A Legacy Moment with Trustee John Langer

When Mercyhurst University Trustee and alumnus John Langer learned that one in six people in Northeast Ohio aren’t sure how or when they will have their next meal, he was stymied. That’s simply unacceptable, he thought.

As he contemplated that statistic, lessons learned from his Mercyhurst years, especially its commitment to service, came flooding back, spurring him into action.

The president of H. Jack’s Plumbing and Heating, who presides over the Erie-based company’s facility in Northeast Ohio, Langer reached out to his employees and business associates, informing them that many of their neighbors were in crisis. Together they implemented a fundraising campaign that netted more than $40,000 for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, an amount that translates into 164,344 meals.

"The experience, knowledge, and passion that I gained from working alongside President (Michael) Victor on philanthropic initiatives, both at Lake Erie College and Mercyhurst, proved absolutely invaluable to the success of our campaign with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank,” Langer said. “While on the Board at Mercyhurst, I have witnessed firsthand many of my fellow trustees and alums transition from men and women of success to men and women of significance. I tried to follow their path and set the example for others who may follow in the future."

Langer, who played football for the Lakers and graduated from Mercyhurst in 1995 with a business degree, has been enormously supportive of the university, from athletics to the arts.