The City of Tiffin remembers Rich Focht, former City Administrator, longtime economic development leader and City Council President following his passing this week. Focht died Monday, March 4, at the age of 76.
After college and then service in the Armed Forces, Focht worked with his father at Focht Brothers Construction, and then joined the City of Tiffin as City Administrator from 1988-1990, before going on to lead the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce and Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC), now Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, as President and CEO for nearly 25 years. While in economic development, Focht lead the city to invest in Northstar Industrial Park and Eagle Rock Industrial Park. He also recruited many businesses, including TAIHO and American Fine Sinter, traveling to Japan with then-Mayor Bernie Hohman in 2001 to welcome the companies to Seneca County.
Following retirement, Rich went on to serve the residents of the 4th Ward as a City Councilmember, and then as Council President from 2019-2021. He also was a member of the Civil Service Commission.
The City of Tiffin honors and thanks Focht for his many years of dedication to our community. Our thoughts go out to his wife, Marcia, their children, his grandchildren and everyone whose lives he touched.