2019 Bay Alumni Foundation Hall of Fame Inductees
The Bay High School Alumni Foundation is currently accepting nominations for our next Hall of Fame inductions – homecoming weekend 2021. The date will be announced soon – the schedules have been delayed because of the uncertainty of school calendars and the addition of Westlake and North Olmsted to the league in 2021. The Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Award was established in 1987 to honor those alumni who have realized great achievements and served their communities well in their years after graduating from the Bay Village public schools. The Distinguished Educator Hall of Fame Award was established in 1991 to honor educators who were employed in the Bay district for a minimum of 10 years and have been recognized by the community, staff, students and/or parents as being a positive role model and whose extraordinary efforts made an impact on students and staff. Each inductee selected is a person of such integrity and stature that we all take pride in their recognition.
BAF receives nominations and the committee selects inductees every other year. Homecoming weekend September 20-21,2019 we celebrated the inductees shown below. These inductees were part of the parade, were introduced to the community at the football game Friday night, and were honored and received their plaque at a brunch in their honor Saturday morning. It was a great weekend! Plaques were installed in the Hall of Fame corridor by the gym and auditorium at the high school….we encourage everyone to stop and look at the plaques and see all of the current members of this very impressive group!
2019 BAY ALUMNI FOUNDATION HALL OF FAME
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Bill Egan, Class of 64
Bill Egan was a resident of Bay Village for most of his life….he touched the lives of most of the people in Bay Village at some time during his life. Bill served in the Air Force for 2 years where he was a surgical specialist…that experience led him to a job at Fairview Hospital where he was a surgical technician. In 1972, Bill joined the Bay Village Police Division where he was a respected Bay police officer for nearly 20 years….he was the Safety Town officer, Community Relations Officer, taught Safety Education Programs in the Bay schools, he was the AAA Safety Specialist through a federal grant…..when he left the police department, he became an Educational Aide at Bay High School where he also coached soccer and tennis. Many of us saw him often in his role as House Manager at Playhouse Square. He was a loyal classmate and friend. Bay Village was Bill’s home and he shared his time and talent in our community…he will be missed but his legacy lives on.
Jim Hodge, Class of 1970
Jim is proud and grateful that he grew up in Bay Village and for the superb education he received in Bay schools. He was president of his class as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was a seven letter athlete where his leadership skills became evident. During a 30 year career at Mayo Clinic, Jim was privileged to work with four Presidents, numerous Senators and Cabinet members, Nobel Peace Prize winners, the Presidents and Prime Ministers of several nations, and for 11 years His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama.
His 40 years in philanthropy included working with benefactors who contributed more than a billion dollars to Mayo Clinic and the University of Colorado. He has lead or been chief strategist for building nursery schools, homeless shelters, equipping His Holiness’ hospital in Darmasala, India…the list goes on. He is a nationally recognized expert in philanthropy and has given hundreds of keynote addresses, seminars, and workshops as well as a TEDx talk titled, “Shift Happens.” What an amazing career.
Karen Kresge, Class of 1966
Karen Kresge grew up in Bay Village when there were 4 elementary schools, the high school was at the corner of Cahoon and Wolf, there was no internet, no I-90, no cell phones, and no cable TV. She was the girl we all wanted to be….beautiful, kind, smart, and nice to everyone. She was a cheerleader and homecoming queen. But that was only part of her story…. Karen was also a talented figure skater….most days she was up and on her way to skate and practice with her coach before 6:00am…then home in time for school and after school activities. After college, we all watched as Karen’s extraordinary career in skating began…. She had a successful career as a solo performer, she has directed, produced, and choreographed ice shows and is a well respected judge and authority in her sport. Her relationships with skating royalty like Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Torville and Dean, Robin Cousins, Brian Boitano, and Dorothy Hamill are remarkable. She has inspired a generation of young girls to learn to skate and to follow their dreams. She used the lessons she learned in Bay schools, from the bonds that were formed during those years, to excel in her career and impact the lives of those around her.
Norm Mulder, Class of 1967
Norm Mulder’s life is a perfect example of the American Dream. During his years in the Bay Schools, Norm was not a great student, but he was always an advocate for the underdog. His life story is a masters class in how hard work and determination can change the world. After high school, he joined the Army and was sent to VietNam. He came home and went to work as a garbage collector, then was a firefighter/paramedic in Bay Village. While a firefighter, he launched Mulder Moving and learned to run a successful business. After selling Mulder Moving, he went to work for a financial planning firm….35 years later he is an owner and National Sales Director. He’s worked with Athletes in Action, was on the board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Agora College which sends people called to mission work. He lives by his creed: “The Only Person You Cheat Is You.” In 2014, Norm started TOPUCU, the acronym for that creed. The mission is to provide a transformational structure targeted toward schools, at-risk teens, and incarcerated individuals. Under Norm’s leadership, TOPUCU is delivering their transformational lesson to schools and universities, corporations, and Native Americans. He has formed a foundation to help those that cannot afford the program. Norm’s hard work, passion for helping the underdog, and determination prove that we can all change the world.
DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR
Doug Borchert, retired Bay Middle School, Social Studies
Doug Borchert was the kind of teacher that students remember for their entire lives. He taught more than social studies…he taught his students to strive for excellence and to lead by example. He has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations throughout his career…Who’s Who Among American Teachers, Disney National Teacher of the Year nomination, Plain Dealer Crystal Apple Award nominations, over 50 Superintendent’s Best Awards. We had numerous letters from former students and colleagues who are grateful for his impact on their lives. He coached BMS football for 15 years, freshman baseball for 13 years, and was director of the 8th grade Washington DC trip for 10 years. Doug lives in Bay Village where he and his wife raised their son and are active in the community.
Judi Coolidge, retired Bay High School, English
If you have seen a Bay High School yearbook from the last 30+ years, you have seen Judi Coolidge’s impact on the lives of high school students. As a teacher and yearbook advisor for 30 years, Judi dedicated her life to helping students be their best. As a teacher, her students were engaged and encouraged to find their unique talents. She was a mentor to new teachers and was a great role model for other staff members. She spent countless hours in the yearbook office and with the yearbook staff….it was not unusual for Judi and the yearbook staff to spend weekends at the high school working on layout, content, and meeting deadlines. Her work as a yearbook advisor has earned her hundreds of state, regional, and national awards. She is still leading yearbook workshops around the country to share her expertise. Her dedication and leadership will always be remembered.