Colleagues, friends rocked by Macron’s death
Twp. trustee, diamond buyer, coach described as ‘stand-up guy’
Lafayette Township trustees Bryon Macron (far right) and Lynda Bowers, (second from right) pose with Medina County Commissioner Pat Geissman (second from left) and fellow trustee Michael Costello after Bowers’ and Costello’s swearing-in for another term in December 2013. Photo courtesy of LYNDA BOWERS
CHIPPEWA LAKE – While authorities remain relatively silent on the details surrounding the death of Bryon Macron, those who interacted with him regularly share one common emotion: disbelief.
The body of Macron – a Lafayette Township trustee and national sales manager at A.V. Diamonds, of Houston, Texas – was recovered from Chippewa Lake the afternoon of Feb. 21. The 45-year-old is survived by his wife, Victoria, and three daughters, Alex, Madeline and Mia.
Macron was reported missing Dec. 16, 2016 after his office at Lafayatte Township Hall was found in disarray and his vehicle located near the lake on Beachside Boulevard in the village of Gloria Glens, a few miles from the township building. Blood was allegedly found at both locations.
“This just doesn’t happen in Medina County,” fellow Trustee Lynda Bowers said Feb. 24. “We have one answer and a whole lot more questions.”
Along with Trustee Michael Costello, Bowers said the trustee board was a tight-knit group that worked together efficiently and friendly. Macron was appointed to the board in 2010 to fill a vacancy and was elected in 2015. Bowers fondly recalled one of Bryon’s favorite phrases of encouragement was “make it happen.”
“We didn’t always agree procedurally, but there was never a fight. There were discussions,” Bowers said. “We did things together. We’d go to (the township’s annual) clean up day together. We’d go to Lafayette (United) Methodist Church every Thanksgiving and serve meals.”
Bowers declined to comment further at the advisement of the sheriff’s office, she said. Trustees issued a statement Feb. 23 extending sympathies to Macron’s family and telling residents “there is no evidence to suggest this situation should be cause for fear in the community.” Medina County Prosecutor Forrest Thompson said in a press conference the same day it was “premature” to say the investigation is focused on murder.
According to an initial statement from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Macron attended a township association holiday party at Winking Lizard in Brunswick before going to see a movie with Costello. Guests at the party confirmed this. His wife was reportedly the last to see him alive early the next morning.
From 2012-2015, Macron volunteered on the coaching staff for Medina High School’s football program, working with the freshman team. The varsity head coach at the time, Dan Sutherland, said Macron had an impact on all of the players and coaches he worked with. Macron, a 1989 graduate of North Royalton, played football in high school.
“He just wanted to be around football. If it was a Friday night and we needed helmets fixed, whatever we needed, he would do it. No job was beneath him. I valued that as a coach,” Sutherland said.
Sutherland joked that Macron had a passion for football because he had three daughters and “needed to be around a man’s sport.” Macron’s daughter Madeline, an MHS student, was one of the team’s athletic trainers last season, Sutherland’s last at the helm.
“His kids are some of the best to ever come through A.I. Root Middle School,” Sutherland said of the school he’s taught at for 15 years. “Just like their dad, willing to help in any way possible.”
Outside of his township and community work, Macron, since 2014, managed A.V. Diamonds’ buying department and often worked on the road, according to A.V. owner Vinay Kotak. The company has been a diamond manufacturer and supplier since 1998, serving the needs of big-box stores like Macy’s, as well as mom-and-pop shops, throughout the U.S.
Kotak worked closely with Macron and described him as a “phenomenal, stand-up guy” who he met with in person at least once a month and spoke with several times a week.
“It’s one of the most surprising things that I’ve ever heard,” Kotak said. “We were praying for him (since his disappearance). We said a prayer for him at our company Christmas party.”
Kotak said the only time he ever saw Macron “worked up” was leading up to Macron’s election in 2015, despite Macron running unopposed.
“He said it was a really easy job. He loved it. That’s what he told us. He enjoyed it, made him feel like he was a big part of the community,” Kotak said.
Kotak said he enjoyed Macron’s stories from his time serving in the Marines. Macron was active from 1991-1995, served with the Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team and achieved the rank of corporal. He was honorably discharged.
“I used to say, ‘there’s no freakin’ way you were a marine. Look at your stomach!’” Kotak joked of the 6-foot-1, 290-pound Macron. “In fact he even brought in a photo of him during his Marine days. He mentioned he served in combat. He was deployed three times.”
Kotak said of Macron, “If he believed in something, he would stick by his beliefs.”
“Let’s say a customer didn’t do what they promised to do. He would call up the customer and call them out. A lot of our sales reps would shy away from that, but he always spoke up, cordially, but would let them know, ‘Hey, this is not right,’” Kotak said.
Kotak said Macron’s wife was “very, very disturbed” when he spoke with her on the phone days before the body was w“We’d all like to find out what’s happened,” Kotak said. “I just hope whoever has done this, they get found and justice is served for his fantastic family.”
The body of Macron – a Lafayette Township trustee and national sales manager at A.V. Diamonds, of Houston, Texas – was recovered from Chippewa Lake the afternoon of Feb. 21. The 45-year-old is survived by his wife, Victoria, and three daughters, Alex, Madeline and Mia.
Macron was reported missing Dec. 16, 2016 after his office at Lafayatte Township Hall was found in disarray and his vehicle located near the lake on Beachside Boulevard in the village of Gloria Glens, a few miles from the township building. Blood was allegedly found at both locations.
“This just doesn’t happen in Medina County,” fellow Trustee Lynda Bowers said Feb. 24. “We have one answer and a whole lot more questions.”
Along with Trustee Michael Costello, Bowers said the trustee board was a tight-knit group that worked together efficiently and friendly. Macron was appointed to the board in 2010 to fill a vacancy and was elected in 2015. Bowers fondly recalled one of Bryon’s favorite phrases of encouragement was “make it happen.”
“We didn’t always agree procedurally, but there was never a fight. There were discussions,” Bowers said. “We did things together. We’d go to (the township’s annual) clean up day together. We’d go to Lafayette (United) Methodist Church every Thanksgiving and serve meals.”
Bowers declined to comment further at the advisement of the sheriff’s office, she said. Trustees issued a statement Feb. 23 extending sympathies to Macron’s family and telling residents “there is no evidence to suggest this situation should be cause for fear in the community.” Medina County Prosecutor Forrest Thompson said in a press conference the same day it was “premature” to say the investigation is focused on murder.
According to an initial statement from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Macron attended a township association holiday party at Winking Lizard in Brunswick before going to see a movie with Costello. Guests at the party confirmed this. His wife was reportedly the last to see him alive early the next morning.
From 2012-2015, Macron volunteered on the coaching staff for Medina High School’s football program, working with the freshman team. The varsity head coach at the time, Dan Sutherland, said Macron had an impact on all of the players and coaches he worked with. Macron, a 1989 graduate of North Royalton, played football in high school.
“He just wanted to be around football. If it was a Friday night and we needed helmets fixed, whatever we needed, he would do it. No job was beneath him. I valued that as a coach,” Sutherland said.
Sutherland joked that Macron had a passion for football because he had three daughters and “needed to be around a man’s sport.” Macron’s daughter Madeline, an MHS student, was one of the team’s athletic trainers last season, Sutherland’s last at the helm.
“His kids are some of the best to ever come through A.I. Root Middle School,” Sutherland said of the school he’s taught at for 15 years. “Just like their dad, willing to help in any way possible.”
Outside of his township and community work, Macron, since 2014, managed A.V. Diamonds’ buying department and often worked on the road, according to A.V. owner Vinay Kotak. The company has been a diamond manufacturer and supplier since 1998, serving the needs of big-box stores like Macy’s, as well as mom-and-pop shops, throughout the U.S.
Kotak worked closely with Macron and described him as a “phenomenal, stand-up guy” who he met with in person at least once a month and spoke with several times a week.
“It’s one of the most surprising things that I’ve ever heard,” Kotak said. “We were praying for him (since his disappearance). We said a prayer for him at our company Christmas party.”
Kotak said the only time he ever saw Macron “worked up” was leading up to Macron’s election in 2015, despite Macron running unopposed.
“He said it was a really easy job. He loved it. That’s what he told us. He enjoyed it, made him feel like he was a big part of the community,” Kotak said.
Kotak said he enjoyed Macron’s stories from his time serving in the Marines. Macron was active from 1991-1995, served with the Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team and achieved the rank of corporal. He was honorably discharged.
“I used to say, ‘there’s no freakin’ way you were a marine. Look at your stomach!’” Kotak joked of the 6-foot-1, 290-pound Macron. “In fact he even brought in a photo of him during his Marine days. He mentioned he served in combat. He was deployed three times.”
Kotak said of Macron, “If he believed in something, he would stick by his beliefs.”
“Let’s say a customer didn’t do what they promised to do. He would call up the customer and call them out. A lot of our sales reps would shy away from that, but he always spoke up, cordially, but would let them know, ‘Hey, this is not right,’” Kotak said.
Kotak said Macron’s wife was “very, very disturbed” when he spoke with her on the phone days before the body was w“We’d all like to find out what’s happened,” Kotak said. “I just hope whoever has done this, they get found and justice is served for his fantastic family.”