Community Service Award
Like many fathers in Chagrin Falls, Mark Gebler became involved in the youth programs of his sons (Scott ‘00, Brett ‘02, and Zak ‘05) from Indian Guides to football and wrestling. However, Mark not only took lead roles in these ventures, he continued on with them when his sons went on to high school and college. His volunteerism began with the Chagrin Valley Jaycees where he was Co-Chairman of Blossom Booths and Games from 1983-86. He was also Chairman of Blossom Time Run water stops for 14 years. His efforts were recognized in 1995 with the Chagrin Valley Jaycees Distinguished Service Award as the Outstanding Jaycee. From 1989-93 he was Nation Chief for the Geauga County YMCA Indian Guides. His duties included promoting, organizing events, including field trips for approximately 225 youth members and their fathers. His efforts were also felt in the Chagrin Athletic Association. During the 1990s, Mark was the Head Wrestling Coach and Commissioner of Wrestling building the program from 16 wrestlers to 61. Additionally, he was a Head Football Coach in CAA at this time. He would later volunteer as a football coach on the CFMS staff for 12 seasons. Further, he has continued to volunteer as the Head Statistician for the CFHS Varsity Football Team, a role he began in 1997. Mark had a 36 year career in the postal service with 10 years as the Postmaster of Chagrin Falls. A highlight from his career was overseeing the naming of the Chagrin Falls Post Office to the Sgt. Michael M. Kashkoush Post Office Building. Michael Kashkoush ‘01 died while in combat in Iraq, while serving in the U.S. Marines. Mark continues to volunteer in a number of roles in Chagrin today with his wife Debi Shukys Gebler ‘75.

Charlie has had an outstanding career in film, television and commercials on both sides of the camera. His career started in Chicago where he was a member of The Second City. While there, Charlie also held the titles of Creative Director and Head Writer. He then went on to commercials and television. Three of his commercials have won top prizes at the Cannes International Advertising Festival, while he also had recurring roles on Spin City, Arrested Development, and According to Jim. Currently, Charlie develops and produces motion pictures for, and with, his partner at Carousel Production, Steve Carell. He has been Executive Producer of Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013), and Showtime’s Inside Comedy series. Charlie was also the founding member of Burpee’s Seedy Theatrical Company, the nation’s longest active college improvisation group.

It would seem that Melissa has been active in the theater and the arts all her life. During her high school years at Chagrin her burgeoning talent was recognized and rewarded by a scholarship to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where she studied drama and graduated with honors in 1973. She attended Southern Methodist University and then transferred to New York University where she graduated with a BFA in 1978. Melissa has played featured roles on television’s Law and Order, and Guiding Light, and recently played Dr. Cambrini in the film Love in 3. She has performed in numerous award-winning New York and regional productions. In the past year, Melissa has appeared in stage productions of William Inge’s Picnic, Herb Gardner’s I’m Not a Rappaport, and Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones. In New York City Melissa is a member of the Playwright’s Gallery Acting Company, and is a regular performer in the cult-hit show, Cause Celeb. She most recently has written and performed a one-woman show entitled Baby Love that has received excellent reviews. In service to her community Melissa has performed extensively with Performance Plus and Plays for Living, two New York based organizations that present socially relevant dramas to schools, hospitals, and businesses. Topics of these dramas have included: domestic violence, sexual harassment, and diversity in the workplace. Melissa is married to actor Richard Council and they live in New York City and Vermont with their son Will.

When she was a student at Chagrin Falls High School, Joanne Griffith worked on the school newspaper, The Echo. Today, she is still working on a newspaper — her own. After a two-year stint as a reporter for a suburban newspaper in Worcester, Massachusetts, Joanne founded the Holden Landmark, in the basement of her home in Holden, Massachusetts in 1976. Her weekly newspaper now serves 7300 paid subscribers in five towns across the Wachusett region of the state. As editor and publisher of The Landmark, her staff has garnered many awards from the New England Press Association and the Massachusetts Press Association. Included were a second place award for General Excellence in 1989, and first place awards for Editorial Writing in 1985, 1988, and 1992. She is also President and Treasurer of The Holden Landmark Corporation. In 1994, Joanne was a finalist for the Business Person of the Year award from the New England Women Business Owners. This year, she was appointed to the board of directors of the New England Press Association.