Tom Huntington, the president and CEO of WaterFurnace International, died of cancer, the company announced Thursday. He was 63.

A native of Syracuse, New York, he had bachelor of science in engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and a master of science in engineering from Syracuse University.

Huntington’s carrier in HVAC construction included time as the division marketing general manager at Carrier Corp., director of sales and marketing at KeepRite, vice president of corporate marketing at Climatic Corp., vice president and general manager of Evcon Industries Inc., vice president of global marketing and sales at Bristol Compressors, and president of York International/Johnson Controls’ Unitary Products Group.

He was chairman of HVAC market associations the Geothermal Exchange Organization and Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association. He was also on boards for North American Technician Excellence and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.

Huntington joined the green HVAC geothermal manufacturer WaterFurnace International in 2009.

Gerteric Lindquist, president, CEO and chairman of the board at Swedish company NIBE Industrier AB, which bought WaterFurnace in 2009, said Huntington will be missed.

“On occasions like this we are all reminded of the facts that life is only a borrowing and good health is a gift,” Lindquist said. “Tom was an outstanding individual, a good friend, a very nice colleague and an unchallenged leader. He was also a formidable fighter, keeping up the spirits until the very end. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom’s family and all of our employees at WaterFurnace International.”

WaterFurnace Chief Financial Officer Fred Andriano has been appointed interim president and CEO.