The Cleveland Heights High School Alumni Foundation hosted a capacity crowd at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven on May 7 for the 29th annual Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame induction.

The Hall of Fame, whose inuctees are selected by a student committee from nominations made by the general public, honors the accomplishments of Heights alumni and gives current students examples of what they can accomplish in life. With over 50,000 graduates, students have an impressive and diverse list of alumni from which to select. Students do not know the names of the nominees, only their accomplishments.

This year’s inductees include:

Natalie Zuckerman Epstein,Class of 1944

A community activist as well as patron and promoter of the arts, Epstein currently co-chairs the Great Lakes Theater Festival.

James K. Fox, Class of 1965

While many may know him as the founder, leader and drummer for the rock group The James Gang. Fox is also an authority on automotive license plates. 

Robert J. Freeman, Class of 1945

Freeman is the cofounder of Café 458, a food program for the homeless, and of MedShare International, a program dedicated to distributing surplus medical supplies and equipment for use by health care providers in developing countries.

Karen L. Gotwald, Class of 1965

No stranger to the Heights schools, Gotwald taught in the CH-UH schools for 30 years and is the founder and coordinator of the Bully Proofing Program for the district as well as the coordinator for the CHIME Mentoring Program.

Major Shannon C. Jackson, Class of 1988

A decorated soldier who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and now assigned to the Pentagon working on the Ballistic Missile Defense System, Jackson is also active as a volunteer wrestling coach at Fort Belvoir Youth Recreation.

Dr. Robert Katz, Class of 1955

Katz is the acting chairman of Otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, at the Cleveland Clinic and is also a professor of surgery. He was named Outstanding Clinician in 2006, and was named Best Doctor in America and among America’s Top Doctors.

Dr. David G. Miller, Class of 1949

A civil rights activist and former member of the Peace Corps, Miller is an associate professor of medicine, emeritus, at Case Western Reserve University.

Yiji Shen Starr, Class of 1987

Coming to America as an exchange student, Starr graduated from Kenyon College and is now vice president and CFO of John Hancock Annuities.

Kurt L. Wallach, Class of 1945

Wallach is the president of Kurtell Growth Industries and is the president and chairman of Prime Kurtell Properties as well as a lecturer at Florida Atlantic University.

Dr. Eric M. Yasinow, Class of 1975

Yasinow is a physician and medical cirector of risk management at University Hospitals Medical Practices and an assistant clinical professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University.

“This year we had another outstanding group of inductees,” Heights High Alumni Foundation President Eric Silverman said, "who truly represent the pluralism that is Heights High. It is not until you hear the powerful stories from the inductees at the ceremony that you truly understand why they have been selected.” 

To read more about this year’s inductees, view past inductees, or to nominate someone for the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, visit www.heightsalumni.org.

Michael Dougherty is the former coordinator of communications and community engagement for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District.