Marlin Co. vice president dies

Tom Kujawa, vice president of account services and longtime employee for the Marlin Co., died June 2. He was 59.

Dennis Marlin, owner and president of parent company The Marlin Network, said Kujawa died moving chairs while working at a private storage unit off the clock. Marlin said Kujawa's cause of death hadn't yet been confirmed.

Kujawa was hired as an account executive the same year the company started in 1985.

"He's been a key leader and employee for those 25 years," Marlin said. "He was a very outstanding strategic thinker."

Marlin said Marlin Co. President Mike Stelzer and other company employees have stepped in to handle Kujawa's responsibilities as the company evaluates how to move forward without him.

"The team is definitely rallying around the situation," Marlin said. "You just don't replace a person that has that much history with you."

Marlin said Kujawa was responsible for all Marlin Co. accounts, including Starbucks and Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

Kujawa is survived by his wife, Lenette; his parents, Walter and Mary Kujawa; and his brother and sister-in-law, Michael Kujawa and Christa Hoffmann, according to an obituary posted on the Web site of Greenlawn Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. tomorrow at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole St. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. June 8 at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 2210 W. Republic Road.

Marlin said condolences have poured in from the community, including from company clients.

"(Kujawa) was well respected not only in our company but in the industry," Marlin said, noting Kujawa also was a mentor for younger employees. "It's a sad day for the company."[[In-content Ad]]