Cheryl Kushner (Lane)

Paul was in choir with me, and we were good friends!  What a loss to the world!

Paige Fields (Hoebel)

Does anyone remember TROLLS on the window ledge in a classroom at Byron?  Could the teacher's name be Miss Akins who collected and displayed these critters?  Was this my homeroom or my English class?  My only firm memory is the TROLLS now making their comback over 50 years later!  Who can fill in the blanks????

Mark L Fine

I still have this picture too. Glad to have all the names filled. Great memories from Miss Byrd's class. 

Thank you for sharing this 

Mark Fine

Dana Shepard (Treister)

Mark - regardung the names on my 6th gr Lomond School class picture - as you probably already ascertained -- each of our classmates wrote his/her own name - a record of our 6th gr penmanship!  (I know mine was a lot better back then, thanks to all the keyboard use in recent decades...)

Evie Fertman (Braman)

Thanks, Bill, for the reminder.  I will amend the list and add Doug's name.

Evie

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Dana, I loved the comment about handwriting. Mine is awful. 

Dan Lesnick

Thanks to all who shared your Seidman memories and updates a few months back. I loved reading each of them (several times), and they've prompted me to add my 2 cents.

In 2004, 37 years after last seeing Irv (aka Earl, "Earl the Pearl", and "Duke of Earl") in Palo Alto CA (where he was doing graduate work in education), I decided it was time to write him a letter of appreciation. He'd been instrumental in awakening parts of me that subsequently gave direction to much of my life.

He valued the human mind; he valued the human being and had a powerful social conscience; and he had an intense dedication to his students. He was one among a handful of people who taught me by example about "paying forward".

After attending Oberlin on "the 7-year plan", I became a historian of medieval and Renaissance Italy and taught college and university students until I retired in 2008. As a teacher (and a parent), I strove to instill habits of "critical thinking" much as I had learned them from Irv (and, admittedly, others).  And I still start each day reading the NYT. (However, much to my discredit, I still haven't read Crime and Pahnishment.)

A couple of days after I emailed Irv, he wrote back. His letter was thoughtful, kind, and generous. It bespoke a man who clearly had become, over the years since he'd briefly taught at Shaker Heights High School, even more of himself.

Gary D Hermann

Not that this would be of any interest to others on this site, but I thought Dan would want to know that I occasionally run into his in-laws here in Montana, especially his mother-in-law, who used to take my Tai Chi class when her cranky knee didn't interfere (although I later discontinued the class after six years).    The last I saw her, she told me that Dan and his wife were moving back to Cleveland.   Though I love being in Montana, I can see how Cleveland would be a good retirement choice..     

Beverly Parries (Rideout)

Happy New Year, my fellow Shakerites! I had not been following our forum for a few months, but I am back on track now. First I want to thank all of you who sent me birthday wishes last week. Wow, another year older and still feeling great. I bowl regularly with a league called the "Over the Hill Gang." (And most of them are older than me, so I feel like a youngster!) I visited Cleveland twice last year. My mom passed in April (7 months after her 100th birthday.) She was still able to enjoy life until the last 6 months or so. In November I went back to spend Thanksgiving with my 6 sisters and my brother. I was really impressed with some of the changes I saw around town, especially the Van Aken-Chagrin area where they have fixed that horrible intersection and are now building Downtown Shaker Heights. One of my sisters just moved into that area, so she will be right in the midst of it all. Cleveland Clinic has totally taken over that area, and downtown Cleveland has made some nice improvements. I always enjoy visiting, but Las Vegas is "home" now. If any of you are planning to visit Las Vegas, drop me a line at rideout@cox.net and perhaps we can get together. I wish you all well in 2017 and look forward to the next reunion! 

Alaina Weisman (Zachary)

I am so sad to announce that I have just learned of the passing of Meredith Eiker.  Her brother, Kenny, just emailed that Meredith passed on Sunday, January 22nd.  She had gone into cardiac arrest a few weeks ago and although she rallied, it sounds like her lungs were badly compromised by pneumonia.  

If I learn of any arrangements and/or wishes, I will post them.

Evie Fertman (Braman)

I'm sorry to tell you all that Wendy Kaufman Dannenhirsch died in Cleveland on February 19, 2017, leaving behind her husband and one son.  The funeral is at 1:00 on Wednesday (2/22) at Temple Tifereth Israel on Shaker Blvd. Berkowitz Kumin would have any additional information.

Phyllis Hammer (Gubanc)

Evie, I'm so sorry to hear this! Thank you for sharing this information and for keeping us up to date.

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

As we get older, more and more of us pass away. May we all live each day to the fullest and may the memories of those who have passed away be for a blessing. Betsy

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Here is the obituary 

http://m.clevelandjewishnews.com/community/lifecycles/obituaries/dannenhirsh-wendy-jo/article_92f36bda-f7b7-11e6-84b3-f36cfb5544d9.html

Jonathan Meyers

There is a lovely obituary about Meredith (Eiker) Spear: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailycamera/obituary.aspx?n=meredith-spear&pid=184207665.

I find myself constantly in awe of the lives led by my classmates and regret I only learn of them after their passings.

Phyllis Hammer (Gubanc)

Very well said, Betsy. Now if I can just remember this....

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Jonathan thanks for posting. What a life to be remembered! Betsy

Janet Harold (Anderson)

Johnathan Meyers, I tried to download Meredith's obituary and it wouldn't. Is there a possibility you could copy it and paste it on here? I would love to read it. Sad to hear of Wendy's passing too. Yes we are all aging, some not as well as others.

Arthur Charles Scott

Janet, I also had a problem getting Meredith's obit.  If you cut & pasted the URL from Jon's post & got a We're Sorry error message, you probably did what I did and included the period at the end of the URL.  Delete the period and you'll get the website.  Hope this helps.

I knew Meredith a little bit from classes and, I think, Semanteme.  She was a smart and personable woman.  No surprise that she led a remarkably productive life.  Sad that she's gone.

Alan L Farkas

Here's the full obit for Meredith:

Published in The Daily Camera on Feb. 22, 2017- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailycamera/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=184207665#sthash.LX3TLFoC.dpuf

Dana Shepard (Treister)

Not sure if you all received the email I received from SHHS with the sad news that our AP English teacher Mr RANDALL died in March.  And he was only 87.  Honestly I thought all of our teachers were "old", but apparently he was only 17 years older than we were...  Who knew?  From the obits I googled, he apparently outlived his wife by 33 years, and had no living relatives when he died.  Here is a link to the most informative of the obits:  http://www.behmfuneral.com/obituary/Burton-E.-Randall-Jr./Austinburg-OH/1707055 . 

And here is the email message I received from SHHS regarding a memorial in his name: 

Dear Shaker Graduates from the Classes of 1952-1982,

We recently learned from Kingsley and Mary Evans Smith (Mary is Shaker class of 1947), that Mr. Burton E. Randall, Jr. passed away on March 2, 2017. Many of you may remember Mr. Randall who taught literature at Shaker Heights High School for 31 years. He was known as a brilliant, enthusiastic and strict mentor for his students. He was a talented teacher forever loyal to his students. He had a love of poetry and teaching and he is fondly remembered for his dedication to his students.

In memory of Mr. Randall, the Shaker Schools Foundation would be pleased to create a fund to recognize his inspiring teaching. This fund will be used to support projects by the English Department that enrich the education of our current Shaker students. If you are so inclined, you may contribute to this fund by clicking here and then click on "Donate Now".

Please make your gift in memory of Mr. Randall and it will be added to his named fund. You may also send a check to the Shaker Schools Foundation, 15600 Parkland Drive, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120. If you have specific questions, please call Sue Starrett at 216-295-4329.

Sincerely, Holly Coughlin -- Director, Alumni Relations

Evie Fertman (Braman)

I'm sorry to have to pass on the news that Burton Randal, our AP English teacher as well as senior English teacher died in March of this year.  

Marianne Coplan (Schapiro)

I'm a bit confrused by Dana's reference to "Mr. Wheeler," and then a death notice for Mr.Randall, whose AP English class I never enjoyed. I opted for (the very quirky) Mr. Burnett senior year and was much happier.

Dana Shepard (Treister)

SO sorry for the TYPO - of course I meant Mr. RANDALL, and have now corrected my previous entry...
 

Joseph G Blake

Dear All,

We have from time to time discssed questions about Shaker History. 

For those who may be interested or in Cleveland in September, I am giving a talk about the development of Shaker Heights on September 24 at the Shaker Historical Society at 16740 South Park.

The title will be the developement of Shaker Heights, How the Vans Remade the Face of Cleveland.

I promise it will be interesting and informative.

Thanks