Pioneer Legend Passes

Harry Kroll, the Senior National Product Trainer at Pioneer, passed after a brave battle with ALS on September 2 at the age of 59.

For many in the industry Harry was a legend at Pioneer.  He trained retailers on some of the industry’s iconic products over decades, and was among the best in his field.

Larry Rougas Executive VP Pioneer said, “Harry was not only a valuable member of the Pioneer team, but also a genuinely a great person. Harry had a unique blend of technical expertise and an extraordinary ability to connect with people, both personally and professionally. He always went above and beyond, and his presence truly elevated any project or team he was a part of. His contributions to the field were invaluable, and his influence will undoubtedly continue for years to come. On a personal level, Harry was someone you could always rely on—both as a colleague and as a friend. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of working with him.”

Harry helped this reporter almost every year at CES, answering questions with the required supreme amount of patience.  He was a fixture at the Pioneer booth at trade shows and he lead countless product training sessions.  He was a testament to the spirit and passion behind this industry that has driven it for decades.

Tom Miller, President of distributor AM Merchandising said, “Harry was  a world class trainer and one of the nicest guys and funniest guys I’ve ever dealt with…He was a good guy who will be missed He is irreplaceable.”

Jeff Shultz, District Sales Manager at Pioneer said, “He loved the industry. He had over 30 years in…He loved training. He commanded the room.  He had a way of teaching, when you got off the phone, you didn’t have any questions.  He broke down technology in a way everyone could understand.” Shultz noted that Harry ended every training session, in his typical dry humor style, with a slide that said, “The beatings will continue until the morale improves.”  Shultz has started to add that slide to his training sessions now.

Mehdi Narimanian, President of Sound of Tristate, DE, said, “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Harry, a cherished friend. Harry was the face of Pioneer for Sound of Tri-State since the beginning of our relationship with Pioneer.  From the very beginning, he conducted our trainings, and was at countless number of events over the years.  He had a vast source of product knowledge,  and was an irreplaceable asset to our installers and salespeople. With over 30+ years of working together, I will miss his cheerfulness, dedication, knowledge and most of all his friendship.  Harry leaves behind a legacy of excellence and commitment that will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of working with him.  My deepest condolences to the Kroll’s family.”

Kroll is survived by his wife of 33 years Deb Schilberg Kroll and daughter Lexie Kroll.

A full obituary for Harry may be seen here. Donations may be made here.

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