Women of the Year 2012

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2013 S1

Make a difference.Take a stand. Workfor what you be-lieve in.

These are theprinciples of life Jennie RosenthalBerliant learned from her parents,Cincinnati arts philanthropists Rich-ard and Lois Rosenthal.

And they are the values she be-lieves her two children will learnfrom their parents – by example.

Berliant threw herself into a widerange of grassroots community ser-vice after 1999 when her parentssold the family business, F&W Publi-cations.

Among the local organizations forwhich she has worked – mostly inleadership positions and alwaysvoluntarily – are the ContemporaryArts Center, Greater CincinnatiFoundation, Findlay Market, Univer-sity of Cincinnati Rowing AlumniAssociation and Seven Hills School.She also spearheaded the $2.2 mil-lion renovation of Owl’s Nest Park inO’Bryonville.

In addition, she has coordinateddozens of political events and hun-dreds of campaign volunteers for Barack Obama, JohnKerry and Sherrod Brown and has set up a campaign callcenter with 20 telephone lines in the basement of her EastWalnut Hills home.

“Jennie is incredibly easy to work with, makesfriends and allies within hours – not days – has anoptimism that is contagious, is one of the mostcurious and interesting people I’ve ever met, andhas an impressive – and necessary – level ofperseverance and character,” wrote StrivePartnership Executive Director Greg Lands-man in nominating Berliant.

“In my view,” wrote Christopher Garten,head of Seven Hills School, “she is one ofCincinnati’s greatest assets.

MOREABOUTJENNIEBirthplace:CincinnatiResidence:East WalnutHillsFamily:Husband AllanBerliant;children Liz, 19,and Andrew, 17Education:Walnut HillsHigh School;B.A. in English,University ofCincinnatiOccupation:Former Directorof Book ClubOperations(among otherpositions), F&WPublications

WHAT SHE SAYSWhy do youwork so hard?What I try to do is be involved in may-

be three or four organizations at a time.When I get involved in something, itreceives laser focus from me. ...I don’t think of what I do as work. I feel

I’m helping out on projects, or mentoring

someone. Work is not exactly in myvocabulary.What is one of your top wishes?I’m so excited about everything going

on Downtown. I’d like to see that spreadthroughout other city neighborhoods –Walnut Hills, O’Bryonville, Evanston. Ithink Cincinnati is poised for a renais-sance and it’s really exciting.

What’s a favorite project you’veworked on?Owl’s Nest Park is one. It really brings

the community together in a 101⁄2-acrepark near where Evanston, Walnut Hills,East Walnut Hills, O’Bryonville and HydePark converge.It fills my heart to walk there and see

people out walking their dogs and kids

playing. To me, that’s one of the thingsI’m really proud of.What do you love about being apolitical activist?I love organizing volunteers. I love

having people doing call-banking frommy home. I love knocking on people’sdoors, and I love to canvass.

JENNIE ROSENTHALBERLIANT

LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

By Brent [email protected]

S2 SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2013 /// THE ENQUIRER

Elaine Bruening hasplayed a major role inthe growth of the West-ern & Southern Openfrom its humble begin-

nings at Coney Island to one of theworld’s top tennis championshipsbelow Grand Slams.

“It’s been such a great journey,because I feel like I’ve grown upwith the tournament,” said Brue-ning, CEO of Cincinnati TennisLLC.

She started as a 19-year-old vol-unteer. Bruening became secretaryto Paul Flory at Procter & Gamblein 1976. In her spare time, she as-sisted Flory with what was then theWestern Tennis Championships,which he led as tournament di-rector. At night, Brueningattended Xavier Universityto earn a degree in market-ing. That let her move up toa research managementposition at P&G.

But her P&G career wasshort-lived. Flory retiredfrom P&G and began run-

ELAINEBRUENING

TOURNAMENT LEADER

WHAT SHE SAYSMost rewarding achievementThe turning point was in 1989, when

the ATP Tour was undergoing structuralchanges and determining howmanythere should be. ... Paul (Flory) and Iworked for months on a bid for twoweeks before the U.S. Open. We put in abid to double our prize money, from$650,000 to $1.3 million, which washuge. We were awarded one of the top

nine series championships. The othercities were Rome, Paris, Miami, Montreal– these big-name cities, and then you seeCincinnati. It’s sort of like, what doesn’tfit in this picture?

A head for figuresI’m just more of an analytical person

than a creative person. I was alwaysgood in math in school, and good in theanalytical courses. I enjoyed themmore.So one of the first projects that Paul putme in charge of were box seats, because

our biggest source of revenue was frombox seats. I was sending out invoices,keeping track of payments. That grewinto the overall tournament budget.

Latest projectWe’ve just come off of a three-year,

$22 million expansion of the facility. Allof that was done in preparation forgetting the combined event, with themen and women playing at the sametime.So in 2013, we’re taking a year off

from construction projects, and justdoing maintenance.

Best advice she ever receivedIt came from my father, who had a

really strong work ethic. He said, “Justgive it your all, give it 110 percent, and ifyou do that, good things will happen.”

Recipe for successWe just rely heavily on the volunteers.

They made it happen. We couldn’t do itwithout them.

ning the tournament, which hadmoved to Mason, as a full-timevolunteer. Realizing that he neededBruening’s organizational andfinancial skills, Flory convincedher in 1988 to join him to create thetournament office.

“It is not an exaggeration tosay that had not Elainemade the move, thetournament may

very well not have survived all thechallenges it faced over the next35-plus years,” wrote Bruce N.Flory, who worked with Brueningfor 17 years at the tournament, inhis letter nominating her for En-quirer Woman of the Year.

She was the first paid employee,but her ability to multitask

was priceless. Brue-ning managed the

staff, the operations and the bud-get.

As the tourney grew in stature,Bruening was the operations lead-er and financial wizard. She playeda critical role in purchasing thestadium and grounds fromGreatAmerican Insurance Company in2002, and helped bring in the wom-en’s tour in 2003. That laid thegroundwork for winning the wom-en’s top-tier event in 2009.

During her watch, the tourneyhas donated nearly $8 million toCincinnati Children’s HospitalMedical Center, and more than $1million combined to the BarrettCancer Center and Tennis for CityYouth.

Bruening doesn’t mingle withthe stars who play on Center Court,but always has a smile for the 1,300volunteers. As she knows, theyreally make the tournament pos-sible.

Ironically, she never playedthe game.

“I’m passionate about thebusiness side of tennis, and indoing that, I’ve become pas-sionate about the game oftennis,” she said.

By Janelle [email protected]

MORE ABOUTELAINEBirthplace:Mt. Washington

Current residence: AndersonTownship

Family:Married to Joe Bruening

Education: Bachelor of Science inmarketing, Xavier University

Occupation: Chief executive offi-cer, Cincinnati Tennis LLC


MORE ABOUTRUBYBirthplace: CincinnatiCurrent home:MasonFamily:Married to Jesse, onedaughter, five grandchildrenEducation: B.S., biology, CentralState University; B.S., nursing, CaseWestern Reserve University; M.S.,health administration, CentralMichigan UniversityOccupation: Assistant chief nursingofficer, Women’s Health Center,University of Cincinnati MedicalCenter

Ruby Crawford-Hemphill earnedthe nickname “Cassius Clay” in theninth grade after she stood up tobullies tormenting a classmate.

It’s a fighting spirit the Masonnurse would carry with her all herlife as she works to care for women,children and the indigent.

Born the oldest daughter of aworking class family of six, Craw-ford-Hemphill was used to being acaretaker. So when the prom queenand drill team captain earned a fullcollege scholarship, she knew shewanted to become a nurse.

As the assistant chief nursingofficer of the Women’s Health Cen-ter at the University of CincinnatiMedical Center, Crawford-Hemphillhas been instrumental in expandingthe hospital’s medical services to 13community-based health centersacross Greater Cincinnati.

She’s a charter member of QueenCity Links, which she helped foundeight years ago to improve the qual-ity of life in Lincoln Heights, andhelped launch the Women’s Health

Fund, which has improvedaccess to underserved

women and theirchildren.

She alsoserves on theboards for theCenter forRespiteCare, a 14-bed facility

that provides medical care to home-less people recuperating from ill-ness, and Every Child Succeeds, anorganization that helps first-time,at-risk mothers provide an optimalstart for their children.

Crawford-Hemphill is activewith Delta Sigma Theta, a philan-thropic group of professional wom-en, and Bridges for a Just Commu-nity.

She also mentors at-risk girlsthrough Rise Sister Rise.

“Ruby has a determination andfire in her belly that drives her tohelp our community,” said NancyBarone, chief operating officer ofUniversity Hospital. “Her motiva-tion is infectious and it is truly herlife mission to help those in need.”

CARE FOR THE VULNERABLE

RUBYCRAWFORD-HEMPHILL

WHAT SHE SAYSThe best advice I’ve receivedMymother always said, “Stay true to

yourself. It doesn’t matter what otherpeople think of you, just be true toyourself. If that’s what you believe, thendon’t waver because someone else doesnot agree with you. Always have integrityand you’ll be fine.”Best advice for othersFollow your heart and do what you

love. I love being in my position to effectchange. I love touching patients andbeing around people. You have to liveyour dream vs. the dream of someoneelse.

Why I do what I doReducing infant mortality is really my

passion and how to do that is what keepsme up at night. Ohio ranks 11th in thenation for infant deaths. We have over1,000 babies in Cincinnati who die everyyear. This is my hospital. This is mycommunity. Why is this happening andwhat do we need to do? I feel like if I cansave one infant’s life, if I can save onewoman’s life, then I know that I’ve donesomething good.Next projectUniversity (Hospital) has been selected

as one of 90 hospitals across the countryto become what they call “baby friendly,”an initiative to increase the rates of

breast-feeding in the U.S. Studies showthat babies who are breast-fed arehealthier, have less health care issues, arenot in your NICUs and have betteroutcomes. ... We can create anenvironment where women are informedabout the benefits of breast-feeding andhave a successful experience.If I were granted one wishMore than 50 percent of pregnancies

are unplanned. I wish that people spendjust as much time planning to have ahealthy baby as they do planning for awedding.How do you balance a busy workschedule with volunteerism?I find out what’s needed and come back

and sell it to my staff and they take itfrom me and do it. I get up early in themorning and go to bed late, but I love it.It doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s eitherthat or shopping and this keeps me out ofthe mall.What do you hope your legacy is?That she’s going to do the right thing

regardless of the consequences. I believe Iwas born with a servant heart and havinga servant heart means you’re going togive back and recognize when peoplehave a need and regardless of how otherpeople feel about it, you’re going tospeak up and take up for other people. Ihave to be able to sleep at night knowingI’ve done the right thing.

By Rachel [email protected]



that the poor will be diagnosed andgiven prescriptions that will treattheir illnesses,” said Chinna Simon,senior minister of Madison AvenueChristian Church. “Cindy caresabout people so much that shestrives to find the support to servethose in need with care and com-passion. I often marvel that Cindyis able to motivate nurses that theywill volunteer their time and ex-pertise so that the forgotten andoften neglected would benefit.”

Under her leadership, NACUhas grown in size, scope of servicesand stature within the community –growing from five communitylocations (Women’s ResidentialAddictions Program, WelcomeHouse, Madison Avenue ChristianChurch, the Covington EmergencyShelter and City Heights HousingCommunity) to seven with the addi-tion of services at the HousingAuthority of Covington and theHorseman’s Association at theTurfway Racetrack.

The programwas awarded a2012 Award of Excellence in PublicHealth by the Northern KentuckyIndependent District Health De-partment.

BRINGING CARE TO THE NEEDY

MORE ABOUTCINDYBirthplace: Hillsboro, OhioCurrent residence: Boone CountyFamily: Husband Jeff Foster, 27years; 2 college-age daughters,Lindsay and MelissaEducation:Wright State University,Registered NurseOccupation: Assistant professor,College of Health Professions,Northern Kentucky University

WHAT SHE SAYSWhat is the best advice you everreceived?The best advice I have received was

from my father who always told us thatwe all have 24 hours in a day and whatyou do with it is your choice.He was trying to get us to use our time

wisely.

What advice would you offer othersto be happy?Someone else said this but it is true.

You should find what you love to do anddo it to the best of your ability. It isn’t allabout money. We have to be secure butmoney isn’t going to bring youhappiness.Why do you dowhat you do?I do what I do because I can. It may just

be one person that day but you have aknowledge that you are going to make adifference.If you were granted one wish, whatwould you ask for?If I had one wish (long pause) that wish

would be that everyone had equal accessto health care.What would you entitle yourautobiography?

“She’s Still a Small-Town Girl”What is your favorite trait of yourown?I have a lot of energy. I can get a lot

done in a day.What would you consider yourbiggest accomplishment?My biggest accomplishment is raising

two daughters who are happy with life. Italways comes back to that.

Cindy Armstrong Fosterwants to work herselfout of a job.

As the director ofthe Nurse Advocacy

Center for the Underserved, sheworks to decrease health dispar-ities in Northern Kentucky by coor-dinating nursing services at loca-tions where underserved persons,including veterans, live, work orcongregate.

“We’d hope one day we’d workour way out of a job,” Foster said.“Our goal is to get people attachedto a medical provider and to getthem the services they need. Howwonderful would it be to not beneeded?”

Foster cut her nursing chops inthe Air Force where she served hercountry for five years. She calls theexperience a “wonderful way tostart your career” and today en-courages nursing students to con-sider a military career.

She then worked many years asa civilian nurse before accepting anassistant professor role with theNorthern Kentucky UniversityCollege of Health Professions in2006. She began her volunteer work

with NACU soon after andbecame its director, a vol-

unteer position, in 2010.“Cindy continues toinspire and motivatenurses to give oftheir time to pro-vide this care tothe poor. Cindy isconstantly findingways to expandthe scope of theprogram byadding nursepractitioners so

CINDY ARMSTRONGFOSTER

By Juli HaleEnquirer contributor

“Falling apart,” as she puts it, hasn’tstopped Etta Hoeh’s generosity.

The 82-year-old Westwood resi-dent still staffs the front desk at

the Ronald McDonald House everyWednesday,serves Christmas Evedinner to 250 hospitalworkers and does “Ev-erybody Counts” schoolpresentations in memo-ry of her son, Jeffrey.

Jeffrey lost a 16-yearbattle to lymphoma in1989, at age 27, after along stay at Children’sHospital Medical Cen-ter.

“Everything I do isbasically paying it for-ward for all the thingsdone for us,” said Hoeh(pronounced “Hay”),who walks with a canedue to severe autonomicneuropathy, which lefther without feeling inher feet.

She has never forgot-ten the Christmas giftgiven to Jeffrey by par-ents of another patient,or the Christmas dinnerprepared by a mom sothe Hoehs didn’t have toeat vending machinefood.

So every ChristmasEve since 1989, Hoehand her family havecooked and served din-ner for Children’s staff-ers and patients’ families. Last year they fedabout 250 next door at the Ronald McDonaldHouse, which provides lodging for parents of sickchildren.

For 15 years she has volunteered at the RonaldMcDonald House, doing everything from cleaningrooms, laundry or toilets to dispensing free lolli-pops and hugs.

“She has offered families a literal shoulder tocry on on many occasions,” said Jennifer Goodin,local Ronald McDonald House executive director.

In 1990, the Hoehs started the Jeffrey G. HoehMemorial Fund golf outing to benefit familiessuffering from a catastrophic illness. They willtop $1million in donations, if they raise at least$55,000 at Hillview Golf Course on July 13.

All from a charity lesson she learned from herson.

“He’d call me from the hospital and say, ‘Canyou bring a bag of White Castles?’ for anotherpatient,” she said. “You just need to help eachother through life.”

PAYING BACK BY HELPING

MOREABOUTETTABorn: Bellevue, Ky.Home:WestwoodFamily: HusbandJames of 62 years;daughters Jane Davis,Westwood; Julie Cad-dell, White Oak; andJeanette Hoeh, West-wood; sons JamesHoeh, Niles, Mich.;John Hoeh, NorthCollege Hill; JackHoeh, Price Hill; andJoseph, Westwood; 26grandchildren; 24great-grandchildren.Son Jeffery died in1989.Education:WithrowHigh SchoolOccupation: Volun-teerWebsite:www.jghmemorial-.com

WHAT SHE SAYSLittle things countMy heart smiles when I see a child take one of

my lollipops. You wouldn’t think anything sosimple could make such a difference. You don’tneed a lot of money. You just have to have a big,caring heart.Keep perspectiveRonald McDonald House keeps your life in

perspective. No matter what you’re going

through, you see someone worse off than you.Best advice given to herDon’t dwell on the negative. When my son first

got his diagnosis at age 11, it consumed me. Youneed to cherish the time you have with everyone.Learn to appreciate what you have.Her motivationI couldn’t think of any other way to live, other

than to help others. That’s what life is about. If youpay it forward, you don’t have to ask for anythingelse.

ETTAHOEH

By John [email protected]


During her 29-year Procter &Gamble career, Louise S.Hughes immersed herself inprojects that benefited theregion. So it should come as

no surprise that when she retired inDecember 2011 she immediately tookon another huge task.

“Louise was absolutely instrumen-tal in identifying organizations andpeople and aligning all parties in-volved in organizing the highly com-plex World Choir Games at a criti-cal point in time,” Sabine Geisslerwrote in a letter nominatingHughes for Enquirer Woman of theYear. Geissler and her husband,Werner, were global co-chairs ofthe 11-day event in July 2012.

Hughes says she’s motivated bypeople telling her she’s making a dif-ference. Her impact has been felt onmany fronts.

“There is no important change ini-tiative in our community that Louisehas not directly influenced,” CharlotteOtto, retired P&G global externalrelations manager, wrote in her nomi-nating letter.

For years Hughes was respon-

sible for P&G’s community relations, whichgave her the chance to help shape what shecalls “game-changing initiatives.”

Among them: the Strive Partnership,aimed at ensuring academic success forchildren from birth through college; Agen-da 360, the plan to transform the areainto a leading metropolitan region;ArtsWave, which is focused on cre-ating a thriving arts community; andthe Regional Tourism Network,which she chairs.

Collaboration is always the key,Hughes says. She has worked along-side government leaders, majornonprofits such as United Way andorganizations such as the Cincin-nati USA Regional Chamber.

She’s tapped connections shemade through Leadership Cincin-nati. She was chair of Cincinnati USAConvention & Visitors Bureau whileplanning was under way for the WorldChoir Games.

J. Scott Robertson of RCF Grouphas worked with Hughes on manycivic activities. “Her strong leader-ship skill, while based on collabo-ration, is firm and unwaveringtowards one goal – success,” hesaid.

JUMPING INTO BIG PROJECTS

WHAT SHE SAYSBest advice I ever gotYou drive your circumstances. Don’t

ever feel like you’re a victim. Approachlife with the mantra: I choose to do this, Iwant to do this, I like to do this, I love todo this. If you’re not embracing it andloving it, reassess. (From a Pacific InstituteInvestment in Excellence program.)

Current projectCapitalizing on the World Choir Games

– the volunteer effort. We can leveragevolunteerism in some very smart ways.From a business perspective it candifferentiate us and help us attract andsuccessfully host more major events.People would be surprised to knowAbout my (14 years of) military service.

Maybe it’s because we’re in the Midwest

and don’t have as many active duty(personnel). (After Army ROTC in college,she rose to Army captain, then was amajor in the U.S. Army Reserves beforeleaving the military to start a family.)A life-changing experienceThe decision to go from upstate New

York, from a very small town, to (collegeat) LSU and Baton Rouge. When I went tomy freshman orientation, I had never

seen so many people in one place at onetime. I didn’t know a soul. To be such asmall fish in a big pond was huge. And itwas wonderful.One thing I’ve always wanted to dobut haven’tI’ve run five marathons. I went to jump

school in the military. I’ve traveled all ofEurope. If I really wanted to do it, I did.

LOUISE S.HUGHES


MORE ABOUTLOUISEBirthplace: San Antonio, TexasHome: Indian HillFamily: Husband, Rick; daughter,Rachel; son, AustinEducation: Bachelors in politicalscience, Louisiana State University;masters in business administration,Florida Institute of Technology.Occupation: Retired in December 2011from Procter & Gamble. Most recentposition was director of senior businessleader community engagement.


Marjorie Rauh is a model forcommunity activism.

“As President of the Char-ter Committee,” wrote for-mer Cincinnati mayor and

longtime council member Bobbie Sterne,Rauh “was instrumental in bringing about theCharter reform which resulted in the directlyelected mayor.”

She was an early board president of theHillside Trust and “without Margie therewould be no community gardens in Cincin-nati,” wrote Gary Goosman, who worked withher on the creation of the project 30 yearsago. Vice mayor Roxanne Qualls added, “Thesuccess of the program quickly became anational model that other cities adopted.”

Rauh takes on projects large and small – alibrary for Parham Elementary School, men-tors for fourth-grade girls at Winton HillsAcademy, support for the Multiple SclerosisSociety.

In addition to all that, “Margie Rauh is amom, a grandmother, a gourmet cook, an avidgardener, a community organizer, a worldtraveler, a voracious reader, a music aficiona-do and a generous philanthropist,” wrote DareMiller of Hospice of the Bluegrass-NorthernKentucky.

CIVIC PROJECTS BIG AND SMALL

MORE ABOUTMARJORIEBirthplace: Toledo. She grew up in Sylvania.Current residence: East EndFamily:Married to Lou Rauh since 1959.Children: Rick Rauh lives in Cincinnati withwife Susan and grandchildren Emily, Ceci andJack; daughter Beth Rauh lives in Boulder,Colo., with partner Lisa Campbell; daughterLynn Ryan lives in Boulder with husband Timand granddaughters Sophia, Macy, and AvaEducation:Wittenberg University andUniversity of CincinnatiOccupation: Community activist

MARJORIE H.RAUH

WHAT SHE SAYSOn volunteeringFirst I was involved in having children.

When I began volunteering it mush-roomed. The key words are “Oh, OK. Ican do that.” People ask and you like andrespect them so you say yes.

On her love of gardens, private andpublicMy father had a garden and I was

appointed weed-puller. It gets in yourblood.The neighborhood gardens let people

farm their own food but what I wantedwas to bring people together.

On her 5-year ruleIt seems that’s the right amount of

time to really be able to be involved andbe effective.On the best advice she ever gotInvolve others.

On themost fun she’s ever had on avolunteer project

The Civic Garden Club did the BareRoots Calendar in 2003, inspired by theBritish film “Calendar Girls.” (The mostlymiddle-aged characters posed nude,photographed tastefully behind carefullypositioned props.) I was Miss January. Idug out an old accordion and posedbehind it. We made a lot of money.

By Jackie [email protected]


Sister Judy Tensing’s long history of ser-vice to residents of Cincinnati’s urbancore can’t really be told without mention-ing her professional partnership withanother Catholic nun, Barbara Wheeler,

with whom she founded a nonprofit in 1986.Back then, the sisters called it People In-

terested in People, and the goal was to helpwomen living in the West End becomemoreindependent of the welfare system.

They kept the acronym (PIP) but laterchanged the name to Power Inspires Pro-gress. The organization is best known for itsjob readiness program that doubles as apizza restaurant and catering business, Ven-ice on Vine.

They were an odd couple. Wheeler, whosehealth prevents her fromworking in therestaurant, is a Dominican Sister of Hopeand a trained nurse. Tensing, a teacherand school administrator by trade,is a Sister of Notre Dame deNamur.

“Barbara and I did most of this together,” saidTensing, a native Cincinnatian who attended theformer St George School, now Corryville Catho-lic, and who had worked as principal of a Catholicelementary in Lancaster, Ohio, before her 1978transfer to St. Joseph Parish in the West End.

“I did whatever needed to be done,” saidTensing, who found herself riding in a vanbound for Ohio state prisons so neighborhoodwomen could visit relatives who’d beenincarcerated.

She created a community food pantryand developed cottage industries such asa silk-screening business. “The idea wasto help people get work and keep it,” shesaid.

In 1990, with $900 fromWheeler’sorder, they opened Venice Pizza in Uni-

versity Heights and later moved it to VineStreet in Over-the-Rhine. Over the past

20-plus years, more than 200 people havegained work experience and training – people

who initially could not read, people with dis-abilities, people on parole or probation and peo-

ple who’d spent their whole lives on publicassistance.

NOURISHING HOPE

WHAT SHE SAYSWhat is your job?I would say I run a catering business. I

provide opportunity for people to learn. Ihad a lot of opportunity to learn, and Iwant to do that for other people.What was behind Venice Pizza?Wewanted to help people get jobs and

live on their own. The greatest thing isthe short little instances whenever yousee growth.

Are you doing what you’d thoughtyou’d be doing?I admired teachers. I always thought I

would be in a school. I’d always had peo-ple around me who were supportive. NowI am around many people who’ve neverreceived that support. I’ve been strugglingwith the thought that you can’t changepeople’s lives.I think about how hard it is for me to

change. Changing is a myth in my ownlife. I go home at night, and there are

dishes in the sink and laundry to do. I amnot a counselor. I am not a social worker.Now that I am older, I think it comes

down to how you treat people. All peopleare important. We see people, peoplewith very little, who are very happy tohave what they have.Who are your greatest influences?My parents, I had great parents. My

parents made the church better. They hadthe attitude that they had to be part ofthe church and the community, to look

around, see what needs to be done anddo it.That’s how I am. Whatever has needed

to be done, I have tried to do it.Regrets?Not really. I do wish I had learned more.

I remember being sent to Detroit to studyin the late 1960s – the times of the riots.We were reading so many differentthings, the anthropologist MargaretMead. I was away from everybody. I was ain a different place. I learned so much.

ByMark [email protected]

MORE ABOUTSISTER JUDYBirthplace: CorryvilleHome: Over-the-RhineEducation: High school, Saint JosephAcademy, Columbus, 1956. B.Ed., OurLady of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, 1965.M.Ed., Marygrove College, Detroit,1971. Administration certification,University of Dayton, 1971.Occupation: Sister of Notre Dame deNamur, director of catering at PowerInspires Progress (Venice on Vine)

SISTER JUDYTENSING


Lynda Thomas is a woman who speaks quickly andeasily. But when asked why she serves on so manyboards, why she volunteers for so many causes, shegrows suddenly quiet.

Sitting in the late-morning sun in the third-floorkitchen in her home overlooking the Ohio River, Thomas looksdown and then up again, searching forwords. It seems like the question hasnever even occurred to her.

Finally, she says, “I just neverthought of any other way. I justthought, ‘Why wouldn’t you help peo-ple if you could?’ ”

Among other groups, Thomas hasvolunteered with the Cincinnati ParksFoundation, Cincinnati Playhouse inthe Park and People Working Coopera-tively.

Thomas also volunteers and raisesfunds for organizations that are famil-iar to her because of the hardships thatvisit every life.

She has diabetes, so she raisesfunds for the Juvenile Diabetes Re-search Foundation.

Her son was born with spina bifida,so she raises money for Cincinnati

Children’s Hospital Medical Center.She has lost her vision, so she volunteers with the

Cincinnati Association for the Blind and VisuallyImpaired.

Thomas’ friends and co-volunteers areuniform in their praise of her strength,determination and positive outlook.

“Lynda is a remarkable woman, a ded-icated mother, an avid volunteer, and atrue friend,” said Jay Springer, who hasvolunteered for many years with Thom-as. “Her life experiences are, andshould be, an inspiration to many.”

HELPING IS ITS OWN REWARD

MOREABOUTLYNDAFrom: Greenville,Pa.Currentresidence: EastEndEducation:University ofCincinnatiFamily: Son BarryOccupation:Full-time volunteer

WHAT SHE SAYSDid you have a role model?I grew up in Greenville, a small town in

Pennsylvania. My mother didn’t work, shevolunteered all the time.I kind of modeled myself after her and

my former mother-in-law.I think those who can, should. I think

it’s an obligation to give back.

What still surprises you about thejoys of volunteering?Helping others is always its own re-

ward. It just makes you feel great.And despite the fact that I have met so

many wonderful people over the yearswho volunteer, I am always so surprised athow many nice people there are.People who really care about their

community.

Your greatest accomplishment?My son, Barry. I love being a mom.

There is nothing else like it. When my sonwas born, they told me he would not live(he’s 40). He’s a very unique and specialperson. He’s been the lead singer in aheavy metal band. Can you imagine that?Every time you face a challenge, youlook for ways to help others. How?Helping others is a good way to help

yourself, of course. I think I am just

blessed. I can’t stay down. I always haveto be doing something. Why not helpothers?Best advice you ever got?I think I finally learned to live in the

now. Not to worry about the past. Not toworry about the future. See the joy oftoday. Of every day.Somebody told me that when I was a

young woman. I finally learned to do it inmy 50s. A little late.

LYNDA A.THOMAS



Growing up in a small town, Shelby O’Bryant Wood hadlittle experience with the arts. She thought the operawas something “other people did.”

But after experiencing opera and other arts firsthand, she set out to keep others from thinking the

same way. She devoted herself to keepingthe arts strong in Cincinnati.

“As a lifelong supporter of the arts ingeneral and the May Festival in particular,Shelby is a driving force in Cincinnati’sart scene,” said Steven Sunderman, exec-utive director of the Cincinnati May Festi-val. “Equally comfortable on the frontlines as well as behind the scenes, hertireless devotion to the arts has enabledcountless thousands, indeed hundreds ofthousands, to experience world-class cul-ture right here in Cincinnati.”

The list of organizations and commit-tees to which Wood has devoted her timeis long.

Though heavily involved in the arts,other efforts including the Red Cross andBarrett Cancer Center have caughtWood’s attention.

With a laugh, she says she focuses on“arts and body parts.”

When Hurricane Katrina hit NewOrleans, Wood, like many, won-

dered how she could help.A call to the Red Crossresulted in her deploy-ment to New Orleans. She was impressed withthe organization and the number of peoplewilling to get their hands dirty in an effort tohelp others. Since then, she has been deployedseveral times. She considers it an honor tohelp.

“I have some friends who say they don’tunderstand how I can do all these things,but I don’t understand how you cannot,”Wood said.

By some accounts, Wood has lived adifficult life. She became a young wid-ow after her husband, Judge Robert V.Wood, lost a 10-year battle with cancer.

Only a year later, Wood herself wasdiagnosed with cancer. It was herfirst of three cancer diagnoses. ButWood doesn’t think of it that way.“I’m still here and I’m OK and life isgood. I’ve been so lucky to have lived

the life I’ve lived.”

STRONG ARTS AND BODIES

MOREABOUTSHELBYBirthplace: Dayton,Ky.Current Residence:Bellevue, Ky.Family:Widowedafter 22 years ofmarriage to JudgeRobert V. WoodEducation:WilliamMason High School;University ofCincinnati, bache-lor’s in BusinessOccupation: Tourdirector (mostlythrough Europe andEast Coast)

WHAT SHE SAYSWhat is the best advice anyone ever gave you?The best advice anyone ever gave me was just to live

your life. Don’t look around you, just live it.What advice would you offer others to be happy?To be happy, you should do what you have a passion for

and enjoy. If you don’t enjoy something or have a passion,it won’t work. Just get out there and kick butt.Why do you dowhat you do?I do what I do because I’m having a good time. When

SHELBYO’BRYANTWOOD

By Juli HaleEnquirer contributor

you don’t have to do something, you can choose to dowhat you want to do.Describe your perfect dayEvery day that I’m here is perfect. My perfect day is just

doing what I want to do.What would you name your autobiography?“I’m Here”

What is your favorite trait?My best trait is probably my ability to stay calm in the

midst of chaos.


Photos by Glenn Hartong/The Enquirer

WATCH THE VIDEOOur 10 Women of the Year talkabout their efforts, and why

you should volunteer, too.


1968Mary AmbrosiusDodie BakerKatherine BrownVirginia CoffeyTreva CromwellDorothy DolbeyDr. Vera C. EdwardGretta Hastings GrantNancy McIntoshBeveral Page

1969Vivian J. BeamonJoan DomerAnn IsaacsLou KlingelhofferMarge MalonyJane Kirschner O'TooleDr. Elizabeth OverhulseGeraldine ThorntonJoyce VanWye

1970Dr. Doris Twitchell AllenJeanette ConyersPeggy GeierJudge Olive HolmesEdythe HydeDr. Eileen O’FerrellViola I. PhillipsBeverly RichardsonRuth StoneIla M. Turpeau

1971Marian BeckGladys CallenderJoAnn GarberDr. Harriet Beecher HowesIrene KinkeadCatherine MayDr. Louise W. RauhEsther RoacheAlice Catherine RogersMabel V. Smith

1972Dr. Jane M. DotsonDr. Rena GazawayIsabel GuyBeverly KileyMrs. Edward KuhnMartha MartinVirginia PerinMarian SpencerThelma StutzAnnaWare

1973Ruth BarrySuzanne HarrisMartha I. LeedsAnnie Laurie MagorianMary Elizabeth MarcumJane McGregorElizabeth PittsPatricia RaheElsie RuschBeatrice Scheele

1974Ruth C. KeefeMrs. Howard KeiserOpal MillerAlice PfeiferBarbara RobinsonAgnes S. SeasongoodCornelia SlaterPat SommerkampNancy StorchRoberta Wooten

1975Dorothy BaileyMattie KinneyMary Margaret LongJoAnn Orr

Peggy PaulySister Mary Louise RogersZell SchulmanMarian SwisshelmBetty Tucker-ZavonDottie Wood

1976Avis W. CullenRuth DalrympleEvelyn DavisKathie FairbanksLucille GreenFlorence KaufmanSister Margaret AnneMolitorDorothy A. O’HaraMargaret SchmidtBobbie Sterne

1977Dr. Eula BinghamPatricia CorbettKaren EverettCapt. Anne KirbyMary Ann MenkeKathryn PettengillFrances PoetkerJoyce SalingerGeorgina SillimanClarise White

1978Hannah Hume BairdCharlee BlaineMamie Ray DuffJane EarlyGeorgia KriderDr. Beatrice LampkinLoretta ManggrumBettye Torrey OldhamVirginia RuehlmannMary T. Schloss

1979Dr. Carol M. BrownscheidleDr. Cornelia M. DettmerHelen Hennegan DiehlHelen G. LevineCaryl K. MillerGrace Bochenek MooreDorothy Stolzenbach PayneEmily Taylor SpicerJeanne M. Stophlet

1980Anna CortrightHelen H. FixElizabeth D. GoldsmithJoyce HolmesMarlene HolwadelJane JansakEvelyn KalbPheatter McconnellDr. Jean RothenbergCarol Weihl

1981Sister Mary Jerome BuchertMarianne FieldsSusanne Ernst GeierVirgina K. GriffinDr,. Emily R. HessCathryn HilkerGwendolyn Carol JohnsonMary MiddletonDr. Sonya OppenheimerCarol NanWheat

1982Linda Bates-ParkerLois Ann BroermanDonna CarmanBarbara CondoBarbara FitchJudi GerdingKatherine HannaSister Jean PatriceHarrington

Irma LazarusJune Taylor

1983Sharry AddisonPatricia BrownAlmas DavidsonPegge GarfieldHelen HinckleyMinette G. HoffheimerNancy KayesDr. Kathleen SpellmanMcLaurinKatherine TerwortRuth Vogelpohl

1984Louise DunnClare EastonCharlotte HullingerAnn MootzMargaret L. PeytonMarge SchottSister Marianne Van VurstRuth WestheimerVirginia WiltseBetty Zimmer

1985Joan BentonHelen K. BerryMaxine Jo BrowneTheresa FlemingBetty HinsonAnne HitsonDeborah KendrickJean LeachBarbara RabkinGraces Raines

1986Sarah E. ChristensenBetty M. DanielsJane DumbadzeMelissa E. LanierDr. Lorena M. O’DonnellDr. Allene W. ReedMargaret B. RostAlice SkirtzHope TaftPhyllis Weston

1987Mary Kay AllisonFrances CohenSusan PfauSue RichardMamie Earl SellsEleanor StraussMaureen R. SullivanBetty WhiteHelen D. WilliamsCathy CleelandWolff

1988Phyllis BreenMary BrownAnn V. BullockJacqueline P. ButlerEvelyn DixonSue DoanMona KerstineDr. Bonnie PattersonYvonne C. RobertsonLinda J. Smith

1989Nancy Brown BauerLois Brown DaleDianne DunkelmanTheresa C. HendersonHarriet JanszenAlvina MontgomeryCarolyn Finn SaeksSister Mary Jacinta SheyMary E. SimonsJacqueline NulsenThompson

1990Nancy Janes BootheHelen Francis BrighamCeila May BrummShirley A. ColbertCarol Levy DavidowAlthea Day EngstrandBernadine Shults KessingerMinor LeBlondCleaster Whitehurst MimsSandra J. Sommer

1991Michelle BudzekJayne L. ByrnesAnne DorseySandra Driggins-SmithJoni HerschedePatricia KaydenJoan LinderMyrtis H. PowellJanet Block RosenJane Ruxton

1992Jane Crosset AndereggCeil DorgerSister Rose Ann FlemingPastor Carolyn Ford-GriffithJane Haas FriedmanMary Jane MillerMary Ellen SlausonBetty Ann SmiddyHannah ThomasGeorgine B. Wolohan

1993Sheila J. AdamsRosa E. BlackwellDabby BlattLouise A. HeadOdessa Walker HookerMadeleine LameM. Jane LoomisRosemary K. SchlachterMarcia SpaethChristine U. Stubbins

1994Mary Anne BrennanEthel Clemons BucknerSister Barbara BuschNancy Heffner DonovanJoanie LottsHilda Marshall McIntireMarjorie Hiatt MotchAlice SparksSuzanne S. TellerAnne M. Zaring

1995Laura N. BrunnerAnna Buckner CampbellFran CarlisleGloria GiannestrasDarlene Green KamineEllie LazarusDolores J. LindsayCarolyn F. McCoyAlice Rogers UhlMiriam E. West

1996Janet H. AchElaine S. BoytonRosemary Kelly ConradDr. Colenthia H. HunterLynn MarmerLeslie Bennett McNeillBeverly Fitzpatrick MussariFrancie Garber PepperDr. Janet B. ReidCarol B. Striker

1997Juanita M. AdamsRebecca BechholdShannon CarterSusan Friedlander

Barbara GouldSarah Blanken KahmannMargy Kyte RichardsSusan S. TewJudith E. Van GinkelKathy Wade

1998Sondra Thomas BrittonDr. Evelyn V. Hess-HowettMarie C. HuenefeldElizabeth LaMacchiaMelody Sawyer RichardsonCarole Tyler RigaudBarbara S. RosenbergJoAnn SchwartzSister Mary StantonLynn Stern

1999Mary Lu AftNaomi P. BarkleyMarja Wade BarrettPatricia BeggsBarbara HarshmanAnnie Ruth NapierChristine E. NeyerNorma PetersenDianne M. RosenbergLois Rosenthal

2000Jane Lampke BrackenMary Frances WilliamsClauderSister Mary Ann FuerstCinda GormanFrancie Schott HiltzJ.J. Johnson-JioDucciDanya M. KarramSherrie Lou NoelMerri Gaither SmithSister Alice Marie SoeteMauri J. Willis

2001Shakila Tanveer AhmadSister Julia DeitersKimMorris HeimanBetti Joan HintonSherie Ann MarekAnzola McMullenLiane PhillipsPhyllis Browning ReedMary Margaret RochfordSally Southard

2002Trudi FullenJudith H. GibbonsNancy Condon GurneyPatricia Catherine IrwinNancy J. MinsonRochelle MortonCynthia SheakleyMuhlhauserSusan SchillerMarion H. ThompsonGinger B. Warner

2003Nancy A. BaroneNancy Schellhous ConnerDiane DewbreyKaren Bennett HoebLillian H. JonesKatherine W. LawrenceSister Ann Rene McConnPenny Kereiakes PomeranzPhyllis Shapiro SewellReba St. Clair

2004Patricia Fox AldersonEileen W. BarrettSister Mary Jo GasdorfLucinda Templeman HeekinBarbara H. HowardCharlotte R. Otto

Penny PensakAurelia Candie SimmonsGloria Nelson Turnbow

2005Cathy CrainAlva Jean CrawfordMary IversArlene KatzSara KieffnerLeslie Siegel KreinesLaurie Nippert LeonardDigi France SchuelerSister Francis Marie ThrailkillGwendolyn JoanWilder

2006Eleanor N. BerghausenCynthia O. BoothTrish BryanMary Ellen CodyJudy S. DalambakisMadeleine H. GordonTamara HarkavySuzanne Priestle MieleGwen L. Robinson-BenningRachel Votruba

2007Holly CollinsworthAmelia CrutcherBeth GuttmanCarrie K. HaydenSuzanne M. KathmanRuthann SammarcoMarcella TriceYvonne Gray WashingtonDeeDeeWestJudith A. Wimberg

2008Brynne ColettiP. Jeane GoingsCathy Youtsey HalloranMarty Roberts HumesJacqueline M. MackAlberta A. MarshSue RadabaughSister Fran A. RepkaMarianne RoweVivian Stern SchwabLinda Smith Berry

2009Suzanne CostandiMarian CumminsYvonne L. Edmonds-WestCrystal FaulknerSuzette Adouth FisherCheryl HillBeth Tu HoffmanRochelle Jeffries JohnsonSister Janet LinzRonna K. Willis

2010Kathy BeechemIva M. BrownPrincess DavisEllen M. FlanneryBarbara HahnJulie Weiss KantorJo Ann KnockBetty Maupin PogueShabana Shakir-AhmedSara M. Vance Waddell

2011Charlin BriggsJoyce ElkusCharlene ErlerSusan Abernethy FrankLydia MorganSheila Munafo-KanozaMargaret W. NamieNina PaulGwendolyn Ivory RobinsonPriscilla Batsche Ungers

PAST HONOREES: A SORORITY OFGIVING

TheWomen of the Year, Class of 2012, will be honored at a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency, Downtown, on April 25.To reserve a seat, contact Mary Donaldson at 513-768-8112 or [email protected]. Deadline is April 15.

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Women of the Year 2012

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