[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION AND CUYAHOGA COUNTY BAR 
         ASSOCIATION'S 59TH ANNUAL PUBLIC SERVANTS MERIT AWARDS

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                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
Cuyahoga County Bar Foundation and Cuyahoga County Bar Association's 
59th annual Public Servants Merit Awards, which will be held on Friday, 
February 11, 2005, in Cleveland, OH. As a veteran of the Cuyahoga 
County judiciary, I am honored to congratulate these individuals who 
have offered decades of faithful service to the bench, bar and public 
of Cuyahoga County.
  Kathleen Ann Beluschak, Cleveland Municipal Court Presiding and 
Administrative Judge Larry A. Jones' nominee, has spent more than 30 
years with the Cleveland Municipal Court, and for almost 3 years, she 
has been the Court's Administrative Services Office Manager. A graduate 
of West Tech High School, the longtime Cleveland resident lives with 
her husband Joe near Hopkins Airport with their two dogs, both of which 
were rescued and brought into the family by Kathleen. She traces her 
commitment to public service through a number of generations. In fact, 
two of her grandparents worked for the municipal and federal 
governments, her mother and uncles were public employees, as is her 
husband, sister, and 25-year-old son. At the beginning of her career, 
she thought the recipients of the awards to be ``really old,'' she has 
now determined to reconsider that opinion.
  Pat Cain has been a Probate Court employee since 1981. Nominated by 
Presiding Judge John J. Donnelly, Pat has primarily worked as a cashier 
at the Probate Court. Pat worked at other public agencies before 
joining the Court. Now a resident in Parma with his wife, Jane Varga, 
an attorney, Pat's blended family includes four adult children and five 
grandchildren. An active volunteer in many state, county, and local 
campaigns, particularly judicial races, Pat enjoys time with his 
family, particularly at their summer home in Marblehead. He highly 
values wildlife and its protection, and he works hard to provide 
support at his home for many different species of birds.
  Nominated by Juvenile Court Administrative, Judge Joseph F. Russo, 
Josephine E. Jackson is the Acting Superintendent of the Court's 
Juvenile Detention Center. After earlier duties in security at local 
department stores, Josephine has been employed by the court since 1984 
in a number of positions in the management of the Detention Center. 
Josephine's education in the Cleveland Schools continued into a 
master's program at Cleveland State University. She is challenged daily 
by working with youths in a correction environment, including those 
that have mental illness and special needs. In all facets, she 
encourages her staff to try and provide positive reinforcement to help 
the children at the Detention Center excel positively in life. She and 
her husband of nearly 25 years, Bill, live in Moreland Hills. As a part 
of her efforts to make the Detention Center a positive experience, she 
organizes regular, seasonal activities, including holiday cookie 
parties and a summer festival which benefits the Children's Fund.

  The nominee of Gerald Fuerst, County Clerk of Courts, Mark Lime has 
been a Clerk's Office employee since 1977. Starting as a docket clerk, 
Mark has worked his way up to his current position of Criminal Branch 
Manager. A Parma resident, he and his wife Deborah have raised four 
sons, the youngest of whom is a junior at Parma High School. Mark has 
lived in Parma for many years and attended Padua Franciscan High School 
and Cuyahoga Community College. Mark is a dedicated coach, active in 
golf, baseball, and soccer teams on which his four sons have played.
  Since 1976, Mary Joyce Ruddy has been employed at the Common Pleas 
Court's General Division. Presiding and Administrative Judge Richard 
McMonagle's nominee, Mary Joyce has been Jury Bailiff since 1992. She 
is in charge of getting jurors to individual court rooms, ensuring 
jurors' compensation, helping keep all jurors as happy as possible, and 
most importantly, spearheading the public relations effort encouraging 
reluctant jurors to serve. A Lakewood resident and graduate of St. 
Augustine Academy, Mary is mother of Nora, a 14-year-old Magnificat 
freshman. Family is central to Mary's life, and in recent years, she 
has spent many hours assisting her parents in their final illnesses. 
She now spends her time with eight nieces and nephews, all of whom are 
under the age of 9, and with her siblings.
  Cheryl Maureen Simon has been an employee of the U.S. Bankruptcy 
Court since 1981. Chief Judge Randolph Baxter's nominee, Cheryl is 
Administrative Manager of the Court's Administrative Department, where 
she has responsibility for budget, procurement, administrative 
services, personnel, and other functions. A resident of Moreland Hills 
with her husband, David, and son, Matt, Cheryl enjoys skiing and 
traveling.
  For over 21 years, Gail F. Valerino has been a judicial secretary 
with Ohio's Eighth District Court of Appeals. Originally, she worked 
for retired Judge Joseph J. Nahra, and since early 1999, she has worked 
for Administrative Judge Michael J. Corrigan, who nominated her for 
this year's award. In addition to administering the chambers of her 
Judge in every respect, she has, during Judge Corrigan's year as 
Administrative Judge, acted as his liaison with the Court's 
Administrator with regards to the entire Court's organization. Educated 
in the Parma Schools, she lives in Parma Heights with her son and 
daughter, and is active in boys' and girls' softball and T-ball 
leagues. She is also a participant in her Church's volunteer 
activities. She relaxes by reading and spending time in Marblehead.




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