Bishop Anthony Pilla

We just heard the news about the passing of Bishop Anthony Pilla.  

Instead of doing disservice to the man by rushing a few lines for this blog here are two videos 

First is the video of Sam Miller inducting Bishop Pilla into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2015.

This is Bishop Pilla’s acceptance speech. https://youtu.be/KMVo49Zi-94

I am sure that Sam and the Bishop are joyfully reconnecting in Heaven.  RIP Bishop Pilla.

Berj Shakarian inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

 Architect Berj Shakarian was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  Berj was the driving force behind the Armenian Cultural Garden in Cleveland as well as the Centennial Peace Plaza among other projects. 

Armenian Cultural Garden

Berj Shakarian in the Plaza

Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation president Dr. Wael Khoury introduced Berj and then previous inductee Paul Burik presented Berj and gave him his CIHF award and pin. 

 Berj then gave his acceptance speech.

More on the Cleveland International Hall of Fame 2020 inductions

2019 Cleveland International Hall of Fame Inductions

Photos/videos of the 2019 Cleveland International Hall of Fame Inductions

Gio Castiglione sang the national anthem

MC Chris Tanaka

CIHF Co-founder Dan Hanson

Cleveland Firefighters Honor Guard

Invocation with Sreedhara Sree, a Hindu priest at Shiva Vishnu Temple,

Attendees at the 2019 Induction Ceremony for the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Lots of great people at the 2019 Induction Ceremony for the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Check out the Cleveland International Hall of Fame Photo Page

Sree Sreenath PhD inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Photos and videos of Sree Sreenath PhD being inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Sree Sreenath

Ramesh Shah of the Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio
inducts Sree Sreenath PhD, into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Marilyn Madigan inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Photos and video of Marilyn Madigan being inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Marilyn Madigan

John O’Brien Jr., publisher of Ohio Irish American News inducts 
Marilyn Madigan, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians national secretary,
into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Richard Fleischman inducted into Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Photos and videos of Richard Fleischman being inducted into Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Richard Fleischman

Hungarian community leader Ernie Mihaly inducts architect
Richard Fleischman into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Paul Burik inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Photos and video of Paul Burik being inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Paul Burik

University Circle Incorporated CEO Chris Ronayne inducts 
Paul Burik into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Ingrida Bublys inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Photos and video of Ingrida Bublys being inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame  

Ingrida Bublys

Alex Machaskee inducts Ingrida Bublys into the
Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Akram Boutros inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Photos and video of Akram Boutros being inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame  

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish inducted Akram Boutros MD, 
into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. 

Sam Miller RIP

Cleveland and the world have lost a great friend.

Sam Miller’s parents were poor Jewish immigrants from Russia and Poland. Their name was changed at Ellis Island. He became a great philanthropist helping Jewish, Catholic and other causes.

Sam Miller, Forest City co-chair emeritus, died March 7, 2019 at age 97. He will be missed greatly.

Sam Miller was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Wednesday May 8, 2013.

Photos and video of Sam Miller in the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Watch us on TV tonight

If you didn't get a ticket to the sold out Cleveland International Hall of Fame inductions tonight we will have video posted on ClevelandPeople.com in a few days.

You can watch lived fees on Ch 19 as news anchor Chris Tanaka will be our co-MC.

Also live streaming on Ch 19 Facebook page as we honor:

Sister Alicia Alvarado

Sheila Murphy Crawford

Dr. Atul Mehta

Abdullah (Abby) Mina

Ralph Perk Jr.

Judge Ray Pianka (posthumously) 

Neighborhood News

Nice to see the coverage of the inductions of Judge Ralph Perk Jr. and Judge Ray Pianka (posthumously) in the Neighborhood News.

They will be joined by Sister Alicia Alvarado, Sheila Murphy Crawford, Dr Ahtul Mehta and Abdulla Mina.

Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Sister Alicia Alvarado

Sister Alicia Alvarado was born in Villalba, Puerto Rico.  Her work in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio has earned her the moniker of “The patron saint of the local Hispanic Community”. 

There are many “firsts” in her history including being the First Hispanic woman on the Board of Trustees of Cuyahoga Community College and serving as Executive Assistant to Cleveland’s first Hispanic Councilman Joe Santiago for Ward 14. 

Sister Alicia has received numerous awards for her work in social justice and her ministry among the Hispanic population.

See more about Sister Alicia Alvarado

On April 17, 2018 Sister Alicia will be inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  More about the Cleveland International Hall of Fame induction event and how you can participate

2018 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

The 2018 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame has been announced.  The committee chose from over 100 deserving nominees and agreed unanimously on these 6 individuals.  Congratulations to the Class of 2018.

• Sister Alicia Alvarado (Puerto Rican heritage)
• Sheila Murphy Crawford (Irish heritage)
• Dr. Atul Mehta (Indian heritage)
• Abdullah (Abby) Mina (Lebanese heritage)
• Ralph Perk Jr. (Czech Heritage - American Nationalities Movement)
• Judge Ray Pianka (posthumously) (Polish heritage)

They will be inducted in a dinner ceremony in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott at Key Center downtown on Tuesday April 17, 2018.  

To place a congratulatory message in the collector’s edition program book and/or for sponsorship and ticket information e-mail dan@clevelandpeople.com or call Debbie at 216-406-6594.

More on the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Cleveland International Hall of Fame Ceremony

The photos and videos from the 2017 Cleveland International Hall of Fame ceremony are up now.

Andres Anelli led the National Anthem, the Horizon Science Academy's Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors, Rev. Remus Grama gave the invocation and Dan Hanson spoke about the state of ethnics and diversity in Cleveland comparing it to the problems in the rest of the world by referencing the "Chinese curse" 'May you live in interesting times."

People at Cleveland International Hall of Fame ceremony

We have 2 pages of photos of some of the 500 attendees of the 2017 Cleveland International Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Cleveland International Hall of Fame Photo Page 1

and

Cleveland International Hall of Fame Photo Page 2

Cleveland International Hall of Fame 2017 Inductions

500 people attended the 2017 induction ceremony of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  There are photos and bios of the 6 inductees at the Cleveland International Hall of Fame website  and you can click on any of the 6 links to see videos and photos of the induction and acceptance speeches.

Basil Russo inducted into Cleveland International Hall of Fame

The 2017 Cleveland International Hall of Fame inductions continued with Dan Hanson introducing Basil Russo’s daughter Gabriella Russo Rosalina and son-in-law Joseph Rosalina to induct Basil Russo.

Basil Russo spoke of the Italian community as well as the contributions that all immigrants have made to the US.

Italians in Cleveland

Cleveland International Hall of Fame

The Cleveland International Hall of Fame induction ceremony is SOLD OUT!

The Cleveland International Hall of Fame induction ceremony is SOLD OUT!  

Looking forward to seeing 500 of our closest friends tonight.