James Lavelle (Broadview Heights, OH) After 13 memory-filled years (Kindergarten through 12 grades) in the Brecksville School system, Jim was fortunate to attend college. He survived four years, 1960-1964, at Case Institute of Technology. “Next time around” I’ll opt for a five year program at Ohio State, Ohio or Miami Universities. In June 1964, Jim started a 33 year career with ‘the phone company, Ohio Bell/AT&T/Ameritech’. Jim began his career in Springfield, Ohio; was transferred to Columbus and then to Toledo. In 1968 Jim was transferred to Ohio Bell’s Cleveland data processing center. He spent the next year designing, coding, testing and implementing computer software to assist telephone switching equipment engineers. The data center was located on Bolivar Road, a location frequented by the homeless, winos and such.

Luckily, the Bolivar building did not satisfy Ohio Bell’s growing need for data processing services. A new data center was constructed at the corner of Route 21 and Snowville Road in BRECKSVILLE!  Jim transferred out to the data center in 1971. Except for two “awesome” years at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New Jersey, his work location was Brecksville until Jim’s retirement in 1997. “Never did I think I would spend most of my career in my home town.”

Jim married in 1971 but after five years, his wife decided she didn’t want to be married to him or to anyone. This marriage was dissolved. They did not have any children. The good Lord had another plan: Jim met Marianne.

Jim and Marianne have been together for 30+ years. They have no children. Over the years they have enjoyed downhill skiing (Sun Valley, Idaho is their favorite area), tent camping, bicycling, traveling, Pug dogs, Blossom Music Center concerts, Lakewood Little Theater performances, fireworks shows, frequent trips to Middle Bass Island, Ohio, wine making and drinking, and preparing new recipes. They hung up their skis in 2002, perhaps for good. They replaced their annual February/March ski week with seven-ten day Caribbean cruises.