Mayors

Joseph P. Schmit 1918-1931

Isaac G. Kennedy 1932-1945

William R. Gerdon 1946-1965

George J. Gallitz 1966-1968

Stanley W. Klima 1968-1971

Louis J. Bacci 1972-1984

Ralph E. Contipelli 1985-1989

Louis J. Bacci 1990-2005

Marilyn C. Duszynski part of 2005

Ralph E. Contipelli 2006-2007

Jack M. Bacci 2008 - present

JOSEPH P. SCHMIT

Joseph was the first mayor after the community was created. The village provided the basic services. He operated a dairy farm on E. 49th St., while serving as a part-time official. The rural atmosphere and small population made very few demands on the leadership. With adequate tax revenues the operation of the village created very few problems.

Joseph Frank Schmit was born November 19, 1882 in Newburgh Heights, Ohio to Peter and Mary Margaret Henninger Schmit. His father was born in Belgium or France and his mother in Germany. Peter came to America in 1873 while Mary and her family came in 1870. Joseph was born and raised on the Schmit family homestead on what is now E. 49th Street in Cuyahoga Heights. His sibling are William, Mary Meyer, Peter, Andrew, Julius, Catherine Basel, Margaret and Mathilda.

Joseph was a member of the Newburgh Heights Council from 1910-1911. He was one of the 59 men that voted in the special election held February 2, 1918 to secede from Newburgh Heights and was one of four trustees elected for Willow Township. Joseph was elected the first mayor of Cuyahoga Heights on March 16, 1918. Serving as the part-time mayor from 1918-1931. One of the first items on Mayor Schmit’s agenda was a lawsuit by Newburgh Heights who wanted their village hall back. The court said the building belonged to us. Newburgh Heights went back to court and the suit went all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court. They found in our favor, not only did we get the town hall but also all their office equipment, a Ford police car, a garbage collection outfit and $12,396,630 which was 86 percent of Newburgh Heights cash. The only bad part was we also got 83 percent of their debts which was $270,515.21. When he left office we were still paying off that debt. He was paid $500 a year from 1925 thru 1927 and in 1928 until he left office his salary was $1,250. During his 13 years as mayor many road improvements were made in the village. The sewer line was started on Marcelline Court in 1920. During 1921 Harvard Avenue was improved, sidewalks were set in the northern part of E. 49th Street and the street was graded. 1922 was the year he broke the council’s tie vote to remove Mrs. Helen Bletch Jones the first of two women elected to the village council. A week later council removed Mrs. Florence F. Pierce. From records it appears to have been a dark time in our village’s history for women’s rights. The trunk line sewer was started on E. 71st Street in 1923. That year Grant Avenue got sidewalks, sewer and water lines, it was also graded and E. 49th Street was paved. The Fire Department was formed during his term and in 1924 the 1st firehouse was built for about $57,500.00 on what had been the Gallitz family homestead on Grant Avenue. During 1925 water, sewer and sidewalks were put in on Marcelline Court, E 72nd Place and Bletch Court. E 71st Street and Grant Avenue were paved that same year.

Joseph never married and lived and worked the family dairy farm on E. 49th Street. He died at the age of 90 on November 17, 1973 in Cleveland, Ohio and is buried in Calvary Cemetery. The surname Schmit is an occupational name. It is a variant spelling of Schmidt which comes from the German word schmied meaning “blacksmith.” The English spelling is Smyth or Smith. We have not found any descendants of Peter & Mary Schmit still living in the village.

ISAAC G. KENNEDY

Isaac came to office during the Great Depression. His major task was providing jobs during this period of serious unemployment. He negotiated a contract with the City of Cleveland to guarantee employment for residents at the Southerly Sewage Plant. With the aid of H.R. Klepinger of the American Steel and Wire Co. and other industrial leaders the Cuyahoga Hts. School District was created. To meet social needs and the public services, he was instrumental in building the present village hall, which became the center of community activities. "Ike" as he was known to the villagers was a blacksmith and wagonmaker by trade.

Isaac Garfield Kennedy was born April 15, 1880 in the Kinsman area of Cleveland, Ohio to Alexander and Julia Bletch Kennedy. His father was born in Ireland and came to Ohio sometime after 1845 with his parents and two brothers. His mother, Julia Bletch was born in Illinois and her parents came from Baden, Germany. They came to Cuyahoga County before 1855. Isaac’s siblings are Edith and Lewis. His father, uncles and brothers were all blacksmiths around the Kinsman road area. Sometime between 1884 and 1900 Ike’s father died and his mother moved the family to Brecksville and then Newburgh Heights. Ike was also a blacksmith and by 1918 he changed with the times from a blacksmith to a wagon maker and later an auto repairman. He had his own shop at 4952 E. 71st Street.

He was married three times. Charlotte Grenweldinger of Brecksville was his first wife. She died in 1926. His second wife was Sarah Viola Walters of Cleveland. She died in 1941. His third wife was Lorna M. Shatto Hanousek of Cuyahoga Heights. She died in 1960. His daughters are Norma and Dorothy. John Hanousek was his stepson.

Ike was one of the 59 men that voted to leave Newburgh Heights in 1918. He was a Cuyahoga Heights council member from 1918 thru 1931 during this time a councilman was to attend two meetings a month. He was paid $10 per meeting, but only if he went to the meeting. He was the main backer for the first village fire station. Isaac became the 2nd mayor of Cuyahoga Heights in 1932 and served thru 1945. He was a member of the “Square Deal Party”. During his time as mayor sewers were completed on Grant Avenue and in 1937 all of the bonds from Newburgh Heights that our village owed were paid. The tax rate was dropped from $1.98 to $1.34 the lowest in the state and 98% of the village revenue came from the industry in the village. As mayor he made an agreement with the City of Cleveland that guaranteed employment for our village people at the Southerly Sewage Plant. The new town hall was built under his watch in 1935 for $135,000. He supported the industrial leaders that wanted a school built in Cuyahoga Heights. The school opened in 1938. He had one of the highest salaries of any suburban mayors when he left office in 1945 at $5,000 a year. We can’t find any record of when or where he died.

WILLIAM R. GERDON

Bill was a former policeman, councilman and truck driver, and he took over the mayoralty post at the end of World War II. It was a challenging time with the community reaching an all-time peak in industrial expansion during World War II, when more than 18,000 people worked here and were involved in production of military equipment. Bill, who stood 6-5 in stocking feet, became a legend. His antics and love of life over the years made newspaper headlines everywhere he went. He was a close friend of Senator Robert Taft Sr. and served as his personal body guard at two National Republican Conventions when Taft sought the presidential nomination. Gerdon's administration over 18 years saw the expansion of the police, fire, recreation and service departments.

GEORGE J. GALLITZ

George had the distinction of serving as a councilman, clerk and treasurer before taking over as mayor. During his administration he negotiated public transportation under a subsidy with the Cleveland Transit System. He enjoyed a successful career with the Newburgh and South Shore Railway.

STANLEY W. KLIMA

Stanley "Jack" Klima, a veteran councilman, served as mayor and provided the leadership with great success. His integrity made him a popular and respected leader. Under his stewardship the village-owned Chapek's Grove and recreation area was developed and upon his retirement it was named "Klima Gardens." Jack brought experience to the office from his successful career in industry at the Grabler Mfg. Co.

LOUIS J. BACCI

Louis J. Bacci was a former cement contractor. He became mayor in 1972. His administration maintained a high standard of services, and he modernized the village owned buildings. His administration acquired 26 acres of land on Canal Road, formerly the site of the garbage plant, and it was there that the John J. Bohdan Service Center was erected.

MARILYN DUSZYNSKI

RALPH CONTIPELLI

JACK BACCI

Jack Bacci was born and raised in the Village of Cuyahoga Heights, the son of previous Mayor Louis Bacci and his wife Lillian. Prior to becoming Mayor, Jack worked as a patrolman for the Cuyahoga Heights Police Department and eventually became a detective.