"In every respect, he was a gentleman and a nice person." Friends remember Carl Sorenson

Carl S. Sorenson III's friends and family talk about his affable and gentile nature, making those he encountered feel seen and heard.

"He lit up a room," they said.

Sorenson, 91, a former Stark County businessman and politician, died March 7 at his Naples, Florida, home. He leaves a legacy of gratitude for a life well-lived.

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"We had a wonderful, magical marriage," said Sally Sorenson, his wife for 60 years. "He was such a wonderful person. We miss him a lot."

Memorial services will be held at a later date in Florida and Ohio.

A job and friendship brought him to Canton

Born in Chicago, Sorenson grew up in Olivet, Mich., and graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1951.

After graduating from college, Sorenson went to work for General Electric Co. in Schenectady, N.Y., where he met Norman Jackson of Canton. They quickly became friends.

"He was my best friend," Jackson, 93, said. "In 70 years, we never had a conversation in anger even though in business we sometimes disagreed."

Jackson left G.E. and returned to Stark County to help run his father's business, Jackson-Bayley. Five years later, in 1956, Sorenson left G.E. to join Jackson in Canton.

Their friendship would launch a successful partnership that would last decades in industries such as oil, electrical power, travel and computers.

"We created jobs. We advanced the power system industry. We had fun and we made a little money," Jackson said.

Sorenson had a knack for marketing and sales, seizing opportunities to learn all he could about a product or new technology. "He was truly a genius" in this area, Jackson said.

Sorenson also made political and social commitments to the Canton area.

He accomplished a rare political feat in Canton

Sorenson was a member and past president of the Canton Club and a member of Brookside Country Club, Glenmoor Country Club and Imperial Golf Club.

He served as a trustee of The Wilderness Center and Canton Country Day School, both in Stark County, and Morgan Studios in New York City. HIs wife taught at Canton Country for a time.

He also was a member of Western Reserve Academy Board of Visitors in Hudson, where his two sons went to school and graduated.

Sorenson also was a rare Republican to win an at-large seat on Canton City Council. He served three terms in the 1960s. Democrats historically win those seats.

Stark County Commissioner Janet Weir Creighton said she believed Sorenson was the last Republican elected to an at-large seat in Canton. "He was always supportive," she said.

Family, adventures

Sorenson would meet the former Sally Ann Campbell at an event in Canton. She was teaching in Chicago but home on vacation.

They married in 1962 at Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton. Their reception was held at Brookside.

"He just had a way of making people feel important," the 86-year-old widow said Friday.

The couple raised two sons Carl S. "Mike" Sorenson IV and James Campbell Sorenson. Mike Sorenson lives in New York City, where he runs The Nanz Company. James Sorenson is a former teacher and law clerk who does investment work.

Carl and Sally have two grandchildren, Carl V and Isabel.

"He was incredibly charming and told great stories," said James Sorenson, 54. "He had a real passion for life, and he was highly organized."

For example, at age 89, Sorenson traveled with Jackson to Dubai to celebrate the latter's 90th birthday. He also saw the North Pole in 1998 with James aboard an ice-breaking ship.

"We did some extensive traveling growing up," said Mike Sorenson, 57. "My parents thought it was a good way to learn a lot."

The family adventures, they said, included trips to Kenya, Mexico, Turkey, Greece and Egypt. Sorenson and his wife celebrated their 50th anniversary in Paris.

The pair retired to their Florida home about 20 years ago, but they maintained a place in Stark County near James.

"We had a wonderful time together," Sally Sorenson said.

Felt blessed

Family and friends said Sorenson felt grateful for the success and the good health that allowed him to see his 90s.

He called himself a "lucky fellow," his obituary said.

James Sorenson said it seemed like his father always had good fortunes but it was not luck.

"He was a self-made man," who thrived on building and keeping relationships, Mike Sorenson said. "He was friends with all walks of life. They were an eclectic group.

"From the guy who ran maintenance to his business partners and important members of the community, there were no out of bounds for my dad to form a close and personal relationship."

"He drifted off"

Sorenson was always involved in his sons' business ventures, either as an investor or a supportive father.

It was in that vein that brought Mike Sorenson to Florida in what would turn out to the final three days of his father's life.

Mike Sorenson said he came to attend a seminar with his father on family businesses. They explored the area, had dinners and shopped. They had a good time.

"I didn't know he would die," Mike Sorenson said.

Sorenson said he and his father had heartfelt conversations during his visit that, now, looking back do not seem coincidental.

"I think he knew what was going to happen."

Mike Sorenson said his father passed away in the evening after they enjoyed the day together and had dinner.

"We were watching golf and talking," Mike Sorenson said, "then he drifted off."

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com

Follow on Twitter @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Carl Sorenson, former Stark Co. businessman and politician, dies at 91