Paul enjoyed a 51 year career with TRW with the last 25 of those years working as the Design Engineering Manager. His engineering experience in nuclear and aerospace industries focused primarily on product development. His concentration was exclusively on control rod drive mechanisms for both naval and commercial applications. Paul was at the forefront of being a “super-user” for CAD designs, Finite Element structural evaluations and computer usage in general. During his early years with TRW he worked on various Aerospace projects including designing an auxiliary power unit for NASA’s Lunar Excursion Module (Lunar Lander). He had many interesting trips to study the interface of the power unit with the actual Lunar Module hardware, including a visit to Mission Control at NASA Houston and Grumman Aircraft. It was a real experience actually for Paul to climb around on Lunar Modules that would ultimately land on the Moon. For most of his career, he worked on the design of Nuclear reactor control systems, mostly for the Navy nuclear fleet. He prepared thousands of pages of technical reports with detailed design and analysis studies. His intricate designs and manufactured products are still used today in every Naval Nuclear submarine, destroyer and aircraft carrier. Paul has seven patents to his name on the mPower Modular Reactor project.
John Bourisseau
Community Service Award Honoree
John’s first career was as an educator. He taught 1st grade at Orange, worked as a school psychologist for the East Shore Regional Resource Center and for 20 years, was a school psychologist for Mayfield Schools. For 6 years he taught a course for CSU entitled, Working With Parents of Exceptional Children.His second career was as a volunteer. For 15 years John was active as a trustee for the CFHS Alumni Association serving on the Scholarship and Athletic HOF committees. For many years he chaired the Athletic HOF and was Master of Ceremonies at the Banquet. John was inducted into the Athletic HOF in 2013 with his teammates who never lost a football game throughout their 4 years of high school. John and his wife Mary, have participated in 25 summer work camps with the Federated Church youth group—most recently in Puerto Rico. For many years John helped Mary run the youth lacrosse program expanding it from a 7th and 8th grade program down to the 3rd and 4th grades. John served as the President of the Cleveland BoyChoir for four years. John was selected as the Chagrin Valley Jaycees citizen of the year in 2017, has been President of the Chagrin Falls Historical Society Board of Trustees for 10 years, the emcee for the Alumni Choir Memorial Day concert, the Village of Chagrin Falls 4th of July celebration and is the Judge Advocate General for Chagrin Falls American Legion Post 383, where he has the privilege of being the Master of Ceremony for Memorial Day services at the cemetery. John was a member of the Bentleyville Village Council for 10 years, serving four years as president. John also was an active participant in the Win-Win campaign.
Kathy Keeler
Kathy Keeler ‘65 had an illustrious career as a Professor of the School of Life Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and since has maintained her passion as a plant expert in a variety of pursuits. Her specialties range from ant-plant interactions to grass genetics to studies of prairie plants. In the 1980’s she was at the forefront in contributing to the analysis of genetically-engineered organisms. Kathy wrote analytical pieces and used summaries in the literature to bring existing information to bear on the emerging field. At that time, she also pioneered a flow cytometry technique that has now become the standard. Flow cytometry is the staining of a cell for a particular compound and passing individual cells in front of a laser that measured the stained material. In the classroom, Kathy taught everything from general biology to advanced evolution for new graduate students, with the courses centering around ecology and evolution. Her career as a professor spanned over 30 years and for the first decade she was the only woman professor in her department of over thirty individuals. In 2013 she was frustrated that the great stories of plants she saw traveling, of frangipani, bougainvillea, mountain ash (a giant eucalyptus), weren’t easy to find. The result was Kathy beginning the blog, A Wandering Botanist. It allows her to write about plants as entertainment—odd biology, curious folklore, largely-forgotten stories of their role in history. This has led to speaking in Colorado and sometimes on tours, and books that relate those stories on paper. Since her retirement as a professor, she still continues to write and has recently published three books: Curious Stories of Familiar Garden Plants, Curious Stories of Plants from Around the World and NoCo Notables: 15 Northern Colorado Plants Worth Knowing based mainly on the blog.
Lisa Gorretta
Lisa has had a successful career as a businesswoman, entrepreneur, consultant, professor, president, and official to name a few. Upon graduation from OSU Lisa went to work for the family manufacturing company. They added a horse products division to Gorretta Machine and Mfg Company called “Paddock Products” that designed, produced and marketed stable equipment. When the company was sold Lisa started a tack shop in all products for the Sport Horse enthusiast. It was nationally recognized as one of the top 100 tack shops in the US. After selling that business, she started her consulting firm, The Paddock Group LLC, specializing in equestrian based businesses. She specializes in equestrian retail but also works with startup companies bringing new products to the market. Lisa does some career coaching for young professionals finding their pathway as trainers, instructors or officials. She has served as an Entrepreneur in Residence and as an Adjunct Professor teaching Management of Equestrian Activities for Lake Erie College. Another important aspect of her career is that of show official in the sport of Equestrian. She has been a Technical Delegate for the United States Equestrian Federation for the Dressage discipline for over 35 years. She is considered an expert, nationally and internationally, in equipment and rules and regularly conducts continuing education forums for dressage judges and technical delegates on competition rules, equipment and professional conduct, ensuring that competitions are run in compliance with current rules, thus providing a level playing field for all competitors, with the welfare of the human and equine participants considered at all times. She has officiated at several major international competitions, notably serving as the assistant Chief Steward for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada and the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Lisa is also an active volunteer in sport governance, serving as Co-Chair of the Dressage Sport Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for the US Equestrian Federation. She serves currently as the President of the United States Dressage Federation, a 33,000 member non-profit organization based at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky and dedicated to the sport of Dressage and the recognition of the achievements of its members. She is the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the US Dressage Finals, a national head-to-head dressage competition for Adult Amateur and Professional competitors.
Dave Mullins
The norm is neither for a Chagrin student to play in a punk band nor ascend to be an Oscar nominated director, but Dave Mullins has done both and has had success throughout his career. Leaving Chagrin and his punk rock band Roygbiv, Dave set off to obtain a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. He would jump right in as an animator at such studios as Walt Disney Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and MGM. He would make his way over to Pixar and work on such films as Monsters Incorporated, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, Inside Out, Coco, Cars 3, Mater and the Ghostlight, Brave, and Finding Nemo. He worked his way up to Directing Animator for the film Up and Animation Supervisor for Cars 2, The Good Dinosaur, and Incredibles 2. The Pixar team has won numerous awards on these films and Dave would see his greatest individual success as the writer and director of the 2018 Oscar Nominated Short Film LOU. In addition, Dave spends a lot of time teaching animation and filmmaking at the California Institute of the Arts, Academy of Art San Francisco, Animation Mentor and Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games and Animation to name a few.
David Kirk
Dave Kirk laid at lasting impact to a generation at Chagrin both in the classroom as an English teacher and as coach to our Tiger runners. He led the Track and Field program from 1990-2014 and Boys Cross Country Team from 1990-2010. Under his tenure, 80 athletes earned All-Ohio recognition and 19 athletes qualified to the National Championships. His teams also won a State Championship and two State Runners-up titles. Additionally, Dave has played an integral role in the writing, organization, and implementation of the “Ohio Plan” as it is referred to by the United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Division which has become a national model for other states looking to provide opportunities for disabled athletes to compete in track & field. He was inducted into the Ohio Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2012, He continues to volunteer his time to the Department of Defense Warrior Games and has worked with both the Marine Corps and the Army in hosting this event that promotes the successful recovery and reintegration of our nation’s wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans through adaptive sports competition. A published author, including an article in Olympic Coach, Dave has presented at the USOC National Leadership Conference as well as participated in the National High Performance Summit held by the USOC at the University of Illinois.
Pete Olah
Pete Olah was the Head Varsity Cross Country and Track Coach from 1988 – 2000, a period which saw our women’s program come to be a dominant force in Ohio. The team broke out in 1990 at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships with a 6th place finish. The following year the runners would easily outdistance the competition and earn Chagrin its first team title in 20 years. In 1992, the Tigers returned to Columbus and finished as Runners-Up. Over his 22 seasons his teams earned 3 district championships, 3 district runner-up finishes, and 4 CVC titles. Individually Pete helped to guide 189 Regional Qualifiers, 36 State qualifiers, and 20 State placers. With the success came many honors including being selected CVC Coach of the Year four times (1991 – 1994), Geauga Times Leader Geauga County Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year (1990), Geauga Times Leader Coach of the Year (1991), Ohio Association Of Track and Cross Country Coaches District 2 Coach of the Year (Girls Cross Country in 1991). Pete was also an integral part of the wrestling program in his role as Assistant Varsity Coach during the 1980s & 1990s. The program produced a Regional Runner-Up team finish, over 20 state qualifiers including 9 placers and 2 runners-up. In addition, Pete had a distinguished career as an industrial arts teacher for 34 years at Chagrin.
1991 Girls Cross Country Team
Up until 1991 Chagrin had won only one team state title, which had been 20 years prior with the boys cross country team. However, a group of young women would not only bring another state championship home, they would set the foundation for a program that has been revered throughout the state these past 25 years. Coming off a 6th place finish at the 1990 OHSAA State Cross Country Championship, the girls coach Pete Olah and boys coach Dave Kirk would set up a challenging season and some grueling practices. The varsity squad consisted of Seniors Elizabeth “Tiggy” Hopkins, Amy Michel, and Sarah McGuire; Juniors Courtney Michel, Jennifer Priem, Lori Fisher, and Kerry Schoelch; Sophomores Marie Irvin, Beth Wurster, and Christie Grano; and freshmen Casey Abley and Cortney DeGross. This line-up dominated throughout the fall and in Columbus. They placed 1st at Wadsworth, Cunra, & Sim Erich Invitationals, 2nd at Malone College, and 3rd at Kirtland. In addition, they were undefeated in non-league meets and were co-champions of the CVC with Twinsburg. At the 14th OHSAA Girls Cross Country Championships, the Lady Tigers amassed 90 points easily outdistancing runner-up Findlay Liberty Benton who had 120. Of the 17 teams and 161 runners, Courtney Michel would lead pace for the Tigers finishing 19th overall. Although they would lose three key seniors, they would go on to finish as runners-up in 1992. As of 2016, the Lady Tigers cross country team has made it to the state championships 11 times in the 39 year history of OHSAA girls cross country. Since 1982 there was only a five year stretch when the OHSAA fielded just two divisions compared to three. This period was from 1989-93, which makes the Lady Tigers success during this time even more impressive.
Tim Lockert
Tim participated in the unique combination of football, wrestling, and tennis while at Chagrin. His greatest success came in football where he was a standout during one of the greatest eras of Tiger football. As a starting offensive guard and linebacker during his junior and senior years, he helped lead the Tigers to a 19 – 1 record where they were CVC Co-Champs in 1971 and undefeated and CVC Champs in 1972. He earned numerous honors from 1st team CVC, MVP in the CVC, All-Ohio and the Cleveland Touchdown Club recipient in football. He would take his talents to Rose-Hulman University in Indiana. Tim would play four years and would be selected as captain during his senior year playing middle linebacker. Even forty years since graduating from Rose-Hulman, he is still on the top ten list for unassisted tackles in a season with 71.
Kristin Clark Reboul
Even without a girl’s golf program at Chagrin Falls, Kristin excelled on the links on our Boy’s Varsity Golf Team. In the postseason she was the 1987 State Runner-Up at Ohio High School Girls Golf State Championship with a 6th place finish in 1986. Kristin would compete in the summer touring around the country. Highlights from the summer competition were qualifying for the 1987 & 1988 USGA Junior Girls Championship and the 1987 Junior World Golf Championships. Kristin would go on to letter 4 years at Penn State University and was selected Captain by her teammates in both her junior and senior years. She was selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Conference Team in both 1990 & 1991. She continued competing in the summer and won the Cleveland Women’s Golf Association in both 1991 & 1992; the Cleveland, Greater Cleveland, Akron Tri-League Championship (1988), the Atlantic International Golf Championship in Bermuda (1989), and was Runner-Up at the Ohio Women’s Amateur Championship in 1991. Even with a demanding golf schedule Kristin would continue to carry her leadership role into other avenues from being Student Council Vice-President and OABR Director at CFHS and was a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Board at Penn State.
Ben Smith
Ben was a two-sport star at Chagrin in baseball and soccer. He was converted to goalie for his last two years where he would be selected 3rd Team All-Ohio, 1st Team All Greater Cleveland, and 1st Team CVC. During his senior year, the team finished with only two losses, which were to eventual DIII State Champion Hawken, and DII State Runner-Up Walsh Jesuit in the District Finals. In baseball, Ben holds CFHS baseball career record for runs scored (104) and walks (70) and ranks in the top 5 in four other categories. He also has 3 single season records: Average – .570, Home Runs – 9, & Runs – 55, while also ranking in the top 5 in 5 other single season categories. His 55 runs in 2001 is tied for 8th in Ohio. His impressive play earned him numerous awards from 2nd Team All-Ohio, CVC M.V.P., and to the all-star teams by the Plain Dealer, News Herald and Sun Press in baseball. His senior year, Ben would lead the Tigers to a CVC title and to the regional title game, the furthest the baseball program has made it in postseason play. He would later sign to play for Division 1 Cleveland State Vikings where he would be a four year starter at shortstop. His collegiate honors included being selected to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team (2002), All-Horizon League Championship team (2003), and Horizon League Player of the Week (2004). Additionally, he would receive the Paul O’Dea Scholarship for “the player who best exemplifies the dedication to baseball and sportsmanship as Mr. O’Dea.” Ben was a prospect of the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals before being sidelined from a torn shoulder labrum. However, Ben was still able to recover to be the starting shortstop his senior year.
Chris Smith
We have had a rich history of runners at Chagrin Falls and that tradition would continue when Chris entered CFHS. He would go on to earn 12 Varsity letters in cross country, hockey, and track. He accumulated many honors including 1st Team CVC all four years in cross country while finishing first in the CVC Invitational his junior year and 2nd place his senior year. On the ice Chris was a 4-year starter where he was selected to the Blue Division All-Star Team and was the team’s leading scorer his senior year. In the spring, Chris’ talents were evident on the track. During his sophomore – senior years in track, he garnered many 1st team All-CVC honors and was selected the CVC MVP in track in his senior year. In the postseason Chris finished 8th in the 1600M in his junior year earning All-Ohio honors and 12th place his senior year. He would take his talents to Butler University, a Division I program in Indiana. He would compete throughout his collegiate career in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. He was a member of the cross country team that was Horizon League Champions each of his four years and placed 4th at the NCAA Div. 1 Meet in 2004 and 25th in 2005. In indoor track, he earned 1st Place three of the years at the Horizon League Championships in the distance medley. Chris would also set Butler University’s 1000M record and also 4:10.88 mile at the Iowa State Classic. In outdoor track, he won the 1500M at the Horizon League Championships and was a NCAA Regional Qualifier (2005).
Dr. Mario Gerhardt
Dr. Mario Gerhardt began the Varsity Boy’s Soccer Team in 1970 and is now in his 46th season as its Head Coach. He is the winningest boys high school soccer coach in Ohio with 504 wins entering the 2015 soccer season. The teams Mario has coached continue to have success in the postseason with one State Runner-Up finish (2003), 5 Final Four trips, 11 District titles, and 26 Sectional championships. His regular season includes 18 conference titles. He has coached 59 Academic All-Ohioans, 32 All-Ohioans, 11 Regional All-Americans, & 1 All-American. 45 of his players continued on to play varsity college soccer. He has also been recognized by his peers by being selected as the Ohio Coach of the Year 3 times, Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year 6 times, and Conference Coach of the Year 10 times. In 2004, he was selected as a NSCAA Regional Coach and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year. Mario has previously been inducted in the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame (1993) & Ohio North Youth Soccer Hall of Fame (2003). He has also been honored for with the NSCAA Robert W. Robinson High School Long-Time Service Award (2009), OSSCA Pinsenschaum Sportsmanship and Ethics Award (2010), and the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award (1997-1998).
1971 Boy’s Cross Country Team
Coming off a Runner-Up finish in the 1970 OHSAA State Cross Country Championships in 1970, the boy’s cross country team would end up one place higher in 1971 when they scored 94 to outdistance Coshocton by 9. The finish would be the first team state title for Chagrin Falls. Although John Hurst never took a coaching course, when he arrived at CFHS in 1963, he was “appointed” cross country coach. It didn’t take long for the program to take off. The program was only in its 9th year in 1971, but had a 58-8 record in dual meets and in the previous 7 years in the CVC, Chagrin won 5 league championships and never finished below second. In 1971, the team finished 7-0 in dual meets. Not only did they have a perfect 7-0 dual meet record, they recorded the lowest score a team can accomplish twice, which is 15. That meant the top 5 runners finished 1st – 5th place. In the other meets, they never totaled over 20. They would win 4 large regular season meets that season – Warrensville, Gilmour, Chagrin, & CVC. The JV squad also had a tremendous season going 7 – 0 in dual meets and won three large meets – Gilmour, Chagrin, & CVC. Coach John Hurst ‘52 would later be a Chagrin Falls Schools Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 1995 inductee. Those that earned a varsity letter that season included Glenn Bomback ‘72, Mark Freemantle ‘72, David Hart ‘72, Mark Lodwick ‘72, Dan Miller ‘72 , Dwight Woodward ‘72, John Brandon ‘73, John Jackson ‘73, Todd Gardenier ‘73, Sam Narten ‘73, James Nelan ‘73, Rick Pamer ‘73, and Alan Streater ‘74.
Harry Smith
Professional bowling was one of the leading sports in America in the 1960s & 1970s, which is when Harry Smith ‘49 was considered one of the most outstanding bowlers. He began his career in his teens competing throughout Cleveland. He would eventually perform with a team in Detroit followed by a move to St. Louis. Through this time his reputation grew to a point where his competitors called him “Tiger” due to his fierce competitiveness. Harry would go on to win 12 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) titles and 3 American Bowling Congress (ABC) championships. His play earned him All-American status in 1959-60, 1962-63, and 1964-65. Over his career he bowled 12 sanctioned 300 games and had an 843 series. He would average 199 for 25 ABC tournament appearances. Bowler’s Journal International Magazine selected the 100 best bowlers of the 20th Century and placed Harry 37th on the list. His illustrious career would garner many honors from being a charter member of the PBA Hall of Fame, ABC Hall of Fame, and Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame to name just a few.
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