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Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

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JACK D. MAISTROS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1975

Jack Maistros was an esteemed lawyer who garnered a national reputation for his expertise in cases involving the health consequences of smoking and the liability issues with guns. His litigation helped extract damaging information that led to multibillion dollar settlements in lawsuits brought by states against tobacco companies. He was lobbying for safety mechanisms on firearms for the protection of the general public and for children, in particular. Jack earned a B.A. in political science from Kent State University in 1979. He was graduated magna cum laude from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1982. Since 1984, he had been a partner with the Climaco, Lefkowitz, Peca, Wilcox & Garofoli law firm. He previously acted as Special Counsel for The Office for the Ohio Attorney General. Among his many awards was the “Breath of Life Award,” presented to him in 2000 by the American Lung Association of Louisiana. Among the many organizations with which he was affiliated, was the CASE program, which provides free legal service to people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer.

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KARL CHURCH KUIVINEN

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1966

As a student at CFHS, Karl’s world view was broadened when he was awarded an American Field Service International Scholarship to Australia. He has seen plenty since. As one of our most prominent polar researchers, he has been awarded numerous grants and contracts, and he has been published extensively. From 1994 through 2001, he was the Director of the Polar Ice Coring Office (PICO) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Karl has produced expeditions to polar regions to gather scientific information through the drilling of ice cores, the validation of ice sheet measurements, and other scientific endeavors. In 1988, he received The U.S.S.R. Polar Service Medal in Grenoble, France. During 1992 93, he served as Coordinator of Field Operations/Glaciologist for the first snowmobile traverse of Greenland for the NASA Validation Project. He is currently completing his Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

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CLAUDIA MAYNER GREENWOOD

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1959

Claudia Mayner Greenwood is a teacher who credits her former teachers at Chagrin Falls High School for much of her success. The former CFHS newspaper editor and Prom Queen is Associate Professor of English, Emeritus at Kent State University, Ashtabula Campus, where she has taught for more than 30 years. Dr. Greenwood earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1986. She was a finalist for the Distinguished Teacher Award at Kent State in 1994 and for the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1993. Among her many publications and professional activities is Go For It! A Handbook for Women Returning to College, published in 1999. Public poetry readings are also among her current endeavors.

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KENNETH ROBERT LAUTERER

Class of 1956
Basketball, Football, Baseball

Ken was graduated as CFHS’s most prolific record holder in basketball. During his three years of varsity play he established records for most points in a high school career (867), most points in a single season (618), most points in a single game (36 twice), and best scoring average per game (23.0). He was an All Conference, All-County, and All-Ohio selection his senior year. Co-Captain and MVP of the Tigers’ 1955-1956 state semi-finalist team (21-6), Ken’s leadership qualities were further illustrated by his winning the Rotary Club Gold Book Award for scholarship and sportsmanship. He also played baseball and was selected as an All-County end in football. Ken was a two year letterman in basketball at Ohio Wesleyan College.

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ELWOOD J. “BUS” NELISSE

Class of 1926
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track

Bus was Chagrin Falls’ most dominant athlete during the 1920’s. He was awarded four letters each in football, basketball, and track, and one in baseball. He is best remembered as the Tigers’ first state champion when he won the mile run in Columbus in 1925, his junior year. He also earned a first in football, playing on CFHS’s 1924 team, the first to win a County championship. The 1925 team also placed first in the county. Bus was captain of the Tigers’ basketball team during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He played on several semi pro basketball teams after graduation. He was offered a track scholarship to Ohio State University.

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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.

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.