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Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

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A. LEE CRAWFORD

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1959

Mexico City is a long way from Chagrin Falls Village, but one of this capital city’s residents has not forgotten the dedication and commitment of his former teachers in Chagrin Falls Schools. In 1994, Lee Crawford was awarded the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor that the Mexican Federal Government bestows upon foreign individuals. He was the first U.S. citizen to receive the award since 1936. For ten years, he was director of Packard Electric’s Mexico West Operations. Lee was lauded for his efforts with the people, the environment, and the community. He serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Mexico, and in 1994 was named “International Man of the Year” by United Way. He is currently in charge of the Delphi Components Group of General Motors in Mexico, which includes 48 manufacturing facilities, employing more than 65,000 people. He began his GM career at Packard Electric following graduation from Kent State University, where he studied architecture and Pre-law. Formerly a resident of El Paso, Texas, Lee recently moved to Mexico City.

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ALLEN J. TENNY

Teacher

This quiet, unassuming man was a tough teacher in a noisy classroom. His classroom was the Chagrin Valley Herald, which he founded in 1946. The bylines of his former students grace the pages of newspapers and magazines across the country. Allen “Pete” Tenny, “Mr. Tenny” to most, was hired as a youth by editor William R. Bailey to work a couple of summers in the Chagrin Falls Exponent office. Newspaper work took Mr. Tenny to Illinois and Michigan, where he became assistant city editor of The Detroit Free Press. He returned to Chagrin Falls in 1946 to serve as editor of the Chagrin Valley Herald for the next 22 years. During Mr. Tenny’s tenure, the Herald and its reporters earned numerous journalism prizes. He, himself, won many awards including the “Golden Dozen” award in 1969 for writing one of the 12 best editorials in weekly newspapers throughout the world. After 43 years as a newsman, Mr. Tenny retired as “Editor Emeritus” of the Herald Sun in 1973. He died in Vermont in 1981. 

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DONALD L. BULLOCK

Class of 1953

A student of deep and varied interests, Don Bullock’s list of achievements stretch from the halls of Chagrin Falls High School to the far reaches of outer space. While still a student at CFHS, he visited the United Nations with the Junior Council on World Affairs, being among the first group from the United States to visit the Soviet Legation Headquarters. An early fascination with chemistry and his love of the great outdoors, steered him to the forestry program at Michigan Technological University, where he earned a degree in physics in 1957. By 1963, he had acquired an M.S. in Applied Physics and Ph.D. in Physics, both from UCLA. Currently, Don is Chief Scientist for Lasers and Optics in the Space and Defense Sector of TRW, Inc. He has been with TRW since 1961. His innovative, technical accomplishments have served to advance our country’s defense and space programs. In 1972, he independently designed the optical resonator for the first high-power chemical laser, the Baseline Demonstration Laser (BDL). He has 16 publications and several patents. In 1989, Don was awarded the TRW Chairman’s Award for Innovation, recognizing his performance enhancing contributions, and laser weapon systems. In 1990, he was elected to TRW’s Space and Defense Technical Fellows Program.

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STUART D. ROOT

Class of 1950

Stuart Root has acquired a lot since graduating from Chagrin Falls High School in 1950. Known for his sense of humor and love of classical music, he was graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1955 with a B.A. in Philosophy. After earning his law degree form Columbia Law School in 1960, he became actively involved in designing the legal structure for the largest real estate acquisition in Manhattan since Rockefeller Center. His client was the Bowery Savings Bank, one of the largest savings institutions in the world at that time. In 1968-69, he served as an advisor for the Ginny Mae program, and by 1970 became the legal architect for a new federal agency known as Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). The subsequent Fannie Mae program, along with Freddie Mac and Ginny Mae, are now approaching $1 trillion in total outstanding volume. Freddie Mac is widely regarded as the most profitable of all government enterprises, attributed, in large part, to Stuart’s work as outside counsel during its formative years (1970-75). From 1981 through 1983, he was President and Vice Chairman of the Bowery Savings Bank in New York City. He as the Executive Director of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation from 1987-89. Remaining true to some of his earliest passions, he is Chairman of the Board for the Harlem School of Arts.

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EDMUND M. KAGY

Class of 1948

It was almost as if Ed Kagy’s life was by design. Senior Class President and quarterback of Chagrin Falls High School’s 1947 undefeated, untied football team, his yearbook class prophecy read, “will someday own his own advertising agency.” Currently vice chairman and senior partner in Liggett-Stashower, Ed is a 40-year veteran of graphic design. He has won numerous awards including Best of Show from the Art Directors Club of Cleveland and two Best of Cleveland Advertising Awards from the Cleveland Advertising Club. He was a founder of the Cleveland Society of Communicating Arts. Prior to starting his commercial art career at Fawn Art Studio in 1952, Ed was a staff sergeant in the United States Army. He served in Thule, Greenland during the Korean War. In 1957, he joined Lang, Fisher and Strashower as assistant art director. He became principal owner in 1967. Today, Liggett-Stashower is a $70 million agency, employing 140 people. Ed has generously served his hometown as a member of many civic organizations and as speaker at many community functions. He designed and produced “This Is Your Life” brochures honoring several Chagrin Falls citizens. For 15 years, he and his wife, Bobbie, have hosted American Field Service students.

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WILLIAM STANTON

Class of 1936

Standing tall among his classmates, the splendid young actor had an uncommon wit which would carry him to even greater heights. Multi-talented Will Stanton appeared in football games, track meets, and operettas during his years at Chagrin Falls High School. Since then, he has appeared in Reader’s Digest, Saturday Evening Post, and the New Yorker. Chagrin’s most prolific writer moved with his family to Chagrin Falls before he had reached school age. Growing up in Chagrin Falls during the Depression, he always remembered the kindness and understanding of its people during those difficult times. One of his three books, “Golden Evenings of Summer.” was based, in part, upon his memories of Chagrin Falls. An episode from the book was made into a Walt Disney movie, “Charlie and the Angel,” starring Fred MacMurray. Will’s humorous stories and poems have been published in many magazines including Atlantic, Life, Look, McCall’s, Redbook, and Good Housekeeping. A 1941 graduate of Princeton University, he now lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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CHARLES A. HUBAY

Class of 1936

 As a youth in Chagrin Falls Schools, Charles Hubay made his rounds with a violin in his hand. Remembered for his compassion towards others as well as his immense talents, the brilliant young musician became a surgeon, professor, and medical researcher of special distinction. Graduated from the former Adelbert College and the medical school at Western Reserve University, he joined the full time faculty at University Hospitals in 1950 and remained there throughout his career. Dr. Hubay authored more than 150 research papers. His work included studies of organ transplantation and rejection, and the treatment of advanced breast cancer. He served as president of the Cleveland Surgical Society, Case Western Reserve University of Medicine Alumni Association, and the Central Surgical Association. He was a guest editor of the American Journal of Surgery. Dr. Hubay never forgot the inspiration provided by his music teachers, Albert Freeman and Zoe Long Fouts. He established for the Fouts-Freeman-Hubay Award, which is presented each year at Chagrin Falls High School to the outstanding senior in the field of music. Born in Chagrin Falls in 1918, Dr. Hubay died at home in South Russell in 1991.

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GORDON D. NICHOLS

Class of 1924

The enduring appeal of Chagrin Falls is due, in large part, to the inspired efforts of citizens such as Gordon Nichols. The breadth of his influence is unparalleled. He was born in Chagrin Falls in 1906 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Adelbert College of Western Reserve University, where he earned a master’s degree in law. He conducted a private practice until 1937 when he became a corporate lawyer for Oglebay Norton Steamship Company in Cleveland. Gordon was mayor of Chagrin Falls from 1940 until 1950. He later served as president of the Chagrin Falls Board of Education, and, in 1967, the high school library was named for him. He was a founder of the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center and served that organization for 42 years. The recreation building on the high school grounds also bears his name. An actor earlier in his life, he was active in the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre for 50 years. Twice president of the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce, he was, in 1975, named director for life of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Following his retirement from Oglebay Norton, Gordon commuted to Mason City, Iowa to further his education in yet another discipline —auctioneering. This skill he used for fundraising events for volunteer organizations in his community. He died in Chagrin Falls in 1990.

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MARGARET S. TERPENNING

Class of 1970

Margaret Terpenning’s love of learning was surpassed only by her love of people. Remembered for her warm heart as well as her unbridled determination, she was graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Denison University in 1973. She earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1978, where she also completed a fellowship in the Division of Geriatric Medicine. From 1982 until 1984, she studied infectious diseases through another fellowship at UCLA and the Wadsworth VA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Terpenning has lectured across the United States on various aspects of medical care for the elderly. Her studies of infectious diseases in the elderly have been published in the leading medical journals. In 1984, she was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor of Geriatrics and Internal Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Since 1988, she has been Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She also serves as Clinical Director, Geriatric Research Education at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and as Assistant Research Scientist at the Institute of Gerontology. In 1991, she was elected to the American College of Physicians Fellows Program. 

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HELEN ver DUIN PALIT

Class of 1966

Before graduating from Chagrin Falls High School, Helen ver Duin delivered food as a carhop and waitress. Today, she is recognized as a worldwide authority in non-profit food distribution. A third generation social-service worker, Helen ver Duin Palit operates on the premise that there is enough extra food in every city to feed every person. She is the founder and executive director of City Harvest, a nonprofit organization that provided millions of free meals to hungry and homeless people in New York City since its inception in 1982. New York City’s Mayor Edward Koch said of her program, “It is an extraordinarily simple yet brilliant idea.” The world is now taking notice of this Chagrin grad’s innovative concepts. Each day, numerous large cities with programs patterned after City Harvest, collect thousands of unused food from restaurants, supermarkets, caterers, and corporate dining rooms, and then distribute it to soup kitchens, senior citizen centers, drug rehabilitation centers, and any other agencies that feed the poor. Helen has appeared on television in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. President Bush recognized her as his Fourth Point of Light in his ‘Thousand Points of Light’ National Community service Program in 1989. She has been featured in Business Week, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Family Circle, Weekly Reader, New York Times, and Christian Science Monitor. A graduate of Texas Tech University, Helen was awarded Iona College’s Doctorate of Humanitarian Letters in 1987.

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    Contact Info:

    alumni@chagrinschools.org

    440.247.4387

     


    CFAA Alumni Director:

    Brian McKenna '88

    Office Manager:

    Jana Young ‘82

    Find Us:

    Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

    400 East Washington Street
    Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

    We invite you to join the growing numbers of volunteers who are helping to ensure a bright future for the CFAA and Chagrin Falls Schools. Whether it is through your time or resources, all of us appreciate your generous gifts. To become more involved, contact the Alumni Association. We look forward to your comments, questions, and suggestions. Don’t forget that we appreciate your help in making the CFAA run successfully with the donation of your annual dues of $20 or more.