Dr. Albert A. Sebok, BSPh ’53, Hon. D. ’88, was one of the Raabe College of Pharmacy’s most distinguished alumni. Sebok joined Standard Drug as a store manager after graduation. In 1961, Revco acquired Standard. Under his leadership as senior vice president for store operations, Revco DrugStores Inc. became the largest discount drug chain in America. He was an original member of ONU’s Pharmacy Advisory Board and the founder and instructor of the college’s contemporary pharmacy practice class. He received an honorary doctorate degree from Ohio Northern in 1988.The Sebok Pharmacy Lecture was established by alumni and friends to honor him.

1. Remembering Albert A. Sebok
1931-2013

2. In Memoriam: Albert A. Sebok
NACDS mourns the passing of pharmacy pioneer Albert A. Sebok on November 3.
NACDS in 1991 presented Sebok with the prestigious Harold W. Pratt Award, in
recognition of his leadership in advancing the role of the pharmacist. He served
as chairman of the NACDS Pharmacy Affairs Committee and as chairman of the
NACDS Pharmacy Conference. A graduate of Ohio Northern University, Sebok was
honored in 2010 –among other recognitions from his alma mater –by the creation
of the Raabe College of Pharmacy's "Sebok Pharmacy Lecture." In delivering the
inaugural lecture, NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, said,
"We are honoring a man whose patient care and corporate career at Revco
exemplified the value of pharmacy. Effective consultations and wise operational
decisions, stitched together over the course of decades, create an impressive
career. But Albert Sebok has accomplished even more than that. His commitment
to pharmacy goes far beyond talk of a distinguished career. It also defines what it
means to be part of, and to advance, one's profession." Visitation will be held
Thursday, November 7, from 4-8 p.m., and the funeral service will be held
Saturday, November 9, at 11 a.m., both at Jardine Funeral Home in Strongsville,
OH. Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio Northern University, School of
Pharmacy, Sebok Scholarship Fund. NACDS joins with Sebok's family and many
other friends in remembering this true gentleman and giant of pharmacy.

5. “ Al was a teacher, a tireless scholar who inspired, guided,
enlightened and motivated me in a simple but powerful
way. He taught me how to think and not what to think. ”
Jim Mastrian
Former Chain Drug Executive

7. “ Al Sebok was a professional who took his work seriously,
but was able to laugh regularly. I’ll remember him as a
friend, mentor, professional, and someone who appreciated
the real value of education. He is missed. ”
Ernest Boyd, R.Ph., MBA
Executive Director
Ohio Pharmacists Association

11. “ Mentor, advocate, ambassador and friend. ”
Tom Kier, BSPh ’82
Interim Dean
College of Pharmacy
Ohio Northern University

12. “ Al was very focused
almost to a fault.
Every thing he did,
he did with a distinct
purpose. Not a party
guy. He was most
intelligent with a stride
that some incorrectly
thought bordered on
arrogance. I liked him-
very impressive. ”
Verne Haugen, BSPh ’53

13. “ Dr. Al Sebok was one of the kindest, most compassionate
pharmacists I had the honor of knowing. He did so many
great things for the profession of pharmacy!
He was a wonderful role model. He loved Ohio Northern
University and the Raabe College of Pharmacy. ONU is a
better place because of him. ”
Karen Kier, BSPh ‘82
Professor of Pharmacy
College of Pharmacy
Ohio Northern University

16. “ Al and I and others were at a meeting in Cleveland, probably
at Revco. He said to me “There ought to be a course on chain
drug stores at ONU.” While I was not sure about that I did tell
him OK and asked about a list of topics to cover. By the way,
Al, do you know someone who can talk about these things. He
said he thought so and within a week he had sent me the
topic list and he found the speakers, mostly from Revco. One
of the speakers was the President and CEO, most of the others
were Vice Presidents. He organized a high powered speakers
panel indeed. At the same meeting he and I walked into the
ladies room by mistake.
He took it all in stride, the good and the bad, and enjoyed
every minute of it. ”
Donald W. Stansloski, R.Ph., Ph.D.
Dean for the College of Pharmacy
The University of Findlay
Professor of Pharmacy Practice Emeritus
Ohio Northern University

19. “ Al Sebok was an industry leader and visionary.
He was truly passionate about the profession of
pharmacy always encouraging pharmacists to learn
more, do more and be more.
It was an honor and a privilege to work with Al and
learn from him. ”
Robert I. Thompson, R.Ph.
Executive Vice President, Pharmacy
Rite Aid Corporation

21. “ Ohio Northern University and the College of Pharmacy
has lost a wonderful friend and generous benefactor.
Al was a powerful force in the pharmaceutical industry,
but remained always a gentle soul, well grounded in
family, friends, and Christian truths. ”
Rev. Msgr. James Ruef, BA ’61, JD ’67, Hon. D. ’09

23. “ Al usually went home almost every other weekend.
When he returned on Sunday evening, he always
brought back a suit-box full of homemade Slovak
pastries made by his grandmother. A wide variety of
goodies which were soon gone. While we never met
Al's grandmother, we loved her dearly, as we did Al. ”
Tom Smailes, BSPh ’53
Former roommate

26. “ Al Sebok was an
icon in Pharmacy.
At Ohio Northern, he
was a great guy who
loved his alma mater.
He was a gentleman
yet a true character
and his friendship was
overwhelming and so
genuine. A true
unique Christian son
of old ONU! ”
William L. Robinson,
BSEd ’61, ACIT ’71, ACIT ’89,
Hon. D. ’05, H of F ’05
Executive Assistant to the
President Emeritus
Ohio Northern University

28. “ Al Sebok:
ambassador,
benefactor,
colleague, mentor,
student, and
supporter, but
mostly, a faithful
friend for life. ”
Tom Gossel,
BSPh ’63, ACIT ’89, ACIT ’97
Dean of Pharmacy Emeritus
Ohio Northern University

29. “ I had the privilege of
meeting Dr. Sebok before
even entering as a P1 at
ONU. We are both from
Hudson, OH, so he hand
delivered my academic
scholarship. Throughout my
time at Northern, I've
continued my relationship
with Dr. Sebok, and even
had him as an instructor.
He was there cheering on
the tennis team in
Cleveland as we clinched
the OAC title at Baldwin-
Wallace. I am fortunate to
have formed a great
relationship with him. ”
Bridget Larson,
PharmD ’10

30. Dr. Albert Sebok

31. Dr. Albert Sebok

32. “ The fact is that with Albert Sebok, and others like him,
community pharmacy would not be part of the health
care conversation to the significant extent that it is today.
Albert Sebok has accomplished even more than that.
His commitment to pharmacy goes far beyond talk of a
distinguished career. It also defines what it means to be
part of, and to advance, one’s profession. ”
Steve Anderson
President and CEO
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)

34. “ Among a class
of stars, Al
Sebok shined
the brightest. ”
John Abbott, BSPh ’53

36. “ The fact is that with Albert Sebok, and others like him,
community pharmacy would not be part of the health
care conversation to the significant extent that it is today.
Albert Sebok has accomplished even more than that.
His commitment to pharmacy goes far beyond talk of a
distinguished career. It also defines what it means to be
part of, and to advance, one’s profession. ”
Steve Anderson, President and CEO
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)

38. “ He was a great person and has
such a lasting legacy. ”
Adrienne (Wood) Donaldson, BSPh ’99
ONU Pharmacy Advisory Board Chair

40. “ Al Sebok was a true Renaissance man. Loyal to his
family, friends and employer. He was a good friend that
you could always count on, and excelled in hosting
birthday parties for Doctor Cockinlager and Doctor
Chickenflicker. (Gossel & Wuest) I miss him. ”
Dick Wuest
Professor of Pharmacy Emeritus
University of Cincinnati

42. “ Al was a close friend
because of our shared
love for pharmacy and
ONU. I saw him regularly
and his first questions
were always about my
family and then about the
College of Pharmacy and
ONU. He cared deeply
about our University. ”
Bob McCurdy, BSPh ’65, Hon. D.
’96
Special Assistant to the Dean
College of Pharmacy
Ohio Northern University

44. “ Al would bring Revco tee shirts to NACDS Pharmacy Affairs
committee meetings. When the committee went to a
restaurant to eat dinner (the restaurants weren’t of the White
Castle variety). The restaurants would be very high class.
Al would then hand tee shirts out to the person taking
reservations/preparing wait lists etc., waiters and waitresses,
etc. Al would then insist that whoever he gave a tee shirt to,
they had to wear the shirt. Al would also give the shirts to the
airplane staff, including the gate agent, flight attendants,
cock-pit crew, etc. Al would then insist that the plane staff
must wear the shirt during the entire flight. I don’t ever recall
anybody refusing the shirt and no one refused Al’s terms and
conditions (having to wear Al’s tee shirts). ”
Bruce Briggs R.Ph.
BRIGGS PRN, LLC

47. “ One of Uncle Al’s famous quotes that I still use today in
presentations, etc. is when he told me “some companies use LIFO
in their accounting methods and some companies used FIFO. My
pharmacists use the FISH method of accounting in their stores…
first in, still here (fish). ”
“ Liars poker is an easy lay-up. ”
“ Whenever you’d ask Al a question, he would answer “why not”.”
Bruce Briggs R.Ph.
Briggs PRN, LLC

48. “The second time I met Al was
at Bill Robinson’s ‘roast’ at the
Bistro upon one of his retirements.
Al, remembering me, came over to
sit with me, along with one of his
dear friends, Erv Pierstorf. Still being
relatively new, it was great to see
some familiar faces. Al began telling
Erv about me, remembering
everything we discussed at Akron.
I remember thinking at that point…
truly, what a great man. Most
definitely, he loves his family, but
he understands, appreciates and
respects PEOPLE… all people. And
that, is what made Al Sebok a rare
and amazing individual. ”
Ann Donnelly Hamilton, BA ‘99
Executive Assistant to the President
Ohio Northern University

50. “ As the PHPR Department Chair, I always told Uncle Al that
I doubled his salary every year since he was an Adjunct
Faculty member. Of course two times zero is still zero. We
also joked about him applying for tenure. What I didn't
know was he was doubling his annual contribution to ONU
and that he would be a “Faculty” member at the Raabe
College of Pharmacy for life. ”
James Reiselman
Associate Professor of Pharmacy
Ohio Northern University