Agency Mourns Weatherization Director
Miami Valley Community Action Partnership (MVCAP) mourns the unexpected passing of Barry Strahorn, Director of Weatherization and Housing Services.
“Barry embodied what it means to lead with heart, humor and purpose,” said MVCAP CEO Erin Jeffries. “He will be remembered for his generosity, his steady leadership and his unwavering focus on the people we serve.”
MVCAP offices will close at noon on Friday, Jan. 9 to allow staff to attend Strahorn’s services. Click here for information.
Strahorn had just marked 15 years with MVCAP working on its weatherization and housing programs. A sought-after subject matter expert, he had a unique and thorough understanding of how homes and buildings function as systems. His knowledge led to many speaking engagements and consultations with colleagues throughout Ohio and across the nation.
Throughout his time at MVCAP, Strahorn put customers first. In seeking staff and partners, their respect for individual clients remained his key qualification. Amid changing qualifications and requirements, he maintained high standards for himself and staff in training and service.
“A visible and trusted leader, Barry was deeply committed to delivering high-quality, safe and customer-focuses services,” Jeffries said. “He guided MVCAP through challenging periods – including funding delays and grant uncertainties – finding practical solutions so our teams could continue meeting goals and serving clients.”
MVCAP estimates that over his tenure, Strahorn’s departments achieved the following:
- Weatherized at least 9,000 homes
- Repaired at least 825 homes
- Replaced at least 16,500 appliances
Strahorn was also instrumental in training the next generation of weatherization and home repair workers. His expertise was instrumental in establishing the Southwestern Ohio Hub of the Ohio Weatherization Training Center (OWTC) in partnership with the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD). The center trains approximately 200 students every year.
“Barry Strahorn was a friend, mentor and all-around hero of healthy housing and weatherization,” said COAD Executive Director Megan Riddlebarger. “His depth of knowledge and dedication to helping others will continue to inspire, though the work will be harder without him. COAD would not have been able to build our Southwest training hub without Barry’s active support. His many friends in Appalachia will miss him dearly.”
Prior to joining MVCAP, Strahorn operated his own construction company after years of experience in the industry with family members. He was known for outstanding communication skills with capacity to interface with everyone involved in a job from team members to inspectors and engineers. He also spent several years managing Glass House Records and interacting with well-known entertainers.
“Barry was also a connector, helping build partnerships across the community to improve systems and make services more accessible,” Jeffries said.
In addition to establishing the Dayton Home Repair Network, Strahorn served as a Trustee on the Board of the Ohio Healthy Homes Network and Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy. He also served as Chairman of the Home Weatherization Assistance Program Policy Advisory Committee and was a member of the Ohio Housing Assistance Grant Program Advisory Group. He received the Dave Rinebolt Community Services Award from Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy in 2024.
“After joining MVCAP, Barry very quickly came up to speed on the programs and was soon a leader in the network,” said OPAE Executive Director Nick Milano. “His dedication to expanding Weatherization Programs for MVCAP allowed for life-changing and life-saving benefits for low-income customers across the MVCCAP service area.”
In addition to his care for clients, Strahorn was known for his broad smile, timely humor, deep friendship and kind mentorship in hiring and training new employees and creating high quality jobs.
“Barry always had a smile and some positive information to share; he was definitely a glass half full guy,” Milano said. “Barry had a relentless advocacy and dedication to vulnerable families. His positive attitude and passion for weatherization will be sorely missed in the network.”
“The world is worse off without Barry in it,” Riddlebarger added.
He held a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Cincinnati, an associate’s degree in real estate/property management from Sinclair Community College and a drafting certificate from Claude V. Courter Tech. He held numerous certifications and credentials from COAD, the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Development Services Agency, meeting national and state standards throughout his career.
In addition to his wife, Karen, Strahorn is survived by his children, siblings, friends and colleagues. For a full obituary, click here.