Joseph A. Edminister passed away peacefully on September 16, 2026. Born in Akron, Ohio on November 13, 1930, he graduated from Akron St. Vincent High School in 1948 and enlisted in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. He married Nina Valentini in 1954 and was happily married until her death in 2018.

Following his Honorable Discharge, Joseph earned his B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Akron in the 1950s, then went on to earn a law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. He spent his career on the university's electrical engineering faculty, eventually becoming Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering, and also served as assistant dean and later acting dean of the College of Engineering. He was twice elected as “Professor of the Year” by his students. Professionally, he held three credentials that reflect his dual engineering and law path: he was a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio, a member of the Ohio bar, and a registered patent attorney. He's probably best known outside Akron as the author of Schaum's Outline of Electric Circuits and Schaum's Outline of Electromagnetics — textbooks that have been used by generations of engineering students worldwide. Upon his retirement as Acting Dean of Engineering he accepted a Science and Technical Fellowship with the United States Congress, working alongside U.S. Representative Dennis Eckert in Washington. He then accepted a position with the Cornell University School of Engineering, where he remained until 1994.

Joseph’s marriage to Nina produced four children Michael (Mary Margaret) James (Colleen) Elaine Fiocca (Kris) and John (Alice). He leaves grandchildren among them: James Edminister (Stephanie), Steven Edminister (Erin), Erin (Edminister) Hollingshead (Brett), Kristopher Fiocca (Samantha), John Fiocca, Elizabeth Fiocca, George Edminister, Jack Edminister, Andrew Edminister and Madeline (Edminister) Tucker.

He will be missed by all his beloved Brookwood neighbors who considered him their “Mayor”.

The family will receive friends on Friday, September 25, 2026 at Hummel Funeral Home, 2800 W. Market St. FAIRLAWN Chapel from 9:30 -10:30 AM.  Followed by a funeral Mass at 11AM at St. Hilary Catholic Church, 2750 W. Market St. Fairlawn. Interment in Rose Hill Burial Park.