CHAMPAIGN -- Friends remember the founder of Kurland Steel as a brilliant man who successfully changed his career path and harbored a passion for sports and funny stories.

Aaron Kurland, who died April 8 at the age of 84, founded the Urbana-based steel company in 1976 and served as its president until he retired.

But Mr. Kurland's background was in an entirely different field biochemical genetics.

After getting a bachelor's degree in zoology from Indiana University, he earned a doctorate in biochemical genetics from the University of Illinois. He then worked as a biochemist for Viobin Corp. in Monticello and did research for Armour in Chicago.

Mr. Kurland eventually returned to Champaign to join his father-in-law, Jack Marco, at Marco Steel Supply Co., where Mr. Kurland headed the steel fabrication division and became vice president, structural steel.

"Quite frankly, there was not a lot of money to be made as a biochemical engineer at that time," his son, Steve, said, speculating on why his father changed careers.

At the time, Aaron Kurland had a young and growing family, and his wife, Jewel, had roots in Champaign.

After working several years for Marco, Mr. Kurland went into business for himself. While Marco's strength and focus was on scrap steel, "Aaron liked the new steel and steel fabrication business," said Jeff Ping, who went to work for Mr. Kurland in 1981 and, with Al Mitchell, bought the company from the Kurland family in 2006.

"He was probably one of the most brilliant men I ever knew," Ping said. "He had a very outgoing personality and a strong sense of humor. Someone just meeting him was immediately a friend. ... If he liked you, he really liked you."

Longtime friend George Sodemann called Mr. Kurland "a successful businessman and a great storyteller, sometimes raunchy and sometimes funny. He was always a good guy to be with."

Son Steve said his dad had great timing when it came to making clever remarks.

"I was quite jealous of what he was able to do. It didn't matter the subject, he could tell a story about it and get a chuckle. People knew when he came into the room. He lit up the place."

Steve Kurland recalled that when a former rabbi was introduced to the Sinai Temple congregation, the rabbi spoke at length about how life was like losing a wallet. When he finished, Mr. Kurland thanked him for the informative and instructive discourse then added, "I'm just glad you didn't lose your luggage."

"He had one-liners all the time," said Lou Liay, the executive emeritus of the UI Alumni Association.

"He was a good buddy who played tennis when it wasn't a big thing to do. He took lessons all the time. He always wanted to beat me, but usually I prevailed," Liay said.

For years, the UI tennis team had a joint banquet with other sports teams. But Mr. Kurland and his wife, Jewel, sponsored an independent banquet so the tennis team could have its own.

Mr. Kurland also took part in many charitable activities, serving as president of the United Way and general chairman for the Charities Drive for the Jewish Federation.

The company he founded, Kurland Steel, does steel fabrication for general contractors and developers. It also supplies manufacturers and machine shops.

Kurland Steel has provided structural steel for condominiums in ski areas of Colorado and for grain handling facilities and ethanol plants across the country, Ping said. Local projects supplied by Kurland Steel include the Parkland College Planetarium and Theater.

Kurland Steel employed about 12 when Ping joined the company and employs about that number today. But at times employment has climbed as high as 23, Ping said.