Rating the Suburbs: Marilyn Lynch

I’ve lived here for over 63 years. I lived in five different houses in Middleburg Heights, and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

We lived back behind the rec center. When the kids were growing up, they all played baseball, football — everything with Middleburg Heights. I’ve known the recreation director since he was a little boy. My son and he grew up together.

It has built up a lot. There are a lot more homes here and big hotels and businesses going up continuously now. Interstate 71 was not even there when I originally moved here, so you can imagine the difference that made. There was no library, no hospital — nothing. It’s just unbelievable how much has changed in my lifetime in living here. I think it’s all for the good. It’s busier. There’s much more traffic.

I come to the rec two or three days a week to do a range of motion class, SilverSneakers, yoga and a line dancing class. Sometimes I walk around the track.

I’m in the Middleburg Heights Women’s Club, which is wonderful. We do all kinds of great things for the city. We give scholarships to girls who live in Middleburg Heights. We collect food for the Middleburg Heights Food Pantry. 

Every year, we honor one of our members as Woman of the Year. I was the 2016 Woman of the Year. I always work on all the fundraisers that are going on. They call me the “Bow Lady,” because I always made the best bows for baskets and decorations. 

I’m so familiar with everything here. I have a cemetery plot at Woodvale Cemetery — so I’m going to be here forever.