Edward Torchy Smith

KAREN LINDEN DESBERG:   The following is from a posting that Bill Desberg placed on Face Book.

Karen passed away December 23rd, 2023. Thank you for all your kind words and praise of my wonderful wife Karen. She was incredibly heroic in the face of her future and beautiful at the final moments.

Our life together has been a story book novel with incredible travels and experiences yet our everyday life was devoted to one another. I'll forever be grateful to that friend that introduced me to Karen at the 7th grade sock hop and she became my life partner.

Joan Borod

Dear Torchy,

I am so very, very sad to hear about Karen.

My heart goes out to you and your family.

All my love, Joani Borod

Ronald Adrine (Adrine)

Torchy,

I am sure that I speak for all of our classmates when I extend our collective condolences to you and your family  at this tragic moment. Given everything that you and Karen have done for ALL of us over these many decades, I hope that you know that we stand ready to do whatever we can to assist you as you and we navigate the travails of the next phase of the fourth quarter of our lives!

Stay strong, my friend.

Ron Adrine

Cookie Chesler (O'Neill)

Bill's posting about losing Karen is devastating.  I had no idea she was even ill.  My heart is broken for you, Bill, and for your boys.  I have missed Karen in my life since you moved to Arizona.  She was a constant source of cheer, optimism, and joy to me.  And a very close friend for many years.  Please know  how very very sorry I am.  I am thinking of you and Karen, always.

Sande Gerth (Chernett)

Dear Bill,

I was so sorry to read that Karen had died. She always had such a joyous smile and sense of humor. After all your years together, this is so hard for you and your family..My deepest condolences. Bob and I were just in Phoenix for Xmas, and we tend to go once a year from our homes,in Palm Desert and Las Vegas.Hopefully we can touch base.

Sande Gerth Chernett

Jeffrey Pollock (Pollock)

Karen befriended me when I first came to Lomond in 1957.  I remember hanging out at her house in sixth grade. She brought an element of joy to everything.   She was a ray of light in a sometimes cloudy day.

Bill Desberg became one of my closest friends in Junior and Senior High School.  I feel guilty that I had not kept in touch.  All my sympathies to all of those whose lives were touched by Karen

Edward Torchy Smith

I received this email today and have copied it here:

It is with a sad heart that I am writing to tell you that David Kiddie passed away unexpectedly in early December. He appreciated staying in touch with Shaker on this site.

Edward Torchy Smith

This is an article about the murder of Marlene Mesnick Colon. Click on the link below. 

https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/final-plea-date-set-for-colons-alleged-murderer/

Judith Davidson (Waller)

My deepest sympathy goes out to Marlene's sons. I am so sorry that it has been years to bring her murderer to trial. Hoping that Marlene gets the justice she deserves from that heinous crime that was disposed on her. Marlene was very kind person and did not deserve that. Hugs to her family and hopefully the court system can wrap this case up sooner than later and throw the book at her with a lifetime in the toughest prison without any chance of parole. 
Judy Waller

Edward Torchy Smith

David Belda:  Deceased.

https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/david-belda-obituary?id=55115131

Edward Torchy Smith

Greetings Fellow Shakerites.
Next June (2025) will be our 60^th High School Graduation Anniversary.  For many of us the years at Shaker stand out as the years you most remember.  Hopefully you had a happy childhood.  Even if you disliked those growing up years, they are part of your life that you can’t erase.    Graduating from High School may not be your biggest achievement in your lifetime; however, those school years were shielded from the hardships that our parents had to endure in their youth. We were raised with an innocence that had an agenda from day one. The boundaries that the Van Sweringen Brothers dreamed about made Shaker Heights a little different than other communities.  High School Reunions are not just for celebrating one day.  Most of us did not move around the country and remained in Shaker for most of our childhood.  Maybe that is why our association with one another is so strong. Our reunions in the past touched upon memories of our first 18 years growing up in a world of “Happy Days.”

I am not starting another reunion.  If someone wants to take over and plan something for the whole class, please feel free to do just that. Like many of you I have health issues and feel I cannot do the same job as I did in the past. Big reunions are like speed dating.  I would consider organizing a local, free, pop-up reunion sometime in the dead of winter at a mall food court.  You might be surprised holding a meaningful conversation with a person you barely knew in High School. 

In the mean time…..Please feel free to use this method of posting.  You can make it meaningful or just something you want to say to the whole class.  It’s a good way of communicating and in addition to posting those that get that final detention. 

Gretchen Longley (Trosper)

Hi Torchy,  Thank you SO much for all the excellent work you have put in to our reunions.  You really have done a wonderful job.  We wish you well, and hope you contact us from time to time.  Take care, Gretchen Longley Trosper

Bennett Tramer

Torchy, you are the Class of 65's Boswell.  And if you don't know who that is, you didn't pay enough attention in high school English.

Tim Bannon (Bannon)

Barbara Heine (Garvoille)

Torchy,  Thank you for creating this site, and for the yeoman's work you have done with both it and the reunion. When I mention this site to others, they are amazed by its comprehensive nature!

My twin sister and I looked fondly on our years in Shaker Heights, and I enjoy reading forum posts today.  I am sure Peg would have as well had cancer not taken her life.  I am a classmate that , although on the periphery of the  social strata in  school, feel blessed to this day by the educational opportunities afforded me.  There was always an emphasis on doing well.  That ethic has served me well.

I am so proud to have been acquainted with some of our classmates and marvel at their stunning achievements in their work endeavors and also in their philanthropic support of the arts. 

My life has been fulfilling; I like learning to this day; I have tried to be a good person, and I am grateful to have shared almost 43 years with my husband, Vince.  I bet I am the only dairy farmer  ( now retired, of course, but still on the farm) in our class! 

I liked Torchy's expression of the " final detention."   My wish for all of you is that you enjoy every moment until that point.

James Slater Sr

Hi Torchy,

As you have just reflected on our high school years, I want to add a word or two about Junior High. You and I were in the same homeroom for 6 years starting at Woodbury. It is interesting to note, Woodbury will close for 2 years and will undergo major renovations (demolish the wings and completely update the main building to an elementary school or at least some elementary grades). They had an open house last month where people could tour the school. The last time I had entered that building was in 1962 (the year we completed 9th grade). There have been no additions to the school since a pool was added in 1969. Having spent 3 years there starting in the fall of 1959, I still remember the building pretty well. I must say the school looked about the same inside and out.  This link below is a very interesting link to a recent Shakerite article. It gives a nice brief informative history of Woodbury. Torchy, as I said in the past, the fact this website is still active speaks volumes for what a good job you have done.

https://shakerite.com/spotlight/more-than-a-century-in-the-making/15/2024/

Sandra Smith (Dovberg)

Hi Torchy and all classmates;  The latest messages received made me finally respond.  Torchy, you have done a wonderful job of keeping the class connected but understand the reason for your not continuing to be the main organizer. I was new to Shaker Heights H.S., arriving maybe a week after school started in 10th grade and totally unaware that all of you were new to H.S. too.  I had gone to H.S. starting in 9th grade directly fom grammar school (k through 8th).  It was all very new and disorienting for me.  My connections w/ a small group of new friends and homeroom the same for 11th and 12th grade makes many of my new classmates familiar to me now when I read the messages. Wish I had the close connections that many in the class have due to living in Shaker their whole lives.   Mr. Hodermarsky stands out in my memory being an interesting, caring teacher whom I had for art and homeroom.and Shaker in general was a tremendous step up in quality for education.

A little story here:  Returning one summer during college and attending a Shaker Square arts festival gave me a gift that I still have.  Mr. Hodermarsky needed a model for his demonstration of painting and he pulled me out of the crowd.  He completed the painting later at his home and my parents bought it!  Still have it (26"Wx37"L).  I know Mr. Hodermarsky moved on and was well loved by students that he had according to Peter Snyder (sp?).  Once visiting the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art I entered a room where there was a HUGE wall size painting done by one of his students in memory of Daniel Hodermarsky.  Thanks to him and other influences my path has always been art!!!

Edward Torchy Smith

Judy Davidson Waller posted the following about her twin sister:

Nancy Adams Davidson

passed away peacefully on June 20, 2024 in Medina, Ohio at the age of 76. She was born in White Plains, New York along  with her twin sister 11minutes later. At the age of 3 her family relocated to Shaker Heights, Ohio. She graduated from Shaker then attended College in Iowa.

Proceeded  by her parents Ezekiel and Janet Davidson. Survived by her older sister, Diane Davidson Isaac(Terry), and her twin, Judy Davidson Waller. 

Lovingly remembered by: 4 nephews, Brian Isaac, Andrew Isaac, Matthew Isaac, David Waller and one Niece Kristy Waller Simon and along with their children.

Nancy adored animals and held cherished memories of all the dogs she grew up with along with the ones she had as an adult. 

Donations may be made to your local animal shelter  or Hospice of the Western Reserve in lieu of flowers.

Edward Torchy Smith

Larry Schwarz obituary link:

https://www.cyfairfunerals.com/tributes/Lawrence-Schwarz

Edward Torchy Smith

Deceased:  Sally Thuran ( Webb) 

SORRY: I had the wrong obit for Sally. It was close... you have to admit.  

I did searches and could not find any others that were a match.

If anyone has the right link please post it.  

Sally Mitchell (Belloli)

A note to inform the class that Susan Jane Bowerman Payne passed away  

on October 29, 2024 in Newbury, Ohio.

Susan graduated from OSU and  dedicated her career as a Physical Therapist,

Assisting people to recover and improve physical abilities.

She was a devoted mother to her 4 sons and grandmother to 9 grandchildren.

She was a fearless competitor in many sports at SHHS, and her love of sports 

continued in Ohio and as she wintered in The Villages, Fla ..

.tennis, golf, ping pong and cards.

Her obituary can be found at 

www.dejohnfuneral.com/obituaries/susan-payne

We will miss you Susan Jane.

Donna Beran (Steadman)

Hi Sally,

I have thought of you, Biz Leigh and Sue many times over the years as we were quite the "jockettes" at Byron and had a lot of fun playing sports together there!    I also used to go horseback riding with Sue.  She was always very easygoing and good-natured.    It's espeially sad when a really nice person "passes"..but it sounds like she had a very fulfilling life.   Thanks for sending this obit notice.

Sending warm wishes from Mexico to you and all my classmates,

Donna Beran Steadman

Edward Torchy Smith

Susan (Payne) Bowerman

obit:  www.dejohnfuneral.com/obituaries/susan-payne

Edward Torchy Smith

Bennett Tramer

Very sorry to hear about Sally, who I knew through being in the same homeroom.  Torchy, feel free to make mistakes in my obituary if it makes my life look better.

Bennett wrote this on Sally's Obit page.  I wanted to make sure the whole class read this.  I think everyone should write their own OBIT before they die and I can store them.  

Edward Torchy Smith

https://www.facebook.com/russell.garron

Russell Garran has passed paway.