Ohio boating icon passes away
CLEVELAND – Jim Sima, an icon in the Ohio marine industry who was a founder of the Marine Trades Association of Ohio – known today as the Boating Associations of Ohio – a leader of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, and also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Marine Retailers Association of America and past MRAA Chairman, died last week in the Cleveland Clinic.
Sima, an Air Force veteran of B-17’s in World War II, founded Sima Motors (autos) Corporation in 1953 in Maple Heights, Ohio and expanded the business into boat sales under the Sima Marine Sales banner in 1956.
During his more than 50 years in the marine industry, Sima was the only LEMTA member ever to serve as the organization’s chairman three different times over the years.
The Boating Associations of Ohio was formed primarily to represent all boating interests in Ohio’s state capitol and is today recognized as among the most effective state organizations influencing public policy in the marine industry.
Sima served as MRAA’s Chairman in 1977-79.
Services for Jim Sima were to be held last Thursday, Jan. 22, in Maples Heights, Ohio.
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