After years of setbacks — including vandalism and a misspelled name —
IPS Sheet Metal Manager Rod Graffis stepped in to ensure beloved children’s
librarian Patricia Gladieux is properly honored at last.
ROSSFORD, Ohio — After years of frustration, a series of unexpected setbacks, and the quiet determination of a library director who couldn’t let it go, a proper memorial to one of Rossford’s most beloved figures has finally been restored — thanks to the craftsmanship and generosity of Industrial Power Systems.
Patricia Gladieux served as a beloved children’s librarian at the Rossford Public Library for 20 years before retiring in 1983. Generations of Rossford residents remember attending her story hours before kindergarten, her after-school puppet shows and programs, and the warmth she brought to the library every single day. Gladieux also served on the Rossford Board of Education, and an Educator of the Year award was named in her honor within the district. In the spring of 1984, a tri-color pin oak tree was planted in her memory on the library’s front lawn, and an etched glass plaque was placed at its base. For many years, it stood undisturbed in her honor — a quiet tribute to a woman who had shaped the childhoods of so many Rossford families.
A few years ago, vandalism dislodged the plaque from its base and severely bent the frame. The library set out first to repair it, and when that effort produced few options, ultimately opted to replace it entirely. A new plaque was commissioned — but upon its long-awaited arrival, it was discovered that the Gladieux name had been spelled incorrectly on the final product.
Library Director Kristine Goldsmith — who had attended Mrs. Gladieux’s story hour herself as a child — was determined to make it right. She assured Gladieux’s son, Bill, that she was working on it. By her own admission, it kept her up at night. Several metal fabrication companies she contacted were not interested in taking on what they considered too small a project. To them, it may have seemed minor. To the library, it was anything but.
Goldsmith eventually contacted IPS for advice on who might be able to fabricate a quality memorial plaque capable of withstanding the elements. IPS’s Service Solutions Specialist, and Rossford resident, Joe Leffler helped coordinate a collaboration with Rod Graffis, IPS’s Sheet Metal Manager, who immediately arranged to visit the site. Graffis didn’t hesitate — he stated that he and his shop would be more than glad to take on the project.
“When we heard what happened — the vandalism, the misspelled name, the years of trying to get it right — it was an easy decision. Patricia Gladieux was part of this community for decades, and the people she touched still live here. Our team was proud to put their craft toward something that will honor her memory properly for years to come.”
— Rod Graffis, Sheet Metal Manager, IPS
A few months after that initial visit, Graffis reported that not only was the new plaque complete — IPS would be donating its fabrication and installation services to the library entirely free of charge. The new plaque was installed on August 13, 2026, at the base of the oak tree on the library’s front lawn, where it now properly honors Patricia Gladieux’s memory alongside the tree planted in her name more than 40 years ago.
IPS has been headquartered in Rossford since 2016, when the company purchased the long-vacant Ford Club building — a 27,000 square foot Neoclassical landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places — and completed an 18-month, $4 million renovation to restore the building to its current use as IPS Corporate Headquarters. The Gladieux plaque donation reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to the surrounding communities that have supported our growth for nearly four decades.
The donation was covered by the Rossford Record Journal. The full story can be read at: rossford.com/news/ips-donates-replacement-gladieux-memorial-plaque-rossford-public-library.
About IPS
Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rossford, Ohio, IPS — Industrial Power Systems — is a family-owned industrial, general, and specialty contractor delivering projects from concept to completion, and beyond, across the country. IPS self-performs mechanical, electrical, general trades, fabrication, sheet metal, 24/7 HVAC service, and virtual design & construction work, handling any size project with the same standard of Integrity, Performance, and Safety. Click here to check out our full menu of services.
