1991 – Thelbert R. Evans
From 1935 until he retired in 1966, T.R. Evans, supervisor of music for the Lakewood Schools, was known as the suburb’s music man. He achieved prominence for his choral groups and music programs. In the 1930s, he helped establish and judge a music competition in Ohio. For his musical contributions, in 1964 the Ohio Music Education Association honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. Prior to Lakewood, he taught in the Oakwood and Marion schools. T.R. was an alumnus of Miami University and Northwestern University. Outside of school, T.R. conducted the Lakewood Civic Chorus, the United Methodist Choir and the choirs of the Lakewood Baptist and Christian churches. He also directed the Ohio Bell Chorus for several years and on two occasions served as Director of the Cleveland Messiah Chorus. T.R. also was a member of the Lakewood-Rocky River Rotary Club.
1991 – Anthony DiBiasio, Jr.
Tony began his educational career in Lakewood in 1948 and retired in 1985. Tony was a World War II veteran, and earned his B.A. and M.A. at The Ohio State University. During his years in the Lakewood Schools, he taught at the elementary level at Lincoln, McKinley and Hayes schools. In 1955 he taught health and physical education at Emerson Junior High School. In 1959 he became a reading teacher at the high school. He was an assistant LHS coach in football, basketball and baseball for 14 years. As an administrator, he served as Director of the Learning Resource Center and Student Activities and was Senior Class Adviser for 26 years. He directed national workshops in secondary school reading, administered a state funded “Project Read” for three years, and was a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, Cleveland Magazine Interesting Person for 1987 and a president of the Lakewood Teachers Association.
Tony’s contributions to Lakewood schools alumni still resonate today. He developed a comprehensive alumni association for the Lakewood Schools and directed the association efforts until his passing. There are two student scholarships in Tony DiBiasio’s name: The Lakewood Alumni Association scholarship and the Adult Athletic Booster Club scholarship. Tony’s many contributions to the schools were further recognized with the dedication of the corner of Franklin and Bunts Roads as “Tony DiBiasio Square”.
1992 – Casper “Cap” Clark
From 1924 until he retired in 1965, “Cap” Clark was the principal of Horace Mann. He received a State Department of Education Award for the record (41 years) of serving as administrator in the same building. He gave credit to the parents, staff and administration for making Lakewood, as he put it, a big league school system.
Cap earned his B.A. at Indiana State Teachers College and his M.A. at Columbia University. He began his teaching career in a one-room school house in Indiana, where his starting salary was $400 per year. Throughout his years in education, Cap was also active in the community. He was the Lakewood Kiwanis Club secretary for 18 consecutive years and was the Kiwanis District Governor for Ohio for one term. He was a member of the Lakewood Christian Church for over 51 years, and was elected Life Deacon in 1970.
1992 – Agnes Cope
Agnes taught at Alliance, Elmore and North Lima before coming to Lakewood in 1943. A graduate of The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan, Agnes had a 32 year career in the Lakewood schools. She was a teacher of health and physical education, Dean of Girls, counselor and principal of House II at Lakewood High School. She also served as the Director of the Student Council for many years. Aside from her duties at Lakewood High, she also served as president of the Ohio Guidance Counselors.
1992 – Louis Cellini
Lou Cellini, Army veteran and graduate of Heidelberg College and Bowling Green State University, taught history at Lakewood High School. Prior to teaching at Lakewood, Lou taught at the Crestline and Mansfield high schools. He also taught methodology to history teachers at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Lou developed a program for the Cleveland Museum of Art on the subject of using art in teaching history. At Lakewood High, he supervised student teachers and was a reader for Advanced Placement tests, and he also taught AP history.
Lou was a member of the Heidelberg College Athletic Hall of Fame, a member of the John Hay Fellows in the Humanities at Colorado College and an Instructor at Virginia Marti College.
1992 – B. Neil Davis
Neil, a graduate of Kent State University, taught at Springfield Township Local in Akron and at Columbus Eastmoor High School prior to coming to Lakewood in 1966. He was the Supervisor of Music for the Lakewood Schools. After Lakewood, Neil taught part time at Cleveland State University and continued with the men’s chorus of the Hermit Club and with the Robert Page Choir.
Neil served as President of the Ohio Music Association from 1972-74, was President of Music Educators, North Central Region, National Conference from 1976-78, and was a judge in numerous Ohio school music contests. He received the Distinguished Ohio Music Association Award in 1983. Neil also conducted the choirs at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Rocky River, Forest Hills Presbyterian in Cleveland Heights, and at West Shore Unitarian Church in Rocky River.
1993 – Charles Galanie
At the 45th reunion for the class of 1939, Mr. Galanie spoke French to the students and asked them to translate. Talk about lifelong learning! Charles always demanded perfection of his foreign language students. He was active in co-curricular activities. He served as track manager for George Corneal, and was adviser to the French and Chess clubs. Charles was among eight other Oberlin College graduates on the Lakewood faculty. He also did postgraduate work at the University of Wisconsin and the Sorbonne in France.
1993 – Tom Cook
Tom began teaching at Harding in 1935. He then joined the Art Department at the high school. He became department chairman in 1951. He effectively guided curriculum decisions and career choices for his students. Tom was an innovative art teacher, originator of the Phoenix, and one of the organizers of plans for the design of the L-Room. He taught various adult education classes in design, ceramics, drawing and painting. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Tom also served as President of the Ohio Art Association, President of the Lakewood Teachers Association, President of NEOTA and was a recipient of a Ford Foundation Fellowship in 1955. He also was a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar in 1966.
1996 – Dora Dean
An LHS and Western Reserve University alumna, Dora began teaching for the Lakewood schools in 1935. In 1943 she left teaching to become a homemaker, but returned to teaching in 1957. She taught at Harrison, Emerson and Hayes schools, and later became Science Coordinator for the elementary schools. Dora also championed several extracurricular activities: She started the Victory Garden program in 1942 and began the 5th grade camp program that continues in the Lakewood schools to this day. She also developed a Science Resource Center at Harrison, initiated Valley Days in the Park, and taught and directed in-service training sessions for Lakewood elementary teachers.
1996 – Arthur Deiderich
Art was a skillful and knowledgeable craftsman who came to Lakewood in 1962 when he was assigned to Horace Mann Junior High School. He served in the U.S. Army for two years (1954-56) and graduated from Kent State University. In 1969, Art became Lakewood High School teacher of wood, machine shop and graphics. In 1974, he assumed the duties of Athletic Director. In addition, he served as transportation director – he scheduled all athletic and school field trips for the school district.
While Art was Athletic Director, he continued to teach industrial arts. He also coached at the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels of Lakewood High School football. Art also had three children who graduated from Lakewood High: Tracy ’77, Arthur ’78 and Nathaniel ’82.
1997 – Harley Beall
Harley, a Fairmont State College grad, began his Lakewood teaching experience in 1957. He was assigned to Harding Junior High. In 1970, he moved to Lakewood High School. He taught health, general science, Earth science and summer field science during his 33 years in Lakewood. He was honored by the career teacher program, was named a Martha Holden Jennings scholar, represented Lakewood in Quito, Ecuador for the Discovery Program, and was named Lakewood Educator of the Year in 1990.
Harley developed a 7th grade life science program and an NSF Summer Field Service program for gifted students. He worked on an advisory panel that started the Outdoor School Program in Lakewood. He also served for 25 years as a naturalist with the National Park Service, and he trained at the University of Colorado for the National Earth Science Curriculum Project.
1998 – John Cantrell
John Cantrell began teaching at Horace Mann Junior High in 1922. Five years later, he was assigned to Lakewood High School. He was the principal of McKinley School and a leader in Lakewood civic and community affairs. During WWII, he served as an artillery officer. John was a born teacher who loved children and was dedicated to his profession. His rich good humor spiced the atmosphere of the classroom. He also felt that learning can be entertaining. John was the principal of McKinley for 13 years, until his passing in 1959. The school closed on the day of his funeral service at noon to mark his passing.
John, a graduate of Indiana University, was an involved educator. He was one of the founders of the Allied Education Association, a two-time president of the OEA Teachers Department and president of the Lakewood Teacher’s Association. In the community, he was active in Red Cross, the Kiwanis Club, Little Theater and served on the board of Lakewood Methodist Church. He was a two-time president of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, and in 1951 ran as an independent candidate for Mayor of Lakewood.
1998 – Marian Denicola
Marian began her teaching career in Warren, Ohio, and came to Lakewood in 1969 and for the next 25 years she expected nothing but the best from her students. Her standards were high and her expectations were clearly defined. She taught senior composition, English literature, AP junior English, AP senior English and American literature. Marian, a graduate of the University of California in Pennsylvania, was known as “the bulwark of the English Department” and was recognized as a dedicated and concerned educator who stood for all the best LHS has to offer.
Marian was actively involved beyond the classroom. The Martha Holden Jennings Scholar Award winner was on the Rights and Responsibilities committee that developed the LHS student handbook, she was on the DISC program committee, she served as a North Central evaluation team member and as an Advanced Placement grader. She also was the facilitator of the first English lab at LHS.
1998 – Nancy Davis
During the 27 years in the Lakewood Schools, Nancy Davis established the reputation of a most professional educator. She accepted the challenges of working with the diversity of students in Lincoln, Hayes, Taft and Grant schools. Nancy was an alumna of Kent State University and did post-graduate work at Cleveland State University and Baldwin-Wallace College. Her greatest trait of all was her caring for each pupil and his or her needs or talents. Her prime purpose was to nurture every student and help each to achieve his or her potential. When the Discovery Program was initiated in 1983 for academically gifted students, Nancy was on the original team and remained in the program until her retirement in 1993. She gave freely of her time in the fields of art, music, drama and children’s literature. Nancy also was on the team that received a Martha Holden Jennings Foundation grant, and she served on the textbook selection committees for language arts, math, reading and social studies. She served as the secretary for the Lakewood Teachers Association, and helped develop curriculums in writing and language arts as well.
1998 – Mary Etta Bitter
During the 35 years of her teaching in the Lakewood Schools, Mary Etta taught at Garfield and Taft and then 26 years at Grant Elementary School. Mary Etta, a graduate of The Ohio State University, was recognized as a true professional and a model first grade teacher. She was conscientious and creative, and her students learned to become excellent readers. She was dedicated to reading education, and was instrumental to bringing many childrens’ book authors to visit the schools and even to serve in residence to work with Grant students. She made several other contributions to elementary education: she revised the first grade report card model, and she helped write a first grade science textbook.
Mary Etta was recognized as Grant Teacher of the Year, and was involved in several educational activities. She served as the Secretary for the WestShore Council on Reading for ten years, and she served on the State Department of Education’s Committee for Competency Based Education. After her retirement, she returned voluntarily to the schools to conduct mini book-writing sessions with first graders.
2000 – Evelyn Edmonson
Evelyn began her 34-year Lakewood teaching career in 1911. Originally from Pennsylvania, she graduated from the Wilson School for Women, and she did post-graduate work at Columbia University, Boston College and Harvard University.
Students of Evelyn’s remember her tough demeanor and her excellence in the classroom. As one alum recalled, “Miss Edmonson was called the ‘bulldog’ partly by reputation, partly by the set of jowls when displeased. She would teach any way she could – by humor, by challenge, by terror. Her verbal range and intensity could not be equaled in the school. Years afterward, most swore she was the finest teacher who ever taught.” Another remembered that lessons taught by Evelyn were never forgotten.
Outside the classroom, she was known as a foodie. As one student remembered, “She loved her food, and she could tell you what she had for lunch at a restaurant in Vienna years ago.”
2000 – Nellie Bach
Nellie’s Lakewood High School classified career covered 15 years. She began her duties as a study hall aide in 1966. Nellie represents the non-teaching staff well – she performed her countless tasks efficiently and helped produce a proficient and highly organized high school environment. She was punctual, accurate in her work and always tended to the business at hand. She was a stern, rules-oriented person, yet many graduates came back to pay her a visit. She thought it was a privilege to work at the high school, and enjoyed working with faculty, staff and students.
2000 – James Erdelyi
During his 29 years at Lakewood High School, James taught English, Russian and Chinese. He contributed significantly to the school and district by participating in various committees and by organizing in-service for middle school staff members. He combined his excellent knowledge of the subject matter with appropriate teaching methods. Students respected him and enjoyed his classes. He encouraged all students to strive for excellence.
His accolades were many: He was Lakewood Teacher of the Year for 1988, earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Levy Campaign in 1993 and earned the Governor’s commendation on his Chinese course in 1988. James was a founder of the Communications Forum, spent twelve years on the Executive Board of the Lakewood Teachers Association, he supervised nine student teachers and spent a year teaching English in China in 1986.
2002 – Betty Nyberg Bittenger
Betty is a January 1943 graduate of Lakewood High School. She attended night school at Fenn College. Betty began her career with the Lakewood City Schools in 1963 as a substitute secretary at various schools. In 1966 she received a permanent appointment when she was named secretary in the Lakewood High School Guidance Department. She remained at that post until her retirement in 1990.
Every college-bound LHS student knew Mrs. Bittenger. She organized college nights and visits from college admissions directors. Letters of praise from visiting admissions counselors, grateful for her efficiency and cordiality, filled her file. During her tenure at LHS, she welcomed more than 2,500 college admission visitors.
2002 – Dr. Richard A. Boyd
Dr. Richard A. Boyd was Lakewood’s superintendent from 1975 to 1984. A native of Coshocton, he received his undergraduate degree from Capital University, his master’s from The Ohio State University and his doctorate from the University of Akron. He holds honorary doctorates from Capital University, Cleveland State University and Baldwin-Wallace College.
Dr. Boyd served in the U.S. Navy as a Pharmacist’s Mate 1945-46. He has earned many honors, including Circleville’s Outstanding Young Man (1947), Oustanding Senior Athlete at Capital University (1951), Exemplary Leadership Award from the Warren Urban League (1973), Alumni Varsity “C” Award (1976) and was named one of North America’s top 100 school administrators by The Executive Educator (1984).
Early in his career, Dr. Boyd was a teacher and coach in the Thornville and Circleville high schools, and a teacher, coach, assistant principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent for the Warren schools. He was Mississippi’s state superintendent from 1984 to 1989. He returned to Ohio as executive director of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. From 1994 to 1997, Dr. Boyd was deputy state superintendent for the Cleveland Public Schools. He returned to Mississippi in 1998 as interim state superintendent. Dr. Boyd then went on to serve as director of educational programs for the Barksdale Reading Institute and as a professor of educational leadership at the University of Mississippi.
2002 – Mildred Dicke
Mildred was a teacher and elementary principal for the Lakewood schools from 1944 until her retirement in 1971. She taught second, third and fourth grades, and was principal at Roosevelt, Franklin and Madison elementary schools. Prior to joining the Lakewood City Schools, she taught in Bowling Green and Dayton.
A native of St. Mary’s, Ohio, Mildred received her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. She did additional post-graduate work at Harvard, Columbia, the University of California and Central Washington State University.
Following her retirement, Mildred joined the faculty at Cleveland State University as a supervisor of student teachers. She was an avid traveler who toured most of the United States, and she completed an extensive world tour in 1970. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Lambda Theta, the College Club West, the League of Women Voters of Lakewood, and the Greater Cleveland and Ohio retired teachers associations.
Mildred passed away in 1981. The Learning Resource Center at Madison Elementary School was named in her honor.
2007 – Mariann Miller Becks ’44
Mariann Miller Becks was hired in 1964 to be the first swimming pool guard in the city of Lakewood. Nine years later, she was named to coordinate the entire swim instruction program for the Recreation Department by Lakewood Board of Education, post she held until 2002. In 1973, Mariann was named the L-Room Director which also gave her the responsibility of social director for the high school. She supervised students in this social center at the high school and coordinated dances and other activities. Mariann served in this capacity until the 2002-2003 school year.
In 1983, Mariann, together with Mrs. Myrna Pizir, a Lakewood parent of a special needs child, co-founded the special needs Camp-Can-Do Program. The program was held at Madison Park Pool and provided a summer camp experience focused on swimming for special needs children. Their efforts evolved into the Camp-Can-Do and STOP (Satisfaction Through Opportunities Program) which still thrive today. In addition to the camp programs, Mariann helped establish a special needs swim lesson program, which provided access to swim lessons for all children regardless of skills or ability.
Thousands of Lakewood children and their families participated in swimming lessons, camps and other social programs that Mariann founded and served in her 30+ years of service to the Lakewood schools and community. On July 25, 2007 Madison Park Pool was dedicated in a ceremony and renamed Mariann Becks Pool.