Steve LaTourette, Chair of the Northeast-Midwest Institute’s Board of Directors since 2013, died on August 3 following a long illness. He was an unceasing advocate for the region and for the work of the Northeast-Midwest Institute, and he will be greatly missed.
Steve was a nine-term Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1995 to 2013. The northeast Ohio district he represented encompassed all of Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties and parts of Cuyahoga, Trumbull, Portage, and Summit counties. He was highly respected by his colleagues in the House, and an outpouring of tributes and sympathy from current and former Representatives and Senators has followed the announcement of his passing.
During four years as Chair of the NEMWI Board of Directors, Steve sought to strengthen the work and impact of the Institute. He worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of the region were in the forefront, especially economic and environmental priorities, most notably transportation, manufacturing, water quality, and Great Lakes issues.
Steve LaTourette’s distinguished career of public service, his extraordinary leadership of the Northeast-Midwest Institute, and his legacy working on behalf of Ohio and the region leave a legacy that will not be forgotten.
NEMWI’s Board of Directors and staff have expressed their condolences to the LaTourette family with a joint statement.