Bonnie Pollack (Chernikoff)

Where is the reunion?

Robert Louis Taliaferro, III

I attended a presentation at Cooper Union by Laura Meckler ('74) about her new book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equality.  I recommend the book that talks about the history of integration within Shaker and its public schools and the efforts to ensure support all students to excel.  Ms. Meckler conduced 250 interviews to gather material for her book.  

I found it ironic that this book was discussed at the same institution where Abraham Lincoln gave his February 17, 1860, speech. It was key to supporting his presidential campaign. He argued against expanding slavery into the territories.

Alaina Weisman (Zachary)

Marianne!IIF I get to Cleveland for the reunion, I'd be happy to attempt a mini choir reunion. Can we do the entire Poulenc Gloria???!!! LOL I remember a lot of what we sang. Maybe Liebeslieder waltzes?  Let us knkow what you're thinking of.

Edward M Kovachy, Jr

I totally agree with Bob. Dream Town is a great, important book. Very relevant to us all. And not just us. Best wishes to all, Ed Kovachy 

Joseph G Blake

Ditto to what Bob and Ed have said about Dreamtown.

Laura Meckler is an accomplished journalist at the Washington Post. We first became aquainted in 2017 when I saw a series in the WP that she wrote about Shaker Heights and it's schools.

I was honored to help her with the period of the Van Sweringens (allegedly my expertise) and also the story of John and Dorothy Pegg. Some of you may know they were a black couple who built a home in Ludlow in the late 1950s. The house was bombed and then rebuilt. The Ludlow Association was founded to smooth integration and the rest is history. 

Jane and I knew them when we rented their garage apartment when they lived at 15800 South Park next to one of the "grand dames" of the era, the very lovely Phyllis Peckham. This was the late 1970s and we were newlyweds. They were a truly great pair. I could offer first knowledge about them as well. My notes about them are in the Shaker Library local history collection.

Dorothy lived until age 104 and was active until then as a director of the Cleveland Institure of Music. 

Laura was on the PBS News hour last night talking about another civil rights issue. 
Hope to see you all in August the gods willing.
Joe

Cheryl Kushner (Lane)

I am coming to the Saturday part of the reunion, and I want to sing with my choir buddies!

Cheryl Kushner Lane

William A Sokol

Laura Meckler's book si a rich and deeply reported book, well worth reading, a reminder, as Faulkner put it, " The past is never dead. It's not even past."

Cheryl Kushner (Lane)

Does Dream Town discuss the Moreland neighborhood?

Robert Louis Taliaferro, III

Yes, Cheryl, Morland is discussed.  Ms. Meckler also mentions it in an NPR interview about her book heard on "Fresh Air" on August 15, 2023.  Morland was, at one point, composed of nearly 90% black students. A plan was developed to voluntary bus Morland black students to predominately white elementary schools within Shaker, and the plan also enabled white students to be bused voluntarily to Moreland. 

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

The Growing Up in Shaker Hts. FB group had an online conversation with author but I missed it. 

Marianne Coplan (Schapiro)

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Can't wait to hear you all!

Jan Whittemore (White)

Different country heard from!!  I have only caught up with this website from time to time, since after 40 years of living in the UK, I didn't think I'd get back too often (and not in the height of High Cost summer!  BUT the idea of a choir reunion almost has me buying plane tickets right now.  I can't begin to explain the effect those two years of singing with the Acapella Choir have meant to me.  My husband and I belong to two choirs (one acapella polyphony, the other with a wider spread of music) and take part in at least four singing weeks around Europe a year.  I can still sing the 2nd alto part in Lotti's "Crucifixus a 8" almost from memory and I am dying to sing  "The Lord Bless You" by Lutkin.  They only sing the Rutter one over here-nowhere near as lovely!.  I will keep my eyes glued to this website and start making plans.  (I started singing tenor by helping Bob Hopper -I think it was-learn his part in the trios for "The heavens Are Telling".  Since '64, I've been singing tenor.)   Fingers crossed! 

Beth Lazerick

Hi all, hope to see you in August. I do NOT sing. Traveling through Virginia,New York and the Berkshires on my way

Beth 

Marianne Coplan (Schapiro)

Thank you Jan and others for your interest in my proposed mini choir reunion in August. 

I’ve just spoken to Evie, and we agreed that it would be easier if the choir people were to meet on Saturday, August 3 earlier at the same venue where the “big reunion” will be held and which will begin around 6:30 PM. So, around 5:00 PM

Said venue does not have a regular piano, so we will need to rent—or borrow—a portable electronic piano for our little gathering. Since I live in the Chicago area, I’m hoping that one of us who lives in Shaker or nearby might know of where we could rent or borrow such an instrument.  

Repertoire: Jan, I had also immediately thought of the Lutkin “Lord Bless You and Keep You” since we sang it prior to pretty much every performance. I’d also love some suggestions for other pieces we could “refresh” or even “learn” for the evening, and possibly perform for the rest of the crowd. (Singing just for each other would be fine too!)

SO, I would really like to have some idea of how many people would participate in such a gathering—and approximately how many we might have in each part. AND, we would still need to have a volunteer to play this piano to help us along if we do manage to get one.

Finally, since this 10-year-old website seems to be getting a bit creaky, it might be  easier for all to send choir responses via my personal email: mcschapiro@comcast.net. 

Hope we can make this gathering happen!--Marianne

Marianne Coplan (Schapiro)

Thank you Jan and others for your interest in my proposed mini choir reunion in August. 

I’ve just spoken to Evie, and we agreed that it would be easier if the choir people were to meet on Saturday, August 3 earlier at the same venue where the “big reunion” will be held and which will begin around 6:30 PM. So, around 5:00 PM

Said venue does not have a regular piano, so we will need to rent—or borrow—a portable electronic piano for our little gathering. Since I live in the Chicago area, I’m hoping that one of us who lives in Shaker or nearby might know of where we could rent or borrow such an instrument.  

Repertoire: Jan, I had also immediately thought of the Lutkin “Lord Bless You and Keep You” since we sang it prior to pretty much every performance. I’d also love some suggestions for other pieces we could “refresh” or even “learn” for the evening, and possibly perform for the rest of the crowd. (Singing just for each other would be fine too!)

SO, I would really like to have some idea of how many people would participate in such a gathering—and approximately how many we might have in each part. AND, we would still need to have a volunteer to play this piano to help us along if we do manage to get one.

Finally, since this 10-year-old website seems to be getting a bit creaky, it might be  easier for all to send choir responses via my personal email: mcschapiro@comcast.net. 

Hope we can make this gathering happen!--Marianne

Dana Shepard (Treister)

I didn't sing then and I don't sing now (other than having been in the chorus more as a dancer than a singer for "Guys and Dolls", "The Pajama Game" and "My Fair Lady" in Francis Parker School's Parent/Faculty/Alumni productions the late 80s/early 90s when our sons were still in high school...).   But scrolling through the passionate responses from those of you who were SHHS singers is truly heartwarming!  Kudos to Marianne for taking leadership in making it happen...  and Michael and I may just have to arrive early for the Sat party, too - after all, you'll need an audience!

;    ))

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

What about Leonard Cohen's Allelujah?

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

I haven't received any info on activities and where to send money. 

Marianne Coplan (Schapiro)

Hi Evie-I’m glad we can get on to the website again—I couldn’t access it at all for about a month.

I have a request: If you are not planning to issue and send out invitations (which I sense is the case), would you please put ALL of the information in a post that includes them.

Dates

Times

Locations --with directions from hotels. Some of us have not been Cleveland-area residents for 50 years or more!

Hotels (and where they are located) and their phone numbers (thanks for including those already)

I have asked this before: will there be any difference between the two evenings? Is one less formal than the other? Do you anticipate a larger crowd for one of the evenings? (And, is there any reason to attend BOTH evenings??)

I have only had a couple of responses to my choir reunion idea, so I guess that won’t be happening (unless I get a flood of interest after this post, in which case, I’ll see what I can do.)

Thank you again for taking this on for all these years and orchestrating  these festive occasions.--Marianne

Cheryl Kushner (Lane)

Marianne, if no one else cares, you and I will joyfully sing something in harmony for the two of us.

Martha Kronheim (Zlotnik)

Hello all Shakerites!  If anyone has any information about the venues for Friday and Saturday nites please post them.  Thank you, Martha (Kronheim) Zlotnik 

Evie Fertman (Braman)

I am thrilled that we are back on line, I have spent a huge amount of time for weeks and weeks to get this accomplished.  Two companies are involved and one is allergic to returning phone calls.  We've used them for 11 years with no issues so I'm giving them another chance and hoping for the best.  If you have any questions that are not answered below please feel free to call me anytime at 216-288-4506.

HOTELS:

COURTYARD IN BEACHWOOD, 216-765-1900, 3695 Orange Place.

HOMEWOOD SUITES IN BEACHWOOD, 216-464-9600, 25725 Central Parkway

Prices fun from $159 - $169 per night, free wifi, free parking, ask about free breakfast since their policy may have changed since I booked the rooms.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS RIGHT AWAY AS WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF ADDING ROOMS TO OUR BETTER RATE IF WE KNOW RELATIVELY SOON.  THE BETTER RATE RUNS OUT ON JULY 1 SO BE SURE TO BOOK SOON BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE TO ADD ROOMS TO OUR RATE.

REUNION COST:  $150 for both nights, $75 for one night.  Please send your check to:

           Evie Braman,  #1004, 13800 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44120

The venue is the Sherwin-Gilmour Party Center, 5947 Mayfiled Road.  The driveway is hard to find, I'm hoping to have balloons at the end of the drive.  it's on the north side of Mayfield just west of Lander Road.  As you are looking north from the street the driveway is a few feet to the right of the Verizon Store.  We have the room from 6:00 to 11:00 on Friday and 6:00 to 11:30 on Saturday.

Dress is casual, dinner is buffet each night, there is a cash bar.  

I'll be sending out a list of ways you might want to spend your free time.  I inquired about another tour of the high school but they will be waxing the floors and won't let anyone in the building who isn't working there.

I've worked it out that the Choir can meet at the venue at 4:00 and sing but there is no piano. Marianne Coplan Schapiro is in charge of all things Choir so please contact her at MCSchapiro@comcast.net to let her know that you are interested in joining othe Choir members before the Reunion.  She can decide which day (or both)  you'll be meeting.

We will be sending out a similar message by email to try to reach more people, tell everyone who you might think would be interested in joining us!!

Call me with any questions or ask them on the Forum and I will respond.

Hope to see a lot of you there!!

Evie

Evie Fertman (Braman)

Reunion Dates!!

August 2 and 3!!!!!

Evie

Ruth Ann Shehan (Rinto Gilliss)

Thanks Evie for ALL you have done. Not an easy task to get this organized!