American Composites Manufacturing Association; and the Society of the Plastics Industry.
“Mark was very well known throughout the rubber industry, and we know his presence will be missed,” the company said in a statement. “Mark was an important member of the McLube family, and we will continue with the same level of exceptional service and professionalism that our customers have always expected.”
Finn is survived by his wife, Linda DiLuzio Finn; sons Shawn D. Finn and Ryan M. Heffner; daughters Christine E. Finn and Kayli A. Finn; and his parents, George and Anne Arnold Finn.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 527 Plymouth Road, Suite 415, Plymouth Meeting, Pa., 19462. Online condolences may be made at www.griecocares.com.