Remembering Saul Eisen by Lois Cooper Saul Eisen, whose name was synonymous with Beachwood schools, died September 7 after a long illness. He was 81. Two days later, in his next life, he was already running for the school board, and the good news is that he is unopposed. So said Rabbi Joshua Skoff, spiritual leader of Park Synagogue, in his eulogy of the man who served 28 years on the Beachwood school board (1972 to 2000), including six terms as president and seven as vice president. After leaving the school board, he added another 12 years of service as a Beachwood city councilman. Eisen, a native Clevelander who graduated from Case Western Reserve University and its law school, began his service to the Beachwood schools when they were still that district to the east and in the educational shadow of the Shaker Heights schools. He was determined that Beachwood, true to its motto then, would be “the best place to learn.” Early on, he marketed the schools with tours for realtors, inviting them to hop on a school bus, personally taking them to the district’s schools, sitting in on classes, and ending with a lunch in the high school, prepared and served by students in the vocational consortium where Beachwood offered a culinary arts program. “Beachwood students are getting a private school education for public school dollars,” said one realtor quoted in a newspaper. Eisen was quick to act on that remark and instrumental in placing Beachwood schools in the vanguard of area school districts with top-notch educational programs. To top it off, he created and spearheaded a number of programs that had a positive impact on several generations and still continue today. Among them were Safety Town, the Beachwood preschool, the first public school board-sponsored preschool in northeast Ohio; the Excellence Awards for students, faculty and non-certified staff; the Gallery of Success, honoring distinguished alumni; and the Elderclass, programs for the community’s senior citizens. But of his many accomplishments, the one enjoyed by the entire community, was the Beachwood Branch of the county library system. He masterminded the plan to bring the library to Beachwood by means of a school bond issue, and he was instrumental in its passage. He also founded the Friends of the Beachwood Library and for many years served as its president and, later, treasurer. The Sun Press that endorsed Eisen every time he ran for public office put it this way, “This is one man who means it when he says he cares…he supports technology in the classroom, adult education, preschool programs while keeping a keen eye on finances…His heart belongs to the schools.” Lauding Eisen’s selfless service, Mayor Merle S. Gorden said, “He gave of his time and talents to many community groups that are here today because of his commitment, and he will be missed.” Rabbi Skoff, noting that Eisen “never met a meeting he didn’t like,” added that he was a former president of Beachwood Boosters, Beachwood Arts Council and Congregation Bethaynu. He also served with the Israeli Defense Force. The Boosters honored Eisen by naming its high school fitness complex after him, while the library’s outdoor reading garden is also named in his honor. Eisen was recognized beyond Beachwood for his leadership as an educational innovator and strong student rights advocate. He was a finalist for the 1995 AllOhio School Board award; winner of the American School Board Journal Pinnacle Award; and the National School Public Relations Association Award of Honor. “Saul also had a day job,” recalled Mark Mintz, his close friend on both the school board and city council. “He was considered one of the finest bankruptcy attorneys in the country and was the longest-serving U.S. bankruptcy trustee, from 1960 to 2002. He also served as acting judge at Shaker Heights Municipal Court.” He served as president of the Cuyahoga County Bar Association and chairman of the bankruptcy section of the Cleveland Bar Association. On city council, he chaired the legal and personnel, and recreation and community services committees. Eisen is survived by his wife Hermine (nee Greene) and children, Barbara Simon, Brian Eisen (Robin) and Abigail Raiz (Danny); grandchildren Alec Simon (Jessica), Marisa Simon, Zane, Wyatt and Delaney Eisen, Lauren and Aaron Raiz, and a sister, Ethel Radsek. Our founder, president, mentor and friend The Boosters honored Eisen by naming its high school fitness complex after him, while the library’s outdoor reading garden is also named in his honor. 12 Beachwood Buzz n October 2016