New Roosevelt Hall of Famers offer inspiring life stories | Along The Way

Frank Capra’s great movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” became an effective metaphor for the Kent City Schools Hall of Fame induction ceremony a week ago Saturday in the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center’s filled to capacity Pizzuti Ballroom where attendees were welcomed by Superintendent George Joseph.

Banker Howard Boyle, one of 10 inductees, cited the 1947 film as an inspiration. It tells the story of a community banker who despite his dreams of adventure in the world beyond, spends his entire life in his hometown where he has an enormously positive effect on the lives of its people.

Now think Kent:  No one in the business community has been any more consistent and creative in advocating for transforming Kent’s almost blighted downtown of the mid-1970s into the lively, rejuvenated community center it has become today.

Boyle has played a leadership role in Hometown Plaza, the Kent Downtown Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, which helps clear land titles for improvements on both sides of the Cuyahoga River, the Kent Architectural Advisory Board, the Kent Historical Society, and its successful restoration of the Erie Railroad Depot, the Kent Jaycee rail car at the Depot and Kent Rotary.

His 22-year tenure on the Kent Board of Education saw the addition of Stanton Middle School and many educational improvements. Meanwhile, his leadership of Hometown Bank saw it grow from an institution with $8 million in deposits to one of more than $200 million. Howard’s recognition came in the Academic and Career Accomplishments category.

So many stories at the ceremony were inspiring.

In the athletic accomplishments category, recognition came for Deral Boykin, who played in the NFL, and is now in entertainment and real estate in Los Angeles.

His nonprofit, “Fly Kick for Kids,” distributes sneakers to low income students. Many Boykins over the decades have been outstanding Roosevelt athletes and the evening’s emcee John Nemec, the legendary Roosevelt High football coach, drew a hearty laugh when he recalled a Roosevelt contest with perennial powerhouse Louisville in which Deral Boykin ran up and down the field scoring for Roosevelt.  Nemec said the Louisville coach asked him when he was going to run out of Boykins. “When I retire, you will know there’s no more of them,” Nemec replied.

Jennifer Keller-Birkes was honored in the Cultural and Performing Arts category.  Her experimental dance films have been screened around the world.  Her Rock Dance Company brings positive messages to the children of western Pennsylvania. She danced professionally in New York City and Pittsburgh and with the Pennsylvania Dance Theater and currently is on the faculty at Slippery Rock University, where she has also served as a dean.

Linda Ferlito, who taught physical education and health in the Kent City Schools, was honored for her contributions to the schools.  Serving as the District’ Wellness Coordinator, she was appointed to the National Alliance for School Health.  For 25 years, she has coached Special Olympics athletes in track and swimming. With her late husband, John, the Kent health commissioner, the city and the school district’s wellness program became synchronized

The father-son induction of Scott Hamilton and his son, the late Adam Hamilton, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011, was a sad part of the program.  Adam’s stellar athletic accomplishments and his kindness to others were beautifully recalled.  Scott and Connie Hamilton’s contributions to the Kent City Schools in Adam’s name were noted  They include the $2,500 Adam Hamilton Memorial Athletic and Academic Scholarship for a senior male and female Roosevelt graduate, renewable for four years.

Two were recognized for Science and Technology.  Scott Rudlosky, a 2000 graduate, who is physical scientist and lightning expert, conducts research that helps weather forecasters.  He leads a science team at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Some good news:  Scott is joining the faculty at Kent State University.

Tatiana Rynearson, class of 1990, is a pioneer in Biological Oceanography and a professor at the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island.  Her research focuses on the ecology and the evolution of marine plankton, the basis of the marine food webs. It has taken her to all seven continents.   An inspiration to women seeking to enter a science field, Tatiana led a team of women students in science to the Southern Ocean in Antarctica.

Keith “Stepp” Stewart, class of 1981, is an Emmy-nominated producer, director, choreographer, songwriter, performer and playwright.  He spoke movingly of being rescued as young man by an aunt who enrolled him in the Kent schools where, he said, “I never felt color was a factor.”  He is the Dance Fitness Guru on the Dr. Oz Show.  He was recognized in the Cultural and Performing Arts Accomplishments category.

The late Kathleen Zimmerman, class of 1972, who graduated with honors from Yale Law School, was recognized in the Academic and Career Accomplishments category for her work in environmental and conservation law.  Having worked for 20 years for the National Wildlife Foundation, she was responsible for keeping millions of acres of national monument and forest land open to the public and for preserving threatened wildlife habitat. She was serving as the National Wildlife Federation’s public lands policy director when she died in 2018.  Her partner, Bill Cheatwood, accepted her award. As a Roosevelt student, she founded the “Futurist”, a high school environmental group and helped organize Roosevelt’s first Earth Day.

They say the best part of the Hall of Fame program comes the school day prior to the induction ceremony when the recipients talk in a student assembly in Roosevelt’s Roberts Auditorium and then meet with small student groups.  Imagine these Hall of Fame role models and how inspiring for young adults in high school those encounters must be.

David E. Dix is a retired publisher of the Record-Courier.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent Roosevelt Hall of Fame inducts 10 new members