PENINSULA, Ohio—Neil X. McHale, one of the founders of Eagle Elastomer Inc., died Oct. 10, just six days shy of his 86th birthday.
After graduating from high school in New York City, he spent three years with the New York City Police Department, before transferring to the New York Fire Department. After getting married, McHale attended Tri-State University in Angola, Ind., where he earned a bachelor's in chemical engineering in 1965.
Following graduation, he went to work for the international division of General Tire. He worked there for 15 years, training in Akron and then serving as a compounder in Venezuela, a technical manager in Portugal, a production manager in Iran and a plant manager in Tanzania.
He came back to Akron in 1980 and spent two years as a technical manager with a local company before founding Peninsula-based custom mixer Eagle Elastomer in 1983 with three other partners. McHale served as president, his wife, Tina, was finance manager, Frank Primovero was plant manager and Dave Brown was sales manager.
McHale retired as president in 2006, when his sons Regan (serving as president) and Neil (vice president of operations) took over management of the firm. He remained chairman of the board until 2018.
"The continued success at Eagle Elastomer Inc. is largely due to the foundation put in place by Neil, including the manufacturing processes, compounding strategies and the many business practices that made Eagle a great supplier and a wonderful place to work," his sons Regan and Neil said. "He was known for his common sense approach to problem solving, dedication to continuous improvement and personal development, as well as his warm sense of humor.
"We remember our dad for his generosity, guidance and leadership."
During his career, the elder McHale was a member of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the ACS Rubber Division and the Akron Rubber Group.
He his survived by his wife; sons Regan (Roma), Liam and Neil (Elena); nine grandchildren; sister Helen Hickey; brother Michael (Cathy) McHale; and sisters-in-law Cynthia (Jim) Carol and Susan Ashling.
Memorials can be made to Tunnels to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Suite 3, Staten Island, N.Y., 10306, or the Salvation Army, 190 South Maple St., Akron, Ohio, 44302.