The January issue of Cleveland Magazine features 30 of our city's Most Interesting People — the movers, shakers and doers who are making a difference. At the magazine's annual MIP party, we caught up with a few of our past honorees. Here's what they're up to:
Mix 106.5 morning hosts Brian Fowler and Joe Cronauer (named MIPs in 1993) did their best to blend in among the distinguished alumni who gathered at Sammy's in the Flats. Inconspicuous in a zebra print blazer, Joe reminisced about the duo's survival through four station changes, industry consolidation, and first meeting each other in Parma. He boasted that they have gained at least five new listeners in the past eight years: his four children and Brian's 6-year-old.
Brian commented on the stability of their 14-year on-air run: "I still have to work with Joe. I still have to write all the jokes for him. Joe's brain is my hard drive, filled with useless trivia. Mine is free and clear to be funny and uncluttered."
Has he ever thought of going solo? "It would be like slow dancing with someone other than my wife."
Over the past seven years 22-year-old Etch-a-Sketch wonderboy George Vlosich III ('94) , has parlayed his artistry with the OhioArts toy into a White House visit, meetings with Will Smith and legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, an appearance on "20/20" and a series of limited-edition drawings for Topps baseball cards. He now studies commercial art at the Cleveland Institute of Art and plans on beginning his career in graphic advertising.
Entrepreneur/chef Loretta Paganini ('94) raved about the affordability of airfare to Italy. She should know: her new cooking school in Chiavari, Italy (near Genova in the northern region of Liguria), opens in April. Meanwhile, the original Loretta Paganini School of Cooking in Chesterland has affiliated with Ursuline College to offer a professional program tochefs in training.
Architect John Williams is "busier than ever" with Process Creative Studios, turning the former YMCA building on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights into a new community center that will also be the new home for Coventry's Dobama Theatre.Health-care consultant Ann Marie Donegan ('01), was not deterred by her narrow loss in the 1999 Olmsted Falls mayoral election. Earlier this year, she ran for councilwoman-at-large #151; and won. "Local government has the ability to impact people and change the quality of life. People do want to be involved, but they're intimidated by the posture of city government," she says.
WJW weekdays news anchor Bill Martin ('97) cites 2000 as a year of change. Martin, his wife and 11-year-old daughter Katie added to their family by adopting 4-year-old twins, Ibolya and Otilia from Romania. Martin also rearranged his shut-eye schedule to accommodate his shift change to the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts. "I wanted a new challenge," he says.
Fox WJW morning anchor Stefani Schaefer ('00) has helped make "Fox 8 News in the Morning" the top Fox morning show in the nation. She is expecting her second child.
WKYC-TV Channel 3 weathercaster Eileen McShea ('96) is celebrating marriage to Cleveland policeman Paul Baepller and the birth of daughter Kate.
Fox weeknight anchor and proud grandpa of three Tim Taylor ('82) promised to attend future MIP reunions. "I couldn't see why I'd be an interesting person," says Taylor. "But I'll be back for the 60 year anniversary."
Clockwise from left, Dick Feagler, Bill Martin, Eileen McShea, Joe Cronauer, Brian Fowler, Danny Wright, George Vlocish, Ann Marie Donegan, Loretta Paganini, Stefani Schaefer and Tim Taylor.
