Summit County Executive Russ Pry died Sunday, two days after announcing he wouldn’t seek a third term because of health reasons.
Pry, 58, died just weeks after he was diagnosed with colon cancer during a routine screening.
On June 14, he had laparoscopic surgery at Cleveland Clinic Akron General and expected to be back at work in several weeks.
But the first week in July, he was re-admitted for a second surgery to repair a tear in his small intestine.
Pry, who has served nine years as county executive, has remained hospitalized since.
On Friday, he announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in November because of health concerns. The announcement didn’t hint at the seriousness of his condition.
Rumors of Pry’s death began circulating Sunday afternoon.
A news release put out by Pry’s office Sunday evening said that Pry will be remembered as a leader who restored stability in county government, led the county through financial upheaval that began in 2008 with the housing crash and cared and honored the men and women who served in the military.
“[He] created and kept jobs in Summit County for thousands of people, and made all of us think more about the children and less fortunate in Summit County,” the release said. “He was a leader that came along at the right time, and will be sorely missed by this community.”
Pursuant to the Summit County Charter, County Council President Ilene Shapiro will be sworn in immediately as interim county executive until such time as the Central Committee of the Summit County Democratic Party meets to appoint a person to serve as executive for the balance of Russ’ term, which expires on December 31.