Award-Winning Journalist, Loving Wife & Mother Passes Away

Mhari Saito, a Shaker Heights native, will be remembered for her insightful journalism; she passed away earlier this week due to complications from cancer

Mhari Saito -- a Shaker Heights native who won almost two dozen awards for her journalism work with ideastream and National Public Radio -- passed away Monday due to complications from cancer, ideastream announced. Among those awards, the Ohio Associated Press recognized Saito as the Best Radio Reporter in the state last year. She also received the Headliner Award -- a prestigious, national award -- for her work on a series called “Toxic Loans” that dissected the region’s foreclosure crisis and its impact on people. Ideastream has posted a touching remembrance of Saito on its web site, which can be listened to here. "It wasn’t just the reporting that made Mhari so appreciated here at ideastream," her coworkers wrote. "She never complained …

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Edward "Ned" Whelan, Revered Journalist

The popular Shaker Heights resident and Cleveland journalist passed away last week.

Edward P. "Ned" Whelan passed away on March 20, according to The Plain Dealer. He was 70. Crain's Cleveland Business reported Whelan fell down a flight of stairs on March 15 while visiting his daughter in Arizona.  Both outlets reported he suffered brain damage due to the fall and was removed from life support last week. A Lakewood native, Whelan was a legendary journalist in Northeast Ohio, making his mark while writing for Cleveland Magazine and The Plain Dealer. In recent years he started his own public relations firm, Whelan Communications, Inc., Crain's reported. The funeral arrangements are yet to be determined but will be made through McGorray-Hanna.

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Don Hisaka, Prominent Shaker Heights Architect, Dies

Hisaka's work on display now at Shaker Historical Society

A friend has reported to Patch that Don Hisaka, a prominent Cleveland architect and longtime Shaker Heights resident, has died. Hisaka lived in Berkeley, Cali. when he died last week. An obituary has not been located yet, but Patch will update this article when one is published. Retired architect Jim Gibans was friends with Hisaka and worked with him on a project locally. The president of the Cleveland Artists Foundation, Gibans and his wife Nina curated an exhibit showcasing Hisaka's work at the Shaker Historical Museum that runs through March 23. "We were always friends," Gibans said. "He was a very engaging sort of guy but very uncompromising in his beliefs in his design and personal integrity, and how you treat others. He was a very …

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Family, Friends Remember Brian Horwich

More than 30 people have signed an online guest book created in his memory.

More than 30 people have signed an online guest book on Legacy.com created in the honor and memory of Brian Horwich, 25, who died in a car crash Nov. 15 in Shaker Heights. Many reflected on how his life ended much too soon. People said they loved him for his passion for life, sense of humor and kindness toward others. "Brian was truly a wonderful person, never without that signature smile and vibrant passion for life. He will be missed by all," wrote Paul Cobb. Earlier: Shaker Heights Man Killed in Crash More: Shaker Heights Police Release More Details From Fatal Crash Family and friends gathered to remember Horwich, a Shaker Heights High School graduate, on Sunday afternoon at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel, according to an …

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Lindsay Children Recount Life, Love of Parents Elise and Gregory

The 62-year-old high-school sweethearts died of carbon monoxide poisoning Nov. 7. The Lindsay children say "neither of them would have wanted to survive the other."

Sergio Abramof, owner of Sarava and Sergio's restaurants, dies

Crowd gathers in front of Shaker Square restaurant.

Former Shaker Heights Mayor Patricia Mearns' Legacy Honored at Funeral

The service at Our Lady of Peace Church featured commentary about her caring nature

The successes of Patricia S. Mearns as a mayor were understated at her funeral Thursday morning, but her character, enthusiasm and caring nature were expressed by each person who spoke about her. Mearns, the city's first female mayor, died Sunday at age 80 after battling Alzheimer's Disease. Hundreds paid respects to her legacy during a funeral service at Our Lady of Peace Church, just outside of Shaker Heights in Cleveland. About 50 family members sat up front, while a collection of current and past city officials and residents filled the rest of the church. When Pastor Gary Chmura spoke about Mearns, he elected to point out the model of marriage she and husband, Edward "Ted" Mearns, displayed for six decades instead of her civic prowess…

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City Officials Remember Former Shaker Heights Mayor Patricia Mearns

Former mayor's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Peace Church

When Patricia Mearns passed Sunday, she left a mayoral legacy as a galvanizing force who brought businesses to the city and strengthened community associations. Outside of Shaker Heights City Hall, Mearns was known as a friendly neighbor and encouraging mentor. "She just had enormous personal and social skills," former City Councilwoman Jan Devereaux said. "I would consider Pat a mentor for really more than 20 years. I got to know her as a neighbor." Mearns died Sunday after fighting Alzheimer's Disease. According to her obituary, she and husband Edward A. "Ted" Mearns Jr. had nine children: Edward A. "Drew" Mearns III, Susan Duquette, Leslie Quinones, Alison Benders, Geoffrey Simonson Mearns, Kathleen Mearns, Tracey Frierson, Patricia …

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Former Shaker Heights Mayor Patricia Mearns Passes

She died Sunday after fighting Alzheimer's Disease

Seth Rosen, 55, Remembered As Great Musician, Union Leader

The Westlake resident and Gene's Jazz Hot band member died Friday, July 20 while on vacation in North Carolina.

Family, friends, coworkers and union members are mourning the loss of Seth Rosen, 55, of Westlake, who drowned Friday, July 20 while vacationing in North Carolina. Rosen was vice president of Communications Workers of America District 4, representing 50,000 members in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, according to a statement about Rosen on the CWA website. Loved ones have posted condolences to the family, memories and other messages on a Facebook page dedicated to his life. The Barking Spider in Cleveland hosted a "musicians' memorial" in his honor Tuesday night. Rosen played guitar and mandolin with Gene's Jazz Hot, which performed regularly at Loganberry Books in Shaker Heights and other places around town. He was also in…

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