Shelly Frisch Small

Our 50th Reunion is now 8 months away. I enjoy being on the Reunion Committee and feel like I am hanging out with Family every time we have a meeting. We feel it will be a joyful celebration.

Life is challenging for all of us. I just moved my beloved dad into a nursing home. He will be 96 in January, and is cognitively perfect, but has health issues (of course). I feel so lucky to still have him around as I lost my mom in 1971. I was one of the first to lose a parent and am one of the last to still have a parent, funny how that is.

I am grateful to be healthy and enjoy being with my wonderful husband Bill.
My favorite hobby is walking around Shaker, taking photos. The Shaker Historical Society has made a 2020 Shaker Calendar with my photography, I'm really proud of it. I am so looking forward to seeing everyone again at our 50th in July.

I see that I haven't updated on this page for 6 years. Now I am 67, time flies.
I retired August 31 2018 from a job I loved for 32 years, as a LSW Social Worker in the Adoption Department of Probate Court. I worked in the beautiful and historical Cuyahoga County Court House. I find retirement to be a Gift, that one can't fully appreciate until they are in their 60's. I am an amateur photographer and take a lot of pictures of Shaker. The Shaker Historical Society used my photographs for a 2019 Shaker Calendar, and are going to have another one in 2020. The Calendar is a Fundraiser for the Shaker Historical Society. I post many of the Shaker pictures on the Facebook Group, GROWING UP IN SHAKER. If you are a Facebook fan, it is a fun group with classmates from every year at Shaker. I am excited to be on the Reunion Committee for our 50th. We are hoping for a big turn out, as it is NOW OR NEVER.

Most of us have already turned 60 this year, it's so hard to believe.
I've decided I'm going to try and work 10 more years at my current job.
I really enjoy my work, find it extremely fulfilling. The longer I work, the better my retirement will be, and it's important to be financially secure during retirement. My husband and I are both Social Workers, so you know our pay isn't tremendous. As long as I'm healthy, I'll keep working. It's fun working downtown. I'm in the Historic Cuyahoga County Court House. A scene in the Avengers movie was filmed in my building. They are building the new Medical Mart next door. One day I walked to the bank at lunch time and decided to check out the New HorseShoe Casino at Public Square. I spent and lost $2, and decided that was enough for me. It was a thrill though, to see the Casino, in the old Higbee building.

I've added some new pictures, there is nothing like being in Shaker when all the trees change their colors, just so gorgeous.

I'm really enjoying taking pictures (can you tell) of Shaker and Cleveland and putting them on this website. I've gotten so many comments from classmates saying they miss this incredible beauty. Many of us walked to school as kids and were around this every day. I don't think I could ever live anywhere else.
I think this website is awesome (do people still use that word, I do). I'm enjoying all the memories, reflections and wisdom that I've been reading from fellow classmates. It's hard to believe we are 60, I feel so young inside.

AUGUST 10, 2011 CHECK OUT THIS GREAT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT SHAKER SQUARE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdMGXsGrK78

I moved to Shaker (from Beachwood) the summer before 8th grade. I'm envious of all of you who share elementary school memories. I was lucky to move next door to Sally Cooper, who introduced me to a few "kids" before school started, like our neighbor Chrys Ankeney. I remember not be allowed to wear eye makeup to school. I would stop at Chrys's to pick her up and would go up to her room to put on some makeup. I made some great friends in 8th grade, Peter Guren, Rob Friedman, Susie Henle, Katie Goodfriend, Debbie Boyd, Bert Debeneditto, Jim MacCutcheon and Laurie Stein. I loved Woodbury and really felt a strong connection to my new friends.
I was pretty naive and innocent at Shaker High,
but in retropspect am glad that I grew up the old fashioned way.

My mom died from lung cancer in 1971. My dad moved to the Orient for business in 1975. I was
pretty independent and self reliant and got used to making my own decisions. I married my first husband in 1975, was divorced in 1983 and enjoyed being single and living on my own until 1991. I have always enjoyed my own company
so I didn't view this as a problem. I fell in love again in 1991 and married my current husband Bill Small (Shaker class of 1971) in 1992. We are both social workers. I've been at Probate Court in the Adoption Department for the last 27 years. My office is in the Cuyahoga County Court House, which is a beautiful historic building. I love my work. Bill is a Hospice social worker. We live in Shaker, I just love this place. I am an amateur photographer and take most of my pictures locally.

My dad moved back to Cleveland and now lives across the street from me. He is an amazing 88 year old and is still very healthy. He's an amateur photographer too and we frequently take pictures together.
I feel really lucky to still have him around.

Debbie and Peter Guren, Betsy Leininger Williger,
Laurie Stein Marsh, Katie Goodfriend Block, Patty Marcus Inglis,
Rob Friedman, Rob Baskin, Jamie Baskin, and the Reunion Committee.