Frank DeWolf’s 2011 Was Focused on the Bicentennial

At the end of 2011, I asked you to nominate Brecksville Patch’s People of the Year. Now, I’m sharing what made 2011 memorable for your nominees. See . The last profile will run later this week.

Frank DeWolf’s 2011 was focused on the past.

DeWolf was one of the two co-chairmen of . The group worked hard to create a yearlong celebration in honor of the city’s 200th anniversary, planning events and coordinating projects.

“I just can’t believe how fast the whole year went,” DeWolf said.

DeWolf, who was nominated by co-chair Don Faulhaber, said the bicentennial wouldn’t have been successful without the support of the community. People gave time, money and energy to the cause, DeWolf said.

While DeWolf said he thought all of the events were successful in their own way, the week of and the really stood out. Home Days was a big event with lots of activities, from the to a fundraising event to the long weekend of Home Days.

And the dedication put everything into perspective, he said, because they had the chance to create something “everlasting.”

DeWolf is a lifelong Brecksville resident. He graduated from the high school in 1959 and came back after college, where he met his wife. The two have three “wonderful” daughters, he said, all of whom graduated from Brecksville-Broadview Heights. They’re all off on their own now with three children each of their own.

DeWolf has always been involved with the community, even while working fulltime at BFGoodrich. He served for more than 30 years on the , and he's currently part of the Brecksville Historical Association, and the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Alumni Association. He thinks it’s important to give back—it’s what turns a town into a community.

“It’s not just where you live,” DeWolf said. “It’s how you become involved in the community.”