Ed & Barb Leszynski Named Mr. & Mrs. Westlake 2019

Mayor Dennis Clough named Ed and Barb Leszynski Mr. & Mrs. Westlake 2019 at the city’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony last week.

Ed and Barb Leszynski were named Mr. & Mrs. Westlake 2019 by Mayor Dennis Clough at the city’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremonies, held this year at Westlake City Hall the evening of Dec. 1.

The award is presented annually to the couple selected from letters of nomination for their contributions to community.

Mayor Clough touched on the many highlights of the Leszynski’s 38 years as Westlake residents.

As active members of St. Ladislas parish, Ed has served as President of the St. Vincent DePaul Society for 6 years. He and Barb pick up food from local outlets daily and deliver it to St. Ignatius of Antioch, where they prepare and serve hot meals daily to over 200 of Cleveland’s hungry. They also run a food pantry through St. Vincent De Paul and distribute meat and bread to those in need. Ed and Barb also serve as Eucharistic ministers at St. Lad, and often officiate Mass at the Lutheran Home.

In addition, Barb gives her time as a lector and volunteers to set up and clean up at funeral masses, is a member of a knitting club that creates hats for newborns and prayer shawls for those in need and those who are ill. They also plan and volunteer serving dinners at Hospice of the Western Reserve. Barb is active in College Club West, where she has served as president. She also volunteers at Playhouse Square and Fairview Hospital, where she is a patient advocate.

Mr. and Mrs. Westlake 2019 Ed and Barb Leszynski with Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough.

The Leszynskis have also been active in the Bay-Westlake Rotary, where Ed has served as president and Barb was honored with a service award.

Barb has served on the Westlake Board of Ed. for 6 years, and is the current BOE president – a position she reveres from her background as an educator, her love for her 6 grandchildren who all attend Westlake Schools and her dedication to community. In fact, Barb and Ed even volunteer at Dover School where they tutor and read to students.

The Leszynskis are also accomplished as a family. Son Ed is a Notre Dame grad, Air Force veteran and holds two masters degrees. He is a successful CPA and financial planner. Daughter Amy has a degree from Cleveland State, resides in Westake with her family and serves as a special education teacher with Westlake Schools. Daughter Suzanne holds a BSN from Kent State and is a pediatric nurse who also lives in Westlake with her family.

Westlake Town Criers Mike Pandoli, Lifetime Service Award recipients Kathy and Al Psota (center) with Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough.

Lifetime Service Award

Westlake Town Criers honored longtime members Al and Kathy Psota with a surprise presentation at the City of Westlake Tree Lighting ceremonies on Dec. 2. Mike Pandoli did the honors in presenting the special Lifetime Service Award, citing the many contributions and 38 years of service the Psotas have given to community causes, even recalling that they helped defeat the Kiwanis softball team back in 1995!

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: Westlake Town Criers honored longtime members Al and Kathy Psota with a special Lifetime Service Award.

: Family and friends gathered to help honor Mr. and Mrs. Westlake 2019 Ed and Barb Leszynski at the city’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 2.