1991 – Ethel K. Howard
Ethel Howard began her educational career in Lakewood in 1913, and taught first, fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Harrison and Franklin Elementary schools. In 1922 she taught at Horace Mann, and she then became assistant principal at Harding. In 1935 Ethel became Director of Elementary Education for the school system, and she continued in the position until her retirement in 1962. Ethel also authored an elementary English series and worked with editor Eleanor Johnson on the national publication of My Weekly Reader magazine. Ethel was an alumna of Lakewood High School, and also a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and the University of Michigan. She also did post graduate work at the University of Chicago and Western Reserve University. She was nationally recognized for excellence in elementary reading, English and social studies instruction, and was a leader in both the community and her church.
1991 — Betsy Hutcheson
Betsey began her educational career in Lakewood in 1959 and retired in 1985. During these years, she was a member of the high school English department. Throughout her career, her professionalism and willingness to implement innovative teaching techniques made her a leader in her field. Not only did she give her all to her students, but she always had to time to help other teachers. Betsey earned her B.A. at Westminster College and her M.A. at Ohio University. During her career, she taught Advanced Placement classes, advised the debate and speech co-curriculum program and taught part-time at Cuyahoga Community College. She spent a year in Belfast, North Ireland as an exchange teacher, and was a recipient of the Martha Holden Jennings Scholar Award.
1993 – Anne Klaameyer
Anne began working in the Main Office in 1922 and stayed until 1931, when she left to raise a family. She then returned to the position in 194. Her duties varied widely; she was in charge of reporting teachers’ absences, payrolls, reports of all kinds and student transcripts. Anne always was available and ready to help students, teachers and visitors with any problems that arose. She was a dedicated, hardworking office manager and everyone respected her.
1993 – Jack Irey
Jack came to Lakewood in 1963 and retired from Lakewood in 1985. Jack was an excellent teacher of chemistry. A grad of Indiana University, Jack was chairperson of the LHS science department, he conducted chemistry workshops for Lakewood elementary teachers, and he wrote numerous chemistry lab experiments used at LHS and other area high schools. He was well liked, and was selected as a favorite teacher by graduating seniors.
Outside of his duties at Lakewood, Jack served as a president of the Cuyahoga County Chemistry Society and president of the Kent State Science Day. He earned the LHS House II teaching award and was a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar Award recipient. One teacher summed up Jack’s excellence by saying, “Best teacher in science, period. Brilliant, easy to work with, always helping students and staff. Made chemistry a blast – no pun intended. Superior in every way.”
1997 – Lois Gilkey
Lois was a product of the Lakewood schools herself, having graduated from Franklin Elementary, Emerson Junior High and Lakewood High School. She attended Ohio University and then returned to Lakewood as a teacher. She began her teaching career in 1958, and moved to Grant school when it opened in 1969. She remained at Grant until her retirement in 1989. During her career, she initiated a peer tutoring program, and started a pen pal program between Grant elementary students and their counterparts at a school in Dorchester, England. She was awarded the $2,000 Martha Holden Jennings Master Teacher Award to continue her study of England’s school system.
Lois was honored for her achievements: She was named Lakewood Teacher of the Year for 1974-75, and was named president of the Lakewood Teacher Association for 1983-84. In addition to teaching, Lois served on the Science Council, the science textbook selection committee, the curriculum council, the language arts committee and the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee.
1999 – H. Reade Heskamp
Henry came to Lakewood High School as a language teacher in 1927. During the next 35 years he masterfully taught several languages, including German, Latin and French, as well as his main focus of Spanish. In his desire to get to know other areas of the educational spectrum, he was active in co-curricular activities, such as marking first downs at varsity football games. He took many high school and college students on summer trips to Mexico for a more meaningful experience in foreign language – a concept that was quite novel at the time.
Henry’s efforts did not go unnoticed. He had a scholarship created in his name at his alma mater, Centre College. He was an honorary life member of Sigma Delta Pi, he earned a USA Government Award, and he served on the Board of Advisors for the Universidad Interamericana de Mexico.
1999 – James Van Horn
Van Horn’s teaching career covered 32 years, with 28 of those years as a member of the social studies staff at Lakewood High School. He taught a wide range of classes, such as Civilization and Man, Humanities, Military History, Psychology, The Sexes, Death and Dying, The City, Social Criticism and World Culture. He also spent one year teaching in the OWA program.
Jim was well regarded. He was a House II teacher of the year, President of the Lakewood Teachers Association in 1974, Coached Junior Varsity Basketball, assisted coaches Frank Nixon and Dan Gerome in winning ten LEL championships in Cross Country, and he helped form the American Federation of Teachers chapter in Lakewood.
2002 – Helen Finn
Helen Finn was a teacher and guidance counselor for the Lakewood schools from 1971 until her retirement in 1994. She graduated from Lourdes Academy, and then received her bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College and her master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. She completed additional postgraduate studies at Kent State, John Carroll, Xavier, Syracuse, New York University and Cleveland State.
She began at Lakewood High School in 1971 as a guidance counselor in House I, served as a Guidance Department Chairperson from 1974-79, was the Vocational Education Coordinator from 1979-85, and became a guidance counselor in House II from 1985 to her retirement in 1994. She began the Chemical Awareness Program in 1980, and served two terms as president of the Lakewood Teachers Association.
Following her retirement, Helen continued to substitute as a counselor at LHS, helped with various school programs and started projects with Lakewood Youth Services.
2002 – Ulah Gilmore
Ulah Gilmore was a music educator for the Lakewood schools from 1946 until her retirement in 1978. Born in Elyria, Ulah earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and then a master’s degree in music from Northwestern University. She spent the first six years of her teaching career at schools in Greenwich and Shelby, Ohio. She then worked as a secretary for the Cleveland Orchestra.
Ulah came to Lakewood in 1946, where she taught music at Franklin and Garfield Elementary schools, Harding Middle School and Lakewood High School. She also taught business education classes and directed many high school choirs and ensembles. She took 28 soloists to state competition. Her choirs won many #1 ratings and once were mentioned in the Congressional Record.
Ulah was an accomplished violinist and at various times played with the Ashland Symphony and the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra. After retiring from the public schools in 1978, she taught music appreciation to adults through the Cleveland Orchestra’s Music Study groups for 17 years. She was president of the Rocky River Chamber Society and sang in the West Shore Chorale. She also belonged to the Three Arts Club of Lakewood, College Club West, Optimist Investment Club, Lakewood Church and Delta Kappa Gamma. A world traveler, she liked to say she had been to every continent. Ulah passed away in January of 2000.
2008 – Patrick Fahey
Pat Fahey was a dedicated teacher and coach for 35 years and spent the last 20 years of his career at Lakewood High School. Pat was a committed teacher to his students in the Marketing Education Program and DECA. During his years at Lakewood High, he established the Students Against Drunk Driving Program (SADD). Each year at prom time, Pat would bring in the mother of a young girl who was killed by a drunk driver. Mr. Fahey believed that if this emotional speech prevented even one student from drinking and driving then the program was a success.
In the classroom Pat’s Marketing Education students showed their excellence by competing in state competitions. Each year, without fail, one or more of Mr. Fahey’s students reached the state finals. Character and good citizenship was also important in Mr. Fahey’s class. Included in his lessons were daily positive affirmations, “adopt a family” holiday program, and visits from Judge Carroll to reinforce the consequences of bad choices.
Pat also coached football at Lakewood High for all 20 of his years in Lakewood. As the Defensive Coordinator he helped the team win seven L.E.L. titles and four state playoff appearances. Of course, the undefeated season in 1995 which included beating cross-town rival St. Edwards was especially memorable. Coach Fahey believed that if a student came to practices and worked hard, they should enjoy the excitement of being in the game.