Remembering Others

There are some special teachers or administrators from our past, or other BHS friends from other classes that had special connections to us.  Those folks are remembered below.

John Little, Class of '68 

John passed away on August 12, 2013 of a very fast growing cancer.  The sudden and untimely death stunned his family and friends.  He and Donna Knight Little ('69) had 3 girls (now all adults) and lived in West Chester, PA - a suburb of Philadelphia.  The first grandchild is due this fall.  John's twin brother Don ('68) and his wife, Pat Prescott Little (class of '69) live in Michigan.  This was a true Bay High family!  Sherry Korsgaard Kalita said, "Donna was my one of my dearest friends at Bay High and John,  Don and Donna were the heart of my high school life. This is such devastating news and makes me so sad. Life is very fleeting and feels as if we are 'all hanging by a thread.' "  His obituary can be found at:

http://donohuefuneralhome.tributes.com/obituary/read/John-W.-Little-96263852

Russ Larson - Art Teacher at Bay High School

Mr. Larson passed away at the age of 91 on June 22, 2009.  Many will remember him as a favorite art teacher during our years at Bay. He taught there for more than 30 years.  Sean Crum said, "He was one of my inspirations to become an art teacher, which I've been for 32 years." His obituary can be found at:

http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=r-russell-larson&pid=129413088 

Teri Mengert Madden - class of '68

Teri Mengert-Madden died July 6, 2009 from cervical cancer.  Teri was in the class of '68.  She was one of principal Phil Mengert's three daughters, played the flute in the band and was a majorette.  She was sweet, had a great sense of humor and a bright outlook on life. We were told she taught high school in North Olmsted for a career. Her obituary can be found at: 

http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=129413095 

Coach Rich Voiers 

Coach Voiers passed away on October 18, 2021. His obituary can be found at:

https://www.mcgorray.com/obituaries/RICHARD-E--RICH-VOIERS?obId=22695293#/obituaryInfo 

If you would enjoy interviews with Coach Voiers that were held prior to his passing, here are four links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_mqH9aleDU 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVnUW7FudZw 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EByPjRXvh6M 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NUTZq5PM1w 

Ron Rush 

Mr. Rush passed away on Dec. 21, 2021.  He was our JV Basketball and Varsity Baseball Coach, as well as our business teacher.  (He taught typing!). His obituary can be found at: 

https://www.schlabachfh.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=23502437&fbclid=IwAR0BcyVRQq0Gc1nwQ01EhBC7uFjoSNVpcwYgUTTcD_RqIV3IFjRBEErL3uE

Ann Bonta Williams - class of '70

Ann died on Monday, April 20, 2009 of cancer.  She was the wife of Bill Williams (class of '69) and the secretary to the Athletic Director at Bay High School. Her obituary can be found at:

http://www.cleveland.com/westshoresun/communitylife/index.ssf?/base/community-0/1240490338188310.xml&coll=4

Robert Kitzerow - Bay Middle School Principal

Robert C. Kitzerow age 91,  entered into rest peacefully at home Saturday April 7th, 2012. Bob was a Master Sgt in the US Army during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Beloved husband of the late Dorothy (nee Novak) loving father of Jackie and Leslie Kitzerow. Dearest grand father of Johanna Hoelscher (Jason) of CO. Dear great grandfather of Joshua, Juliah, Jordan, Joey and Jill. In lieu of flowers family suggests memorial contributions in Bob's name may be made to  the West Tech High Alumni Assoc., The Bay Village Alumni Assoc. and the Findlay College Alumni Assoc.  Online tributes and condolences may be view and expressed at catavolosfuneralhome.com

His obituary can be found at:

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary-print.aspx?n=Robert-Kitzerow&lc=4482&pid=156913325&mid=5061120 

Curt Crews - choir teacher at Bay High School

The following obituary was in the Cleveland Plain Dealer: 

Curt Crews was 6-foot-3 and broad, with a booming bass voice, so he was often cast as a heavy. Offstage, said his daughter, Joy Crews Lubeck, "He was a big mushball."  Crews, a prolific actor, singer, director, producer and choir master, died Sunday, March 29, 2009  at his Cleveland home after a long case of cancer. He was 83.

He worked in dozens of shows at the Beck Center, Huntington Playhouse, Clague Playhouse and other local theaters. He also led choirs at Bay Middle and High schools and several churches.  "Curt had a bass voice like no one else's," said Scott Spence, artistic director of the Beck Center.  "We used to call it the voice of God," said Tom Meyrose, managing director of Huntington Playhouse. "It was so deep and booming and alive."  Donald Rosenberg, Plain Dealer music critic, once wrote that Crews sang with "sonorous confidence."  Crews often played villains like Judge Turpin in "Sweeney Todd" or pontificators like Matthew Brady in "Inherit the Wind." Out of character, colleagues said, he helped to put them at ease.  An actor was nervous about having to slide his hand up the leg of Crews' wife, Charlotte, while her husband directed them in a play. Curt said to relax.  "She'll stop you, and if she doesn't, I'll stop you."

Crews was the youngest of 10 children in Conneaut. He served as a quartermaster on the USS Sea Robin, which sank Japanese ships during World War II.  He got a bachelor's degree in music at Baldwin-Wallace College and a master's degree at Northwestern University. He also was a John Hay Fellowship Scholar at Colorado College.

Crews was director of choral music at Bay Middle and High from 1952 to 1980. Early on, he persuaded Danco Metal Products to make and donate a Singing Christmas Tree still in use in Bay's holiday shows. He ended most shows with "The Lord Bless You and Keep You."

He was also choral director at Fairview Grace Lutheran Church, Lakewood Congregational and West Shore Unitarian Universalist.

After retiring from the Bay schools, Crews continued to help with their choir shows. He also recruited students for Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory and directed activities for Lakewood's Barton Senior Center. There he promoted "Hug Therapy" and circulated "Hug Certificates," payable on demand.  On the side, he was president of Clague's board.

Tim Wagner - science teacher at BHS

Mr. Wagner passed away in October 2022.  The link to his obituary can be found here.

A note from Randy Perry:  My favorite teacher at any level, including college and law school.  In 2014 drove down from Cleveland to his home in Hudson and spent about an hour visiting with him in his library.  I was impressed though not surprised to see the breadth of topics of the books on his shelves.  He was a well rounded and well-read man.  His wife prepared me for his fading memory, but as with many Alzheimer's patients, the remote memories were mostly present and those were more important to me.  I wanted him to know how much his teaching and his example as a human had meant to me.

Ken Sauer - 8th grade English teacher 

Mr. Sauer passed away in November 2022.  The link to his obituary can be found here. He lived in Bay during much of his life.

Frank Pendergrass - Assistant Band Director at BHS

Mr. Pendergrass passed away on May 13, 2020.  The link to his obituary can be found here.  

John Kinnamon's memory of him was: Frank Pendergrass, who was the assistant band director, became something of  a mentor to me and instilled a love of making music that still serves me today.  I tracked him down several years ago and exchanged emails with him. I told him I was still playing my trumpet in retirement largely because of his influence on me in 1969.  He replied, "Good, you'll live longer and be happier."  He also told me that he was still playing his trombone.