Bay Village Foundation honors three with bronze plaques

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The Bay Village Foundation is honoring local residents Marie Ashmus, Jim Cahoon and Al Paulus with permanent bronze memorial plaques to be installed at the T. Richard Martin Cahoon Memorial Bridge in Cahoon Park.

Marie Ashmus has been a resident of Bay Village since 1974.  Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Marie was a teacher in Bay from 1974 to 2008. During her tenure, she taught thousands of kids at Normandy, Westerly and Bay Middle schools. She was one of the first teachers in the gifted and talented education (GATE) program in the school district and also taught third grade, first grade, and, for many years, kindergarten.

Marie’s commitment to the community extends to her family life. Her husband, Keith, is a founder and longtime supporter of the Bay Village Foundation and her two children, plus her niece and nephew graduated from Bay High School.

Jim Cahoon was the Bay High School principal from 1999-2011. Under Cahoon’s leadership, the school has been awarded with a wide variety of honors, including being named a U.S. Blue Ribbon School in 2010. Other distinctions include U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best High Schools list, the Harvard Business School Club of Northeast Ohio’s Excellence in School Management Award, and the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship Award.

Some highlights of Jim Cahoon’s career at Bay High include initiating HUDDLE (Helping Us Develop Dedication Leadership and Enthusiasm), a role-model program where students from the high school would teach life lessons to 2nd, 4th and 6th graders; and helping to start PAL (Pupil Assisted Learning), a typical peer friendship program with special education students.

Al Paulus served as a trustee of the Bay Village Foundation for 14 years, including 3 years as its president. During his time as president, Al led numerous efforts to improve our community, including the campaign to refurbish Play in Bay. Al also served as treasurer of the board of trustees of the Cleveland Play House, vice president and treasurer of the Greater Cleveland Salvation Army, a volunteer for Northcoast Health Ministries and the treasurer of the Cleveland chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (where he was awarded the Tom Landry Award, for his support of FCA and dedication to youth).

In previous years, the Foundation announced bronze plaque honorees following the Memorial Day observance. Friends of the families and the public were invited to attend the annual ceremony to view the plaques currently installed on the footbridge, along with the new memorials. With the Memorial Day program and parade canceled this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a public ceremony to honor the new plaque recipients had to be postponed.

The Bay Village Foundation has been creating a beautiful place to remember loved ones for 19 years. The Village Foundation Bronze Plaque Program was established as a way for families and friends to give permanent recognition to Bay citizens in one central place. Donors that contribute $2,500 or more may request a plaque to honor the life and work of Bay Village residents, living or deceased.

For more information, call 440-899-3490.