NOTE NEW ADDRESS: JFR Alumni Association P.O. Box 31782 Independence, Ohio 44131
NOTE NEW ADDRESS: JFR Alumni Association P.O. Box 31782 Independence, Ohio 44131
In 1999, the first "class" of esteemed and accomplished James Ford Rhodes Hall of Fame members were inducted. Since then, every other year, we have accepted nominations and the Hall of Fame committee has voted on and inducted additional distinguished Rhodes Rams.
We are proud of those who have achieved success and have contributed to the community. Below are all of our Hall of Fame alumni and former faculty.
Know someone who has achieved exemplary personal development, community involvement or vocational achievement? Please nominate them! Click here to download the nomination form and submission requirements.
The Honorable Anita Laster Mays graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School in 1982. She continued her education at the Ohio State University, where she majored in Accounting and Management Information Systems. After graduating in 1986, she began working as a management trainee at State Savings Bank. Two years later, she moved back to Cleveland to attend Cleveland Marshall College of Law, while working full-time as a Financial Systems Analyst... more on our Facebook page
Author, Peter Fedynsky graduated from James Ford Rhodes in 1969. He then attended Bowling Green State University as a German major and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1973. Peter later attended Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government—Ukrainian National Security Program in 1998.Peter is fluent in English and Ukrainian and can also read and converse in both Russian and German. He was known on Ukrainian Radio as the “Voice of America” from 1978— ... more on our Facebook page
JFR Alumni Association President & former JFR Librarian, Cynthia Anzalone-Fox graduated from James Ford Rhodes in 1982 as the class valedictorian. Cindy was a state champion in the 800 meters and was the first female student in the history of the Cleveland Public Schools to qualify for the Cross Country State Championship in 1980. Cindy was awarded a full athletic scholarship to the University of Houston where she double majored in French and Spanish. (1982-86)... more on our Facebook page
Band Director & Music Teacher, Michael Zand left this world at the age of 81. He lived in Independence, Ohio and was the beloved husband of 52 years to Irene. He was the loving father of Robert and David and grandfather of Oliver, Lucy and Leo. Mr. Zand was a US Navy Veteran. He served as an instrumental music teacher and band director and retired from James Ford Rhodes High School after 31 years serving the Cleveland Public Schools. Mr Zand loved playing his marimba...more on our Facebook Page
Jack graduated from Baldwin Wallace College for both his B.A. and B.E., then went on to study at Case Western Reserve University and Ohio State University. He was employed with the Cleveland Board of Education for 30 years as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, guidance counselor, Assistant Principal, Principal at middle schools and a high school, and a supervisor in the division of personnel. He has pledge $25,000 of his estate to the JFR alumni assn... more on our Facebook
Mr. Owens was a founding member of the Rhodes Alumni Association. In 1982 he was transferred to JFR from John Hay where he taught American Government and American History. In 1983 he became the head coach of the Rhodes girls track team. He promoted team and personal pride and a sense of achievement in the young women. The girls track team began to grow as his goal of promoting academics along with excellence in athletics... more on our Facebook page.
Gary started coaching football at Rhodes in 2003 and became an assistant baseball coach two years later. Eventually, he took over the baseball team in 2009.
The baseball team continued to flourish since the program started in 1989. Last year, Gary led the baseball team to a second consecutive Senate Athletic League championships -- click here to read more.
Nicole was the Senior Class President, captain of the girls’ basketball team, captain of the girls’ track team, and captain of the girls’ volleyball team while in High School. She was the second girl in the Cleveland Public School System to receive a full athletic scholarship to a Division I university where she played basketball at Ohio University. Nicole played from 1988—1992 and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with dual majors in Management Info... more on our Facebook page.
Michael was a Naval veteran who during his lifetime, was active in all dimensions of civic and business life, and was involved in numerous charities. His experiences seeing extreme poverty while on active duty in the Navy had a particularly lasting impact, motivating his later involvement with the Haitian-based charity, Free the Kids: Project Hope. Michael was the JFR alumni assc. most generous supporter.. see more here.
Jim was an Industrial Arts teacher as well as a track and cross-country coach. He was a beloved teacher who coached Ron Addison and Cynthia Anzalone-Fox. Coach Zickes was a dedicated coach and a married father of 8. He was inducted into the Ohio Track & Field Hall of Fame ('84). Jim fulfilled his service to his country by signing up for a 6 year service obligation to the Air Force reserves. He was Airman Second Class in the 145th Aeromedical Transport Squadron.
Frank Crisafi, Founder and CEO of Ceres Enterprises, llc., received his law degree and then started Ceres Enterprises back in 1958 (originally known as Zepkin & Crisafi Realty) when he opened his first commercial real estate office in Cleveland, Ohio. The office had just 5 employees, but led by Frank and his passion for people and business, grew to 8 offices and 300 employees in just 7 years. In 1986, Frank developed his first hotel – a Residence Inn by Marriott... more on our Facebook page.
The Honorable Judge Pamela Barker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, is a 1975 graduate of James F. Rhodes High School. Judge Barker graduated from Kenyon College in 1979, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, with Honors, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She obtained her law degree from the Ohio State University College of Law in 1982, and then returned to the Cleveland area where she practiced... more on our Facebook page.
A true servant leader wherever he was at, be it Parma-South Presbyterian Church. He modeled that serving God and your community are hallmarks of a life well lived and modeled that by his personal commitments to Brooklyn Kiwanis, the Brooklyn YMCA, Brookside Hunger Center, The Cleveland Yachting Club and Chippewa Yachting Club, serving as Commodore of both clubs. He donated $10,000 for a 10 year annual scholarship... read more here.
Received full scholarship and graduated from Yale. Received MBA from University of Michigan. Worked for Reliance Gauge, which became Clark Reliance. He obtained 9 patents for the company.
Attended Purdue on a National Merit Scholarship. Received MS degree at Ohio State. Medical degree at Case Western Reserve. Served 15 years in U.S. Navy. Chief of Staff at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Traveled on mission trips to Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and Mindanao.
Owned and operated Speed Exterminating in Old Brooklyn for 25 years. Played a critical role in closing the Broadview Theater and improving the image of Old Brooklyn. Served the City of Fairview Park as a Councilman, Chaired COSE and served as President of the Cleveland Rotary Club.
George is a renowned photojournalist, whose work has been exhibited at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. His first professional assignment was to cover the Beatles’ 1964 concert in Cleveland. His photos have appeared in Billboard, Guitar World, Ohio Magazine, Go Magazine, IN magazine and in newspapers including Sun News, The Plain Dealer, The Old Brooklyn News, and The Cleveland Press, to name a few. read more here.
Dr. Galan has had a passion for teaching emergency medicine since 1983. She was instrumental in the development of the Emergency Medicine residency program at Memorial Health System and is now one of the core faculty members. She has been an Emergency Department director at over 10 different hospitals in her career including University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio, Marietta Memorial Hospital, and Selby General Hospital. She was even awarded the Medical Director of the Year Award...read more here
Edward Klima was an eminent linguist with an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, and master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard University, he and wife, Ursula Bellugi, worked with deaf informants. Their work is widely credited with helping American Sign Language (ASL) gain broader acceptance as a language of instruction for deaf people... read more here.
Bob attended The Ohio State University, and played first base for the 1955 OSU Big Ten Championship team. He wrote: "Me and The Spitter," with major league pitcher, Gaylord Perry. At the Cleveland Press, Bob was an Indians baseball writer from 1962 to 1977, and named Sports Editor and Columnist in 1977. In 1981, he became a National Columnist for the Hartford Courant, and years later, a Sunday magazine staff writer for "Northeast."... read more here.
Band & Orchestra Director at Rhodes from 1946-1959. Directed all city band for many years.
also a member of the Case Western Reserve University Hall of Fame. He received his Doctorate in Physical Chemistry from Cambridge University in England. He worked for Standard Oil of California before moving to Washington D.C. and then worked for the U.S. Government at the National Science Foundation where he retired from. He was a member of the Chemical Institute of America and Knights of Columbus... read more here.
Faculty member and founder of the underground track.
Walter graduated from JFR High School, in June 1945, and immediately joined the U.S. Army. He served his country for 25 years as a bomb disposal officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1970. He graduated from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal School in Indian Head, MD in 1951, and returned there 17 times for training to make safe the newer bombs and missiles. He served in post-World War II in Germany for eight years. While serving in Korea, he was awarded two Bronze Stars.. read more here.
Carol is currently employed as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Ohio. She is the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the District and is responsible for intake on all child exploitation and sex trafficking matters. In her 10+ years as an AUSA, she has prosecuted offenders for the production, transportation, receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography; travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor; ... read more here. (page 5)
Doris the author of "Front-Page Girl" was a reporter and worked in the industry for over 65 years. She wrote about the Princess Elizabeth before she was Queen, To Russia with Questions and
Martin is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Amos served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in Ohio from 2001 to 2006 and as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in Iowa from 2006 to 2017. On April 3, 2001. Pope John Paul II appointed Amos as the titular bishop of Meta and auxiliary bishop of Cleveland He was installed and consecrated by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla on June 7, 2001, in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland...see more here.
1953 All scholastic, all Ohio QB. MVP. City championship 1978-1984 head football coach at Ohio Universtiy.
1963 City Champion Basketball MVP, All scholastic, all Ohio. Holds the scoring record 1969, all Sec, All NIT. Assist record at University of Tenn. Drafted $3 by Atlanta Hawks.
Kyle is a nationally recognized photographer who has captured awe-inspiring images of landscapes, people, nature, news events, professional sports, and more in a career spanning over three decades. Kyle has seventeen years of photojournalism experience, winning numerous awards as a staff photographer with the Sun Newspapers. In addition, he has photographed more than 800 assignments for Sports Illustrated, covering MLB, NBA, NFL, PGA, and NCAA action, along with... see more here. His Facebook
Susan's career began with the NSGA as the Director of Sports for the 2013 National Senior Games Presented by Humana in Cleveland, where she worked directly with the local organizing committee (LOC) managing sports and competition staff. The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, which served as the LOC backbone, had enjoyed her services in 2007 as part of the Cleveland organizing committee for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four Championship. Click here for more about Susan.
Bill Putich was an American football player who played quarterback and halfback for the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1949 to 1951.
Fred was head wrestling coach at Ohio University. During his tenure he has developed a national champion, one of three in Ohio University history, Schleicher has also had three championship teams in the Mid-American Conference, (1955-’56-’57) and a won and lost record of 93-58-4 entering the 1967-’68 season. He was Ohio High School champion for two years,1938 and 1939.
After serving on Cleveland City Council for 19 years – the last seven as chairman of the finance committee – Rokakis took office as Cuyahoga County Treasurer in 1997. Faced with Cuyahoga County’s mortgage foreclosure crisis, Rokakis helped to write and pass Ohio House Bill 294, which streamlined the foreclosure process for abandoned properties. Additionally, Rokakis was the driving force behind a bill that allowed for the creation of the Cuyahoga ... read more here.
As a teacher in Cleveland Public Schools, Rich was known as a brilliant, dedicated science teacher with a specialty in chemistry.
His intelligence, leadership qualities, activism and respect for the teaching profession were the driving factors for his election as the President of the Cleveland Teachers Union in 1988...read more here.
American actor, comedian, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, he gained stardom in his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and as host of the U.S. version of the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, both of which aired on ABC. He then appeared in several films, television series, music videos, a made-for-television film, and a computer game. He has hosted the game show The Price Is Right since... read more on Wikipedia
1938 he enrolled at James Ford Rhodes High School in Cleveland, Playing as a quarterback for the Rhodes Rams, Horvath guided the team to seven straight wins in 1938. He graduated in 1939. He entered Ohio State in 1939 on a work scholarship, but tried out for and made the football team the following year. He played as a reserve halfback on the 1942 team and won Ohio State's first-ever national championship. Horvath graduated that year and moved to Ohio State's dental school...more on Wikipedia
Donald William McCafferty (March 12, 1921 – July 28, 1974) was an American football player and coach who, in his first year as head coach of the Baltimore Colts, led the team to a victory in Super Bowl V, and became the first rookie head coach to win the Super Bowl... read more on Wikipedia
In 2002, after selling his tech company, he served as Chief of Development (Deputy Mayor) for Jane Campbell, the city’s first female mayor. He had an insider’s view on how a city of this size was managed — everything from safety & fire, street maintenance, and health & human services, to city planning, workforce development, and housing. He facilitated the E. 4th Street development, the Health Corridor Transportation Project, and the $750M East Bank project. Believe In CLE bio information.
Know someone who has achieved exemplary personal development, community involvement or vocational achievement? Please nominate them! Click here to download the nomination form and submission requirements.
James Ford Rhodes Alumni Association
JFR Alumni Association P.O. Box 31782 Independence, Ohio 44131
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