Tanya Allmond

My first assignment was on Cleveland’s east side working in the Glenville neighborhood, Forest Hills, Collinwood and University Circle. I met so many remarkable people — among them was Tanya Allmond, the Director of Glenville Development Corporation (GDC). I had met Tanya while still at Tremont West, but now we had a chance to work much more closely together. She became a good friend and mentor, always extremely generous and kind.

Marjorie Witt Johnson

Another amazing person in the Glenville/University Circle area was Marjorie Witt Johnson. She and the other residents in her multi-unit building were facing serious problems and needed the City’s help. I worked with her and the others for several years on a project to convert their co-op units to condominiums.

I came to learn that Marjorie had been a social worker with a degrees from Oberlin College and Case Western Reserve University, and was also considered a pioneering leader in modern dance both performing and teaching. She assembled and directed the Karamu Dancers at Karamu House in Cleveland. They performed at the 1940 World’s Fair in New York City. In 1999 she was awarded the Cleveland Arts Prize. She died in 2007. The History Makers website has posted a video interview that was recorded in 2006.

Alphus Lawler, Jr.

In the early 90s I was working on a project to preserve the homes along Wade Park at the northern edge of University Circle. This required several outings to survey the properties. Staff from the Cleveland Restoration Society, City Planning, and I would do this along with local resident Alphus Lawler, Jr. I mention this because Alphus was among the nicest — and perhaps the quirkiest — people I worked with, and he came to a most tragic end.

Alphus would don a hard chat for our walks along the street. There was absolutely no need whatsoever, but it was an endearing trait. We all loved him. Unfortunately one night he was probably a bit too obvious in monitoring drug activity in the neighborhood. He was shot through the windshield of his car while watching a drug deal go down outside a local store. He was honored with a small plaque that remains today in the Rotunda at City Hall.

Fannie Lewis

Former Ward 7 Councilwoman Fannie Lewis will live forever as a legend in Cleveland. A lot of people remember her fondly, but I’m pretty sure some don’t! If anything, she was controversial. I worked with her several years while assigned to the Hough neighborhood north of the massive Cleveland Clinic campus. She could be difficult and I didn’t always agree with her, but I really liked her. Fannie was one of a kind.

I spent hours driving around the ward with Fannie visiting people, sites and projects. It was amazing sometimes. As we’d drive slowly down a street, it wasn’t unusual for someone several houses ahead to come running out to talk to her. Other times she’d tell me to drive over to where a group kids were hanging out. We’d drive up and she’d tell them to move on. They always showed utmost respect and immediately obeyed.

Kids and education were important to Fannie. In this video from 2005 (I believe), she received the Magnificent Obsession Award from the Center for Education Reform.

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