The Normandy Times

August 2019 Editor-in-Chief/Layout Design, Lori Lancaster

The NORMANDY Care Center

22709 Lake Road

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

Phone: 440.333.5400

Sunset Rose photo by L.Lancaster

“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness

now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely

or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow, the kind words you say today,

but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” Dale Carnegie

Website:

www.thenormandy.com

FACEBOOK: Normandy

Retirement Community

Nicholas Lesko Story—A Realization of the American Dream

Nicholas Lesko (Nick) was born at

home to immigrant parents on June 10, 1924. Nick’s parents had arrived in the USA in 1923 and settled in Lakewood, Ohio where his father obtained work in a factory. His mother stayed home to raise their six children. Until his graduation from Lakewood High School in 1942, the family lived in a rental double house on Lark Street in Lakewood’s Bird’s Nest neighborhood where the majority of Slavic families settled. Nick developed a strong work ethic when he was very young, helping out at neighborhood shops. He often tells of waking at 4 am every morning, to sell newspapers on the corner of W. 117th Street and Franklin Blvd. and returning to Harrison, the only public school in Lakewood with grades K-8. Nick spoke little or no English when he started school and fondly gives credit to his Kindergarten teacher, Miss Madison, for establishing his life-long love of learning. Madison Park served as the neighborhood playground and Madison Library was next to the park. Nick tells us he spent his precious spare time at that library developing a love for

art and history. His many friends called him, “Professor.” Other jobs as a youth included picking berries at farms in Westlake and Avon. Nick was also a golf caddie at Westwood Country Club where he developed a fondness for golf. Caddying for Bob Hope’s brother and other celebrities were golf highlights. In the evenings, Nick set pins at bowling alleys and laments that he was black and blue from bruises when he arrived home. Nick’s artistic talent was recognized early on. One of his favorite art projects, which was hung on Harrison School’s wall, was a large 20 feet plus mural of a jungle scene with numerous animals.

After graduation from Lakewood, Nick was drafted into the U.S. Army Infantry and served in the North African campaign and the Invasion of Italy. While in the service Nick recalls sketching and drawing caricatures of his fellow soldiers and officers. Nick is very proud and honored to have served his country. He describes, with tears, his emotions upon returning to America after serving for three years and of seeing the Statue of Liberty, and at the USO, of seeing real American women. Shortly after his return home Nick attended Western Reserve University to major in Life Drawing and History. He was inducted into Delta Sigma Pi National Business Fraternity, became Historian and made life-long friends. Most importantly, he met his future wife, Ruth, in an Advanced English History Class. Nick was asked to draw weekly cartoons for the college newspaper and also to be the Art Editor for the College Yearbook. During this time at Reserve, Nick realized that his mathematical and artistic talents translated to architecture. However, he needed classes in calculus, chemistry and physics before he could apply to any of the three top Architecture schools in the country: The University of Michigan, M.I.T., and Cornell. He returned to Lakewood

Continued Nickolas Lesko

High as a 21-year old veteran student to complete the necessary classwork and then submitted his applications. Both Michigan and Cornell accepted him. Nick enjoys telling the Michigan interview story. He had no car and very little money so he purchased a “clunker” from a college student for $100 and went to Ann Arbor with a very skimpy portfolio. The Dean of the Architectural College interviewed him and gave him an architectural design problem to complete in five hours. Although he had never designed a building, Nick completed the assignment. The Dean was impressed with Nick’s design solution and admitted him to the University. Nick graduated from Michigan in 1951 number one in his class and was the only senior to receive an ‘A’ on the final design project. Several years after graduation, Nick also received a Certificate in the Management of Design Firms from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Upon return to the Cleveland area from Ann Arbor, Nick and Ruth lived in Rocky River, then Lakewood, and in 1952 Nick designed and helped build their home in Westlake. Nick became active in the community and was appointed by Westlake Mayor Price to the Planning Commission where Nick became the chairman. He was instrumental, with City Planner Ken Crandall, in designing the Westlake City Master Plan. Like all beginning architects, Nick says he struggled to gain a foothold in the profession. After many trials and errors, he formed his architectural firm Lesko Associates in 1953 with one employee. The first building he designed, Grey Tool and Die on W. 150th Street in Cleveland, won an Award for Design Excellence from the American Institute of Architects Cleveland Chapter. Since he had no collateral but his talent, Nick tells the story of going to the Third Federal Bank to get a $5000 loan. Apparently, the banker observed some promise in Nick and gave him the loan without collateral. The loan was repaid in one year and the rest is history. From his downtown office on East Ninth

Street, which he maintained for 25 years,

and from the Westlake office for 25 more

years, the firm designed hundreds of

religious, commercial, government,

educational, healthcare, and

transportation projects throughout Ohio,

Pennsylvania, and New York. The firm has

received over 72 national, state and local

design awards for these projects. Nick is

especially fond of the Commendation

received from the U.S. Department of State

for the department’s project in South

Korea. He was also honored by Governor

Rhodes who named him as the only

architect to serve on the State’s

Commission to Study the Condition of

School Buildings in Ohio. This study served

as one of the catalysts for the Legislature to

fund the Ohio Schools Facilities

Commission to assist less advantaged State

school districts in remodeling or building

new schools. Nick says he reached a

pinnacle in 1981 when the National

American Institute of Architects inducted

him as a Fellow in the organization. Only

3% of architects in the country are made

Fellows. The Cleveland Chapter of the

A.I.A. elected Nick president soon after he

was honored by the national A.I.A.

Nick says that even though he

loves architecture, his wife and children

come first. The family concurs. Nick and

Ruth have four children: Gary Lesko, a

doctor in Milwaukee; Linda House, an

attorney practicing in Westlake; Sandy

Lesko Sabbath, former Channel 8 anchor

and reporter, currently Director of

Marketing for the Ohio Lottery; and Janet

McGlothin Senior Director of Customer

Relations for Mohawk Flooring and Carpet

in Atlanta. Nick and Ruth celebrate

Continued Nickolas Lesko

their 71st wedding anniversary in July and feel

blessed to have thirteen grandchildren and six

great grandchildren. Nick is a founding

member of St. Mary Magdalene Byzantine

Catholic Church in Fairview Park, a church

which he designed.

“Travel while you still have legs!” is

the advice Nick gives to family and friends. His

passion for travel, whether for business or

vacation, led him and Ruth and their children

throughout the United States. Nick often

focused on architecture and specific artists’

works during their trips and by doing so

educated his children in those areas. Mexico

was a favorite country, as well as Italy. Other

destinations included Japan, Hong Kong,

Thailand, Korea, the U.S.S.R., Slovakia, Africa,

England, Greece, Turkey, Bermuda and the

Scandinavian countries.

PET VACCINATION RECORDS

We here at the Normandy Care Center encourage Family Members to bring in their animals to visit with their Loved Ones. In order to be compliant with The Ohio Department of Health, a copy of the current Vaccination Record will need to be on file at our facility by the first visit.

Please bring in your current record with your Loved One’s name on it so we can identify the pet with the resident. Give the record to the receptionist and it will be forwarded to me. The Vaccination Record can also be e-mailed directly to me at tammydanilovic@gmail.com or faxed to

440.356.8923. When providing the

original to the front desk, we would be more than happy to make a photocopy of this record for you. Please just ask.

Also when pets receive their annual vaccinations, please provide us with an updated copy of the record.

Thank you, Tammy Danilovic, Activities Director

Thank you to all people who donated and

participated in the Cleveland

Indians Day Hot Dog Sale and the

Salad Bar Benefit during the

month of July. All proceeds will be

donated to the Alzheimer’s

Association. It was quite a success!

Thank you to

the people who have sent in magazines. Our residents have certainly enjoyed the diverse selection. We can also always use donations of large print books for our library. Just drop them off at the front desk or the Activity Department.

Jungle Terry is coming here!

Can you believe it is that time again!

We will see Jungle Terry on August

22nd in the main dining room here at the

Normandy Care Center.

When and How to Wash Your Hands.

Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to

avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not

washing hands with soap and clean, running water. If clean, running water is not accessible, as is

common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water. If soap and water are unavailable,

use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.

Before, during, and after preparing food

Before eating food

Before and after caring for someone who is sick

Before and after treating a cut or wound

After using the toilet

After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

After handling pet food or pet treats

After touching garbage

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your

hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from

beginning to end twice.

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them in most

situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at

least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in

some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful

chemicals.

Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

How do you use hand sanitizers?

Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).

Rub your hands together.

Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

There are hand sanitizers in various location throughout the facility. Feel free to utilizer them as

much as you feel it is necessary. We are asking families and friends to sanitize your hands prior to

entering your loves one’s room and immediately upon exiting the room. Hand Sanitizers are located

at the entrance of each room.

If there are any questions, please feel free to ask the Louise Darling, RN, CDP, Director of Nursing

Information provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Thank You

Many thanks to the fine friends and STNA’ ’s at the Normandy Care Center. You all helped to make a difficult experience a bit easier. My family thanks each and every one of you for the special help and assistance you provided David.

Sincerely, Barbara M. and Family

Thank You Dear Nursing Team,

We wanted to thank all of you for your love and support during our Mother’s passing. It was very touching to see all the cards you had sent over the last year and know that she loved every one of them. Seeing so many of you at the funeral, just reaffirmed how loved she was and she felt the same about you. We cannot thank you enough. Love, the H. Family

Normandy Summer Picnic---Celebrates Families

A perfect June evening made

for a wonderful Summer Picnic at the Normandy Care Center in Rocky River the afternoon of June 12th.

Residents, families and staff gathered beneath the welcoming portico to enjoy picnic treats and bar-b-que delights with their loved one under bright blue skies. The shady ambiance of the Normandy Care Center grounds made for a bucolic backdrop as music therapist Joy Parrish joined with a group of fellow musicians to fill the air with a lively backbeat.

It was a perfect day for a picnic at the Normandy. “Life Happens Here!”

Joy Parrish, Music Therapist

Albina Zabawski

Patricia Wolf, her daughter and son-in-law

Rebecca Katterle and her daughter, Karen Weger

Normandy Care Center Staff

Administrator John Coury Director of Nursing Louise Darling Admissions Director Megan Gassman Activities Director Tammy Danilovic Administrative Assistant Cindy Ward Controller David Rodgers Dietary Manager Colleen Merella Dietitian Sandee Seib Environmental Services Curtis Cole And Maintenance Rehab Services Director Ellen Straub Social Work Ginny Moes Nicole Elliott

♪ ♫

“Happy Birthday

to You” ♫ ♪

Residents’ August

Birthdays

Rhoda Parks Aug. 3rd

Annette Jann Aug. 4th

Joanne Pelfrey Aug. 5th

Sally Sandorf Aug. 10th

Sandra Riley Aug. 10th

Gabor Kinal Aug. 13th

Albert Sandorf Aug. 19th

Waddad Khalife Aug. 20th

Ruth Rowan Aug. 22nd

Lois Kubit Aug. 23rd

Maureen Manco Aug. 23rd

Mary Zavatchen Aug. 26th

Nancy Weiser Aug. 28th

Send an e-mail message

to any of our residents at:

activities@normandyretirement.com

We will deliver any messages

same day.