MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. -- Jerry D. Maahs, founder and former president of foodservice equipment maker Alto-Shaam Inc., has passed away at age 74.
The company issued the following statement:
A significant void has been left within the foodservice industry with the passing of Jerry Maahs. A true industry icon for the past five decades, Jerry Maahs, originator of the low-temperature cook-and-hold oven, set a new standard within the industry and significantly changed the way many products are cooked. His dedication to foodservice went [image-nocss] far beyond the development of the Alto-Shaam cook-and-hold oven. Among his many accomplishments, Jerry Maahs placed great emphasis on education, continuously striving for better production methods and sharing those methods with industry professionals throughout the world. He opened worldwide markets for the distribution of American-made equipment and paved the way for the acceptance of the combination oven within the U.S. Jerry Maahs will be sadly missed, but the company will continue in the same tradition through the leadership of his daughter Karen Hansen and son Steve Maahs.
In late 2001, Maahs told The Business Journal of Milwaukee that the decision to appoint his daughter, Karen Hansen, as president was a way of "addressing my own succession." His son, Steve, is the company's executive vice president, and his son-in-law, William, is vice president of engineering. Hansen and her brother own part of the business. "I'm very fortunate that I've got a couple of kids who have adapted to the business," said Maahs.
Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Alto-Shaam was incorporated in 1955 and, following 13 years in the restaurant business, Maahs began to focus more serious attention to the development of equipment for the foodservice industry, according to the company website. With his strong foodservice background, Maahs recognized and sought solutions to the equipment problems of the foodservice operator. The change of direction led him to devote the first two years to careful research and enabled him to enter the U.S. marketplace with a line of holding equipment aimed at replacing steam tables.
The firm's patented HALO HEAT method is achieved with a thermostatic controlled, low-density thermal cable, wrapped throughout the walls of the cooking or holding cavity. It applies this principle of uniform heat distribution, to the greatest extent possible, in a complete line of specialty ovens and serving equipment. Alto-Shaam manufacturers HALO HEAT low-temperature cooking, holding and serving equipment for convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels and institutions.
Visitation is Friday, April 21, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Church & Chapel Funeral Service, 380 Bluemound Rd. (JJ) at Hwy J (four blocks south of I-94), Pewaukee, Wis. Church visitation is Saturday, April 22, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Funeral Mass, 11:00 a.m., St. John Vianney Parish, 1755 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield, Wis.
As a dear friend and business partner of CSP, we offer condolences and good-luck wishes to Maahs' family, friends and colleagues.
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