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Frederick Ivan Albrecht, retired Acme executive
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008
To Frederick Ivan Albrecht, the essential elements in the grocery business were fairly simple.
''The basics were serving the customer and keeping the stores clean and well-stocked.'' That was the philosophy of Mr. Albrecht, the grandson of the Akron grocery store founder, who died at home Sunday, said Steve Albrecht, his son and current president of the F.W. Albrecht Grocery Co.
Mr. Albrecht, 90, who retired as chairman of the board of the company a quarter century ago, died ''peacefully in his sleep with gladness in his heart,'' Steve Albrecht said.
The retired grocery store executive had 50 years of service with the company that does business as Acme Fresh Markets.
During his retirement, Mr. Albrecht stayed connected to the business and ''liked to come and go and observe and think about things and render his advice,'' Steve Albrecht said.
All in all, his father ''was more of a cheerleader than an adviser,'' he said.
Mr. Albrecht's grandfather,
F.W. Albrecht, founded the grocery chain in 1891.
''He recognized that the business had moved way beyondwhat he had to deal with,'' said Steve Albrecht.
His father's goal, he said, ''was to see the company go into another generation.''
The grocery chain now operates 15 stores plus one franchise store, in Summit, Portage, Stark and Cuyahoga counties.
As tough of a business as the grocery business is, Steve Albrecht said, his father believed ''you can always figure it out. There is a way.''
Mr. Albrecht graduated from Western Reserve Academy, Colgate University and the University of Akron Law School.
He was a great reader of history who loved to travel and enjoyed spending time with his family, his son said.
When his father retired, Steve Albrecht told him he thought he needed a hobby.
''He said, 'You are my hobby,' '' Albrecht said.
For more than 25 years, Mr. Albrecht was a regular in a group of friends — all community leaders — who met every Saturday on the mezzanine of Acme No. 1 on West Market Street in Akron.
The friends gathered at noon Saturday and called themselves ''The Balcony Boys.''
He was president of the Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Co., president of Albrecht Inc., and was on the board of directors of BankOne, Ruhlin Construction Co. and Akron Savings and Loan.
He was also active with the Akron Area Community Improvement Corp., the Little Hoover Commission and served on the board of Akron Children's Hospital.
He served as chairman of the Akron sesquicentennial festivities, volunteered at the University of Akron when it was a municipal school, served as United Way chairman and vice chairman of Akron Small Business Development Corp.
Mr. Albrecht was president of the University of Akron Foundation and president of the Hilltoppers Club.
He received the University of Akron Alumni Honor Award, the Industry Service Award from the Ohio Grocers Association, and received the Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award with his wife, Francia.
Mr. Albrecht, an Army veteran of World War II, is survived by his wife, Francia; six children, Heather, Ivan, Gwyneth Stites, Steve, Tatiana Harris and Monica Kridler; along with 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements were being made by the Billow Funeral Home.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
To Frederick Ivan Albrecht, the essential elements in the grocery business were fairly simple.
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