Jeffry J. Armbruster's Obituary
Jeffry J. Armbruster, Lorain County Administrator and former Ohio State Senator, passed away peacefully at his home in North Ridgeville on Friday, May 15, 2026 surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren after living with and battling cancer with remarkable grace, strength and resilience.
Jeff lived an extraordinary life defined by leadership, service, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to others. He distinguished himself both as a successful businessman and as a respected public servant whose impact was felt across Lorain County and throughout Ohio. Yet, despite his many professional accomplishments and public achievements, nothing mattered more to Jeff than his family. His children, their happiness, success, and well-being, were always his greatest source of pride and his deepest concern. Through every chapter of his life, Jeff’s love for his family remained at the center of everything he did.
Jeff was born in Normal, Illinois on August 30, 1947. His interest in leadership and public service emerged early, including serving as class president during his senior year at Pontiac Township High School in Pontiac, Illinois. He later attended Millikin University, where he played football and still holds the school record for the longest interception return, a 100-yard touchdown. While at Millikin, he met his first wife, Susan Hanna, and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1969.
Jeff, Susan, and their two children, Heather and Jason, eventually settled in North Ridgeville, Ohio where Jeff worked for Shell Oil Company. His talent and work ethic quickly earned him promotions, and he became one of the company’s youngest territory managers. Nearly a decade later, Jeff gambled on himself, leaving the security of corporate life to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. Alongside business partner Cono Pinzone, he co-founded Pinzone-Armbruster, Inc., a successful and long-standing independent business that owned and operated Shell service stations throughout the region.
Jeff served on the North Ridgeville City Council before resigning to care for his ailing wife Susan, who passed away in 1982 from complications related to cancer. He later married Judy Schwirtz, whose first husband, Mike Schwirtz, had died in a tragic accident. Together, Jeff and Judy blended their families, including Judy’s two sons, Todd and Ben. Judy passed away in May, 1986, also following complications from cancer. Years later, after facing a number of ongoing health challenges, her son Todd died in February 2021. After enduring significant personal loss, Jeff continued to rebuild both his family life and public career. He ran for mayor of North Ridgeville in 1987 but was unsuccessful in his first campaign. Just weeks later, on November 27, 1987, he married Lee Schwirtz. Together, they welcomed two sons, Russell, born in January 1993, and William, born in January 1997.
Determined to overcome his electoral defeat in 1987, Jeff again ran for mayor of North Ridgeville in 1989 and won. He was re-elected in 1991 before launching a campaign for Ohio’s 13th District State Senate seat two years later, though that effort was unsuccessful. Jeff completed his final term as mayor in 1995.
Driven by a deep commitment to public service, Jeff ran again and won election to Ohio’s 13th District Senate seat in 1997, beginning a legislative career marked by strong leadership and lasting impact. He earned re-election in 2001, continuing to build a reputation as a dedicated and influential advocate for his community. His final senate term concluded in January 2006.
In 2009, then-North Ridgeville Mayor Dave Gillock appointed Jeff as his safety service director, a role he carried on serving under Gillock’s successor, Kevin Corcoran, until he was appointed Lorain County Administrator in 2023.
Throughout his years of public service, Jeff maintained his private business operations, which were later incorporated as Armbruster Energy Stores, with the help of his wife Lee and six children. AES’s successful operations will continue uninterrupted under the leadership of Jeff’s wife Lee, sons Russell and Jason, and Station Manager Tettehwayo “T” Odjidja.
Ultimately, Jeff entered public life because of a genuine desire to help people, serve his community, tackle meaningful challenges, and take on the status quo in pursuit of positive, productive change. He embodied the very definition of a public servant: approachable, compassionate, and deeply invested in the lives of others. Jeff had a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life and genuinely valued every interaction, whether with a constituent back home, a restaurant server in a distant city, or an Amtrak conductor during one of his train trips to Colorado.
At the time of his death, Jeff had secured nearly $70 million in public funding to support planned economic development initiatives in Lorain County, including the creation of a new regional sewer district. Although many of the projects are still in development, his vision and leadership has helped position the region for long-term growth and future opportunity.
While serving in the Ohio State Senate, Jeff built strong bipartisan relationships and earned a reputation as a respected and effective leader. As chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, he successfully guided four state transportation budgets through the Ohio Senate with minimal conflict, reflecting his collaborative approach and ability to bring people together. He played a key role in modernizing the Ohio Turnpike and bringing greater transparency and accountability to its budgeting process, helping restore public trust in an agency long associated with corruption. Jeff was also deeply respected by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for championing legislation that improved officer safety and ensured the agency received adequate funding necessary to serve the public effectively. Senator Armbruster also spearheaded legislation supporting crisis nurseries, tackling a difficult, overlooked issue head-on. His leadership helped advance meaningful, industry-wide reforms that earned overwhelming bipartisan support and provided critical protections and resources for vulnerable children and families.
Beyond his public accomplishments, Jeff will also be remembered for the countless lives he influenced personally. In the days following his passing, many shared stories of the mentorship, encouragement, and unwavering support he provided throughout their lives and careers. To so many, Jeff was not only a leader, but a trusted advisor and champion who helped inspire their success and belief in themselves.
Jeff worked hard, but as he liked to say, he also played hard. He embraced life fully and found joy in boating, golfing, skiing, and tennis. A loyal Cleveland sports fan, he held season tickets to each of the city’s major professional teams at various times throughout his life. He and Lee traveled the world together refining their palates with some of the finest wines and cuisines. Yet despite all of his accomplishments and adventures, ultimately, his priority was spending meaningful time with family and friends, especially spending precious time out at the lake. Above all else, caring for and providing for his family was what mattered most to him. Even in his final days, Jeff’s greatest concern was making sure his family would continue to thrive and always take care of one another.
Jeffry J. Armbruster — beloved husband, father, papa, brother, uncle and public servant — is survived by his wife Lee, daughter Heather, sons Jason (wife Doreen), Ben (wife Ann), Russell (wife Nicole), and Will (fiancee Tessa), 10 grandchildren and great-grandchildren [Evan, Susan (husband Nick) , Brooke, Jake, Ally, Ava, Blake, Myles, Stella, and Sadie]. He is also survived by his sister Gayle Smith, brothers Dr. David Armbruster (wife Elaine, deceased), Paul Armbruster (wife Barbara), sister-in-law Cheryl Armbruster, and many loving nieces and nephews and Tettehwayo Odjidja who Jeff loved like a son. Jeff’s brother, Dr. Jerome Armbruster and wife Linda, along with his parents, Russell and Evelyn Armbruster preceded him in death.
A private family interment will take place on Friday, June 5, 2026.
A celebration of the life of Jeffry J. Armbruster will be held at Willoway Nurseries 4534 Center Rd, Avon, OH 44011, on Sunday, June 7, 2026. A memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by a reception to celebrate Jeff’s life until 5:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation, https://www.fightec.org or the American Cancer Society’s esophageal cancer research fund, https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=Esophagealcancermedia&gclsrc or Siedman Cancer Center https://support.uhgiving.org/site/Donation2?1640.donation=form1&df_id=1640&mfc_pref=T
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