A life well lived for ‘Mrs. Beachwood’ By Douglas J. Guth J ust call Ileen Kelner “Mrs. Beachwood.” This moniker is not something Kelner invented for herself. The half-century Beachwood resident earned the nickname through decades of involvement in the community she adores. guidance office. She still has an attachment to the schools, substitutes in various buildings and also gets together with retirees from time to time. Having a full-time job didn’t stop Kelner from chasing additional volunteer opportunities. One of them was the Beachwood Arts Council, a nonprofit that has supported the arts in Northeast Ohio since 1964. While not an artist herself, Kelner has always appreciated the pursuit, whether hung on a wall or acted onstage. As president of the arts council for nine years, she was part of coordinating a juried art show for high-school students and setting up a scholarship fund for area high-school seniors in the name of organization co-founder, the late Si Wachsberger. She took classes offered by the council, learning about glass blowing and art installation. “Growing up I took dancing lessons and played piano,” says Kelner. “With the council I got a real education in art.” Kelner feels the future of the organization is bright, saying, “The Beachwood Arts Council is moving forward in a positive way by enlisting the help of younger board members. A sponsorship program is also being created to increase funds for the Si Wachsberger Scholarship fund and to expand and enhance programming.” A spirited and energetic 79-year-old, Kelner has immersed herself in Beachwood, whether it’s through her tireless volunteering with a wide range of organizations or kibitzing with neighbors on Maidstone Lane while taking her dog for his twice-daily hour’s walk. Kelner was not born in Beachwood but may as well have been. A native of Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood, she moved to the suburb from Richmond Heights with husband Marvin when she was pregnant with her third child. So began an unstinting devotion to the community that continues to this day. Having three boys attending Beachwood schools, the local parent-teacher association was Kelner’s first foray into activism. She became president of the Fairmount Elementary School PTA, moving on to a co-presidency of the high-school association during the ‘70s. Among other initiatives she helped organize, Kelner ushered in Beachwood High School’s first college fair. “I wanted to play a part in shaping my kids’ education,” Kelner says. “I enjoyed being in the middle of what was happening with the schools.” During this time she also returned to work, using her past experience as an administrative assistant for the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland and other organizations to become secretary of the high school’s 6 Beachwood Buzz n September 2014