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Robert F. Holscher, the executive director and CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, died Friday morning at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Edgewood after recently being diagnosed with cancer.Holscher, 68, started his career at the airport as a firefighter in 1961. He was a leader for more than 30 years, after becoming executive director in 1975, in the international center of transportation and commerce in this region.
“Mr. Holscher took great pride in the airport and in the region he called him his entire life,” said H. Lawson Walker II, chairman of the board.
“He was the architect of CVG becoming major international gateway that brought millions o passengers and thousands of jobs to our region. He was a leader and an innovator who will be greatly missed.”
To Ted Bushelman, the airport's senior director of communications, Holscher was not only his boss but his best friend.
"He was a great human being. He cared about people," Bushelman said. "Under his leadership, we got the (Delta Air Lines) hub. He was responsible for the airport's growth and thousands of jobs."
Bushelman said the loss extends beyond the airport and Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region to the entire airport industry. He said as news of Holscher death spread on Friday, he has been receiving calls from across the country and around the world. Holscher has served as president of the Airports Council International/North America, a part of the worldwide industry association that includes the United States and Canada, and was known and respected among airport officials around the world.
Dale Huber, CVG’s deputy executive director will assume Holscher’s duties in the interim.
Survivors include his fiance, Peggy Alig; a daughter, Heather Tanner; sisters, Margaret Helmes, Betty Hendley, Bea Panaro and Martha Kunkemueller; brothers, Richard and John Holscher; and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Church, 314 Hawthorne Ave., Cincinnati. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Radel Funeral Home, 650 Neeb Road, Cincinnati.
Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School, 3001 Price Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45205 or the Robert F. Holscher Boone County 4H Council Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 876, Burlington, KY 41005.
