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Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

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STEPHEN WU

Class of 1981

Steve is a pioneer in secure electronic commerce law and information security law and may be our country’s leading “legal futurist.” Steve serves as Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Science and Technology Law. He was the second in-house lawyer at Internet security giant VeriSign, Inc before he was a founding partner in the Silicon Valley law firm Cooke Kobrick & Wu LLP. Steve wrote or co-wrote five books on secure electronic commerce, data security, and the law. He has become one of the world’s leading practitioner in the area of the 3D Internet – virtual worlds and online video games. Additionally, he is the worldwide head of the legal team, CrisisCommons, which is an international effort to create online tools for assisting responders and victims of the earthquake in Haiti and other disaster relief. Steve also enjoys being a scoutmaster and Sunday school teacher.

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LEE UNKRICH

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1985

Lee has been a longtime member of the core creative team at Pixar Animation Studios. Recently Lee was Director of Disney/Pixar’s critical and commercial hit film, Toy Story 3. Before this movie, he has been Co-director on Finding Nemo; Monsters, Inc.; and Toy Story 2. His work on Finding Nemo earned Lee and his co-director an Academy Award in 2003 for Best Animated Feature Film. He also received a Golden Globe in 1999 for Toy Story 2 in the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category. Lee was recently been honored with the Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award and co-Shared an Annie Award from the International Animated Film Society for Outstanding Directing in an Animated Feature Production.

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STEPHEN THOMAS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1965

2010 CFAA Chagrin Falls Community Service Award

Steve has been able to participate and preside over the formation of three civic organizations that help enrich the Chagrin Falls Schools and community – Chagrin Falls Education Foundation, Downtown Chagrin Falls and the Chagrin Foundation for Arts & Culture. He has held the position of President in all three of these organizations as well as serving as treasurer of the Federated Church and was a long-time trustee for Chagrin Falls Township. Steve’s professional career has been as a trial attorney and general legal practitioner, with an emphasis on professional negligence. He has argued over 60 cases before Ohio and federal appellate courts, including three appearances before the Ohio Supreme Court. At least ten of these cases have established new legal principles.

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AUDRE BLAIR

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1933

Audre has had a profound impact on the development of Geauga County. The Ohio Fairs Hall of Fame inducted him for his 65-year service as a director of The Great Geauga County Fair – longer than anyone else in Ohio and more than one-third of the 181 years that the fair has been in existence. The 2010 Fair marked the 95th year that he has attended the fair. Outside of the Fair, Audre has been a long time member and leader in the local grange, Geauga County Soil & Water Conservation Board, Geauga County Cooperative Association, Geauga County Maple Festival, Geauga County 4-H Advisory Committee, and Village of Newbury Trustee. In 1948, Audre received two awards: Geauga County Farm Family and Ohio Dairy Farmer of the Year.

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RONALD MCCORMICK

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1953

Ron enjoyed a 33 year career with the Forest Service, USDA, finishing with a six year assignment as Forest Supervisor of the one million acre Siskiyou National Forest in Southwest Oregon. During his career, he was summoned to Washington, D.C. several times to testify before Congressional committees on subjects ranging from fire suppression and post-fire rehabilitation to forest planning. Ron also met periodically with the Governor of Oregon, and key Senators and Congressmen regarding natural resource management issues and conflicts. Ron has earned several awards including Outstanding Performance as Forest Supervisor, Society of American Foresters “Tough Tree Award”, and Secretary of Agriculture Superior Service Award. Following retire- ment I founded and operated a consulting forestry business for 10 years. Recently he authored and published a book entitled Plain Green Wrapper – A Forester’s Story which has enjoyed a success that has exceeded his expectations.

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THOMAS MATTERN

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1955

Tom enjoyed a 31 year career as an American History teacher at Beachwood High School, Strongsville High School and for 25 years at Chagrin Falls Middle School. He has been honored in his profession by being named the 1st Chagrin Falls Schools “Teacher of the Year” and the Ohio Outstanding American History Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Tom has served on the Board of Directors for the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center, Main Street of Chagrin Falls, United Methodist Church, and Meals-On-Wheels. Several awards have been named in his honor for outstanding 8th grade history student, CFHS Athletic Department Service Award and CFAA Alumni Scholarship. Tom was named the 1996 Citisun of the Year by the Chagrin Herald Sun/West Geauga Sun. The Chagrin Valley Jaycees has honored him with the Distinguished Service Award and selecting him to be Grand Marshall of the Blossom Time Parade. In his retirement he helped to oversee the formation of Chagrin Falls Alumni Association, served as its Director for 15 years and is currently serving as Alumni Director Emeritus.

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RICK BOLANDER

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1979

Rick has been a successful venture capitalist in the areas of communications, applications and Internet/ mobile services. He is the Managing Director and co-founder of Gabriel Venture Partners. Over his career he has been involved in more than 50 venture investments and led over $100M in early-stage financings. While at AT&T, Rick received the President’s Award and the Quality Management of the Year Award. He also taught computer architecture at his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Currently Rick serves on several Board of Directors, coaches his children’s teams in various sports and has been a frequent contributor to at-risk children and educational charities.

Email Us:

If you have an updated address, phone number, or email, then please include that in the message area below.

    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.