North Olmsted loses three popular, prominent leaders
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Feb. 2, 2006

North Olmsted lost three of its best in four days.

Joan Bush, 51, principal at Butternut Primary School, lost her battle with cancer Jan. 26. Then, Carolyn Kasler, 56, a former city councilwoman, municipal safety director, school board member and area attorney passed away Jan. 28 after an illness. On Jan. 29, J.J. Calvitti, 53, a North Olmsted Community Policing Officer, died unexpectedly in the Cleveland Clinic after being admitted few days earlier.

“These are terrible losses for the community; you just don’t replace these kind of people when they go,” said Mayor Thomas O’Grady, who ordered the flag at City Hall flown at half-staff after the deaths.

Members of the community who worked with the trio all expressed their grief at the loss as well as surprise at all the deaths coming so close together.

“It’s been a bad few days, we’ll miss them all,” said Councilman-at-large Paul Miller. “It’s gotten so you didn’t know what would happen next.”

OUTSTANDING CREDENTIALS
Bush had taken the job at Butternut in August 2004 after previously serving as the principal at Richmond Heights Elementary School. She also taught elementary school in the Euclid City Schools and the South-Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools. She was the head varsity swim coach at Euclid High School for nine years and at Brush High School for two.

While at Euclid, she became friends with Kurt Stanic, who became superintendent in that school district and has been the superintendent in North Olmsted the last three years.

Stanic said he remembers talking with Bush when he was considering the North Olmsted job.

“We talked about it and the district and what would be good about it,” Stanic said. “That talk was a factor in my taking the job.”

Stanic said Bush’s credentials as an educator and person were outstanding.

“She’s the type of person you want in your schools with your kids,” Stanic said. “She was always working hard and making sure the children were taken care of.”

North Olmsted school spokeswoman Vera Brewer said Bush should be remembered for the major work she did with programs designed to improve literacy and reading skills.

“She helped the school make major progress,” Brewer said. “We’re all very sad around here right now.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Kasler resigned in May 2005 from the council-at-large seat she had served in since 1998 when she and her husband Bob moved from their home of 30 years. She easily won re-election twice. She also had served as city safety director from June 1994 to 1997 before being appointed to the open council seat. She had lost a mayoral campaign to incumbent Norman T. Musial in 2001. Prior to taking the city jobs, she had been elected to the city school board in 1991 before resigning in 1994 to take the safety director’s post.

People from all of her civic posts praised her.

“She did it with style,” said City Clerk Barb Seman. “She always was good to work for and she always was a lady who was treated people well while doing her job.”

Don Frazier, the senior member of the school board, recalled Kasler’s time on the board.

“She was a very dynamic individual who brought a great energy to all the work she did in the community,” Frazier said.

That energy translated to many different areas, said fellow Councilman-at-large Michael Gareau Jr.

“Her priorities were her family, her community and her job, and she did them all well,” Gareau said. “I’m going to miss her terribly and my thoughts go out to her family.”

Miller recalled his friend fondly.

“We worked together a long time and she helped me and many other people throughout the city in all those years,” Miller said. “She was versatile in being able to handle all those jobs and still have a great family.”

Newer council members also remembered her contributions in many ways.

“She was always professional in how she handled different situations,” said Ward 2 Councilman Paul Barker.

“Her son and mine played sports together so we got to know each other that way,” said Ward 1 Councilman Dan Ryan. “She was one of the reasons I chose to run for council last year.”

Former Ward 3 Councilman George Nashar said Kasler was always prepared.

“She knew her facts and was always ready to step up when needed,” Nashar said.

His successor, Nicole Dailey-Jones, also praised Kasler.

“She’s a great example for any woman who’s active in her community, politics or just being a good person,” Dailey-Jones said.

Safety force members also lauded her.

“She was good to work with,” said Fire Chief Tom Klecan. “You might not always agree, but she always worked to make sure things were done right. She was fair and she was good for the city.”

Police Chief George Ruple said he enjoyed working with Kasler in different areas.

“My son played sports with hers when they went to school together, so we got to work by each other in that area,” Ruple said. “She also was a good director who would try and do what was right for the people in the city.”

A COP’S COP
Ruple also had high praise for Calvitti, who was 53 when he passed away Sunday.

“I came on the force in 1977 and J.J. came on in the early ‘80s,” Ruple said. “When we had permanent shifts for some time, we were on the same swing shift together. That particular group of guys called themselves the Black Sheep and worked quite well together. You knew you could count on J.J.”

Miller, who chaired council’s safety committee for several years, praised him.

“He was well-liked in all parts of the community and was a big help to me in my my work on the committee,” Miller said.

“I don’t know that you can replace someone like J.J.,” O’Grady said. “What he did benefited everybody in the city in so many ways.”

Captain Kevin Whelan said Calvitti was versatile.

“He was a cop’s cop,” Whelan said. “He could handle many different situations and people when different things happen. It’s why he was a good community policing officer because he was good with the public and with other officers.”

Lt. Jamie Gallagher said Calvitti was the type of guy you want on your side.

“Everybody liked him and respected him, and when a scuffle broke out or you needed somebody, J.J. would be right there for you,” Gallagher said.

Calvitti’s community policing partner the last few years, Officer Chuck Holly, said he was one of North Olmsted’s finest.

“His family and members of the police department were at his side,” Holly said. “Jim Calvitti will be missed by every member of this department and just about anyone who ever had the privilege of knowing him. He was a true gentleman and a fine officer. Jim, we miss you already.”