Russel A. Graef, president and long-time company veteran of ContainerPort Group, Inc., which is headquartered in Cleveland, died Thursday, Oct. 26. He was 70 years old.
Since CPG’s founding in 1971, Mr. Graef held executive positions in all divisions of the business, including terminal operations, sales, logistics, fleet safety, trucking, depot/CY and M&R operations.
Russel A. Graef“Russ was a true company man focused on ContainerPort Group’s mission: To become intermodal’s best by achieving excellence in all we do,” said Fred Hunger, CEO of World Shipping, CPG’s parent company, in a website post. “He was capable of operating lift machines, dispatching trucks, presenting to the Board of Directors and everything in between.
“Having been active in the industry for over 45 years, Russ has touched many lives, enjoyed countless friendships and made a lasting impact on many with his creativity and passion for solutions.”
Throughout his career, Mr. Graef was active in a number of industry associations. He held leadership roles with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) and served on the Board of Directors of the American Trucking Association’s Intermodal Motor Carrier Conference (IMCC). He was also a founding board member of the North American Chassis Pool Cooperative (NACPC).
According to a published obituary, Mr. Graef was, “beloved husband of Debra (nee Hayward); loving father of Jeff (Cory), Kristen Nawn (Jeff), and Tom; dear step-father of Halley Jhass (Jeremiah) and Blake Vanderheyden; devoted grandfather of Hunter, Julia, Emma, Madeleine, MacKenzie, Alex, Peter, Hugh, Kate and Jordan; brother of Nancy Lawrence (Dick); former spouse of Linda Graef. ”
Friends may call at the Busch Funeral Home, 21369 Center Ridge Road, Fairview Park, Ohio, Thursday, Nov. 2 from 4-8 pm. Funeral service 11 a.m. Friday at the Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Lakeview Cemetery.
