Joseph J. Hermiller

Joe Hermiller, 84, of Toledo Ohio passed away on Thursday, October 7, 2010. Born December 9, 1925 in Toledo, Ohio, he was the son of Oscar Hermiller and Anna McNamee Hermiller. On August 20, 1956 he married Mary Louise Maier in Toledo, Ohio. Joe graduated from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, and went on to earn both Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees in History from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. Joe was a teacher for 50 years, including 47 years with the Toledo Public Schools, with more than 30 years at E.L. Bowsher High School. He also taught part time at Mary Manse College in Toledo for more than 20 years. During summers he worked in the Circulation Department at the Toledo Blade. Joe primarily taught American History. Joe's love of history and interest in American history was lifelong. He was well-known, both in out of the classroom, for his history story-telling. On family vacations he took his family to historical landmarks, inspiring their interest in history as well. Throughout the years Joe was the faculty mentor for many student teachers. For many years he taught an Advanced Placement American History course, preparing high school students with college level coursework. While at Bowsher High School Joe was the advisor for the quiz bowl team. He also founded and, for over 20 years, ran a Northwest Ohio quiz bowl league of teams from 15 high schools. In 1999 the Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence, a nonprofit organization which runs the National Scholastics Championship (a national high school quiz bowl competition) awarded their second annual Benjamin Cooper Academic Ambassador Award to Joe for his long-standing commitment to academic competition in Northwest Ohio. Joe was an avid sports fan, especially following both high school football and the Toledo Mudhens. He was a booster for the football teams of Bowsher (where he taught), Central Catholic (his alma mater), and St. John's (his sons' alma mater) High Schools in Toledo. Joe was a member of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Catholic parish since its inception in 1957. Joe also belonged to their Knights of Columbus. Joe is survived by his wife Mary Lou of Toledo, Ohio and his three children James and Dixie Hermiller of Brownsburg, Indiana; Thomas Hermiller of Rolling Meadows, Illinois; and Susan Hermiller and Mark Brittenham, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral home, 1770 Reynolds Rd on Sunday October 10, 2010 from 2-8 p.m. where a vigil service will be held at 7:00. Funeral services will begin in the mortuary on Monday Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m. followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church. Interment will follow in Resurrection cemetery.

Joseph J. Hermiller

December 9, 1925 - October 7, 2010