University of Akron
School of Law
Kastner Westman & Wilkins
3480 West Market Street
Suite 300
Akron, Ohio 44333
Loss of a husband, loss of a father, loss of a friend, loss of a partner, loss of a business associate, loss of a golfing buddy. All these describe some of what was lost in August 2008, but the words are not able to capture the depth or the enormity of who was lost. Harley Kastner was all of the aforementioned and then some. He loved his family, loved his work, and loved…well, that’s an understatement, the game of golf. Harley was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in February of 2008. As people learned of his diagnosis, cards, calls, and other methods of well-wishing inundated the family. And, within many of the shared sentiments, a story was often included about some wild adventure shared with Harley on the golf course. “Remember when you hit that shot on…”, “Remember when we traveled to ____ and got on that golf course…”, “Remember when you played with _____ and beat him…”. Harley had made it a part of his life’s ambition to play the best courses with the best people and have the best of times. He targeted the top 100 courses and traveled abroad to walk the sacred ground where the game began. Many years he enjoyed playing in the once named World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club. He played with the likes of Floyd, Stewart, Jacobsen, and a certain someone named Watson. That one goes down in the books…Watson 76, Kastner 67. Enough said. So, it is only fitting to ‘celebrate’ it on the course. Harley’s law partners at Kastner Westman and Wilkins had the grand idea to honor Harley by hosting a golf tournament on the South course at Firestone Country Club. The inaugural Harley Kastner Invitational was held July 22, 2009 and will benefit the Harley and Carol Kastner Scholarship at the University of Akron School of Law as well all future tournaments. The scholarship was originally set up to honor the two people who had the greatest influence in Harley’s life, his parents, Francis and Dorothy Kastner. Now, Harley’s legacy will be honored through this tournament as his passion for life, education, law, and the game of golf is celebrated. Much was lost in August 2008. But fortunately, the influence that Harley had on so many in so many different venues, will continue - in his children, his grandchildren, his law firm, his scholarship…and maybe a few will hit the ball a little straighter, make the clutch putt, and love the game just a little more…because of Harley.
School of Law
Firestone Country Club
452 Warner Road
Akron, Ohio 44319
