Edward Conrad Jr., founder of the Conrad's Tire Express & Total Car Care chain, died peacefully on Oct. 24, 2015, in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He was 84.
Conrad was born May 24, 1931, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Edward Conrad, Sr. and Marie (St. John) Conrad. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1949, and served as a master sergeant in the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, during the Korean Conflict.
He worked in his former family business, Conrad's Church Goods, with his parents and siblings until striking out on his own in 1969. That's when he started Conrad's Automotive Tire and Car Care Center Inc. He opened his first store, an independent Goodyear dealership, on Snow Rd. in Parma, Ohio, and continued to grow the business to its present level of 36 locations in Northeast Ohio.
According to his obituary, he is "ever grateful for the talent and devotion of his management teams in all his businesses led by John Turk."
Conrad's Automotive Tire and Car Care is the 33rd on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 list of the largest independent tire dealers in the U.S.
Conrad also expanded his business holdings by acquiring Elyria Spring and Specialty Co. and S&H Industries.
Conrad is survived by his wife, Joan (Dever) Conrad, to whom he was married for 64 years; his children Edward Conrad III (Linda), Mary Jo Morse (Mike), Sharon Conrad and Robert Conrad (Laurel); grandchildren Mark Mattson, Bradley Mattson, Jeffrey Mattson, Megan Mattson, Christopher Mattson, Kerry Morse Tudor (Andrew), Matthew Morse, Courtney Conrad and Carolyn Conrad; and great-grandchildren Kennedy Mattson and Ayden Tudor. He is also survived by his brothers William (Marilyn) and Dennis (Deborah). He was preceded in death by his sister, Jeanne Steiger, and brother-in-law, Daniel Steiger.
The family will receive friends at McGorray-Hanna Funeral Home of Westlake 25620 Center Ridge Rd. (west of Columbia) on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 525 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, OH 44140, on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10:30 a.m., with interment immediately following at Lakewood Park Cemetery, 22025 Detroit Rd., Rocky River, OH 44116.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the St. Ignatius High School Scholarship Fund, 1911 West 30th St., Cleveland, OH 44113, or to the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, 2600 Lander Rd., Pepper Pike, OH 44124.
