Dr. Max V. Grubb

SILVER LAKE - Dr. Max V. Grubb, 68, died unexpectedly on June 22, 2024.

Max, son of Carl and Euva Grubb, was born in Medina, Ohio, in 1955. For the past 20 years, he lived in Silver Lake with his wife of 30 years, “Shana” Jane Steinhouse, and daughter, Sophia.

Raised in Medina, Ohio, Max graduated from Medina High School. Max was the first person in his family to go to college, earning a BA from Ohio University, a MS from Kent State, and finally a Doctorate in Mass Communications from Ohio University, specializing in International Media Systems and Development Communications.

Max got his love of learning from his dad. A small-town guy, he worked hard to expand his horizons. In the Boy Scouts, he earned the rank of Eagle. An avid reader, he voraciously consumed information on current events, history, crime fiction, legal thrillers and books about international intrigue. He was a hard worker and took advantage of every extra opportunity to learn. He studied with Robert Bly, did sweat lodges, and joined the Mytho-Poetic Men’s Movement. He collected antique radios. He had a distinctive laugh that his friends heard often. He was passionate about democracy, and fair, transparent, and honest reporting. He was a committed member of CoDA, celebrating 35 years in that program just before he died. Premarriage, he had an endowed Chair at Bob Evans. He was adventurous. He loved to travel, especially to historic sites. He loved to banter about politics.

Max was as committed to teaching as he was to learning. Recognizing the power that the media holds, he instilled in his students the responsibility to reflect the truth to serve the highest good. He wanted them to be critical thinkers, learning how to discern and make critical choices. Mentoring scores of students over the years, he cared about their personal lives, forming lifelong relationships with many of them. He enjoyed taking his students abroad and regularly planned global media systems tours of London and Paris.

Max always said he had a face for radio, so he worked for 15 years in the field of broadcast management before returning to academic studies. He taught at Southern Illinois University, Kent State University, and most recently as a senior lecturer with Youngstown State University. He was a longstanding member of the Broadcast Education Association, serving on their board for many years. He maintained numerous connections with industry and education colleagues around the world. He consulted in countries all over the world including the Baltics, Nigeria, The Republic of Georgia, and Egypt.

Max wasn’t a cool dad, embarrassing his daughter regularly and joyfully with his corny jokes; but no one was more loving, caring, and devoted. He loved his daughter fiercely, documenting every significant moment of her life on film. He showed up for every sporting event with a camera until the school made him an official photographer. Together they enjoyed golf, Uno, OU Hockey and Basketball, annual Harry Potter Marathons, sneaking junk food with Sophie out of the wary eye of Shana, and watching NCIS when mom was out. When Sophie was young and had trouble sleeping, he made up bedtime stories with a character named Squiggly Wiggily. On international trips, Max would record and send stories to help Sophie fall asleep to his voice.

He was a devoted, loving and loyal husband. While Max couldn’t be called an avid nature lover, he would gamely follow Shana outdoors anywhere. Together they kayaked, hiked, bicycled and walked the dogs, and attended numerous art fairs, concerts, and lectures. They traveled widely in their early marriage and were looking forward to a trip to Ireland when he died.

Max loved his church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent. He served in many capacities including Congregation Moderator, the Tech team, the Finance Committee, and teaching Sunday School.

Max was preceded in death by parents, Carl and Euva Grubb; sister, Jacqueline Beal. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Shana Steinhouse; daughter, Sophia Grubb; sister, Jill Grubb; brothers, Brad Grubb, and Stuart Williams; in-laws, Carl and Diana Steinhouse; brothers-in-law, Sam Steinhouse (Susan), and Chris Beal (Laure); sister-in-law, Lani Choate (Hyatt); nephews, Jeffrey Roach, Tyler Hapney, Justin and Nick Steinhouse, Cooper and Jesse Choate, and nieces, Mary Williams Mcclanahan, Rebecca Williams, and Heather Blackburn.

Max’s memorial service will be on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 1 PM, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, 228 Gougler Avenue, Kent, OH 44240. The family will receive friends at a reception after the service.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent , 228 Gougler Avenue, Kent, OH 44240.