At a time when our world needs as much mirth as possible, a significant void was created last week with the passing of Hans Kramer.   I was fortunate to have known Hans since our days in the  Leadership Cleveland class of 1989, and I'll not soon forget those great times. Hans was best known for his wit and pointed sarcasm, but inside all of that was a caring, sensitive soul with an agile, inquiring mind. No statement in any debate was safe from his probing questions, which often were laced with a bit of that trademark humor.
 

                 Hans made people laugh, but he also made them think. And sometimes he made them care, when they might not have without his insight. He will forever be remembered by a core of Northeast Ohio's top executives as the leader of the pairings breakfast at the Ronald McDonald House Pro-Am Golf Tournament. After sharing a couple of hilarious golf jokes, Hans would introduce the tour pros, one by one, and call them forward to draw their foursomes of amateurs. Not only would he know more about the pros than anyone in the room, Hans would always share a quip or two about the talent (or lack of) in each pro's amateur groups. For many, breakfast was the highlight of the day.

                 D.A. Weibring, a pro golfer Hans had represented in his days as an International Management Group agent, was one of two people who shared their memories in the crowded sanctuary at Fairmount Presbyterian Church. He recounted his early lessons from Hans.  ``The lessons weren't just about golf,'' he said, ``but about how to handle yourself. Hans concentrated on the relationship (between the golfer and his sponsor) rather than the size of the deal.''  He recalled how, after he got his first sizable contract with a sponsoring company, Hans told him to immediately go out and buy some of the company's stock: ``They invested in you, he told me, now it's time for you to invest in them.'' He read some notes from a few prominent names in the golf world, among them IMG founder Mark McCormack, golf legend Arnold Palmer, and ABC announcer and Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange.  It was Hans' idea to bring in Curtis and European Captain Sam Torrance to play in the field of last summer's Ronald House pro-am tournament and be the guests at a benefit dinner the night before. It took much planning and organization, and happened largely because of Hans' perseverance.

             This was to be one of only two joint appearances the captains were scheduled to make in North America before this fall's Ryder Cup event, which now has been postponed because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America. ``I told Sam,'' Curtis wrote, ``that we would have a great time because it was a Hans Kramer signature event. The jokes would be great and the beer would be ice cold.''  D.A. concluded by predicting that Hans will find a way to make heaven a better place. ``In fact,'' he said, ``Hans may be right now presiding over the first golf tournament in heaven. ``There will be a great breakfast. There will be lots of fun.

We miss you, Hans.''

        Republished with permission courtesy of: Mr. Brian Tucker, Crain’s Cleveland Business   Volume: 22  Publication number: 44