Donalene Poduska

DONALENE SAPP PODUSKA age 83, passed away on Friday, August 28, 2020.

Born in Louisville and raised in Lexington, Donalene was a Kentuckian at heart and received the distinction of being a Kentucky Colonel. She graduated from Henry Clay High School and received a Bachelor’s degree in Classics from the University of Kentucky, graduating with honors and inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Later, she earned a Master’s degree in Classical Languages from John Carroll University. She met her future husband, Donald Poduska, in 1956 when they were both students at the University of Kentucky. They married on September 13, 1958 in Columbus OH, moved to the Cleveland area in 1960, and established residence in Cleveland Heights in 1965.

Donalene is widely known for her community activism and civic leadership. In college Donalene was an active member of the Southern Student YWCA/YMCA which was focused on race relations and served on the leadership team that organized the annual conference. In the 1970s with three children in Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools she returned to community activism through the PTA. She was elected to the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School Board and was a founding member of Reaching Heights, an organization focused on providing a high-quality education to all students in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. She was active in the League of Women Voters of Cuyahoga County and served in leadership roles including president. Over the course of her career, she was a member of numerous boards and committees, especially those concerned with fair and open housing, race relations, and funding for public schools.

Donalene received many recognitions for her activities at the community, the state, and the national level. The recognition that most delighted her was receiving CitiSun of the Year, Cleveland Heights in 1996. The recognition that most surprised her was receiving the Alumni Achievement Award from Mortar Board in 1993. In November 2019, the Cleveland Heights Citizen Advisory Committee passed a resolution honoring Donalene for her work.

In addition to her civic activities, Donalene had a number of personal interests. Her favorite season of the year was Christmas and she had a collection of ornaments and nativities from around the world. She was an avid reader and participated in a book club that has met since the 1970s. Equally accomplished in needlepoint, embroidery, crewel, and cross stitch; her work won numerous awards. She was active in the Embroiderers’ Guild of Greater Cleveland and the Council of American Embroiderers and was a teacher and a lecturer for needle arts organizations and community groups. She served as a judge for county fair exhibits, needle arts organization shows, and special needle arts exhibits for over 20 years and co-authored a book on the subject. Above all, her passion was cheering for the University of Kentucky Wildcat basketball teams.

In keeping with her varied interests, Donalene had a wide circle of friends and will be missed.

When asked what accomplishment she was most proud of, she replied without hesitation, “My family; that Don and I were able to raise a good family that continues into the next generation.” She is survived by her beloved husband Donald Poduska; three children: Betsy Gruttadaurio, Jeanne Poduska (Raymond DiBerardo), David Poduska (Lara); and nine grandchildren: Megan Gorman (Michael) and Emma, Katherine, Christina, Julia, Roger, Lydia, Henry, and Walter, all Poduska.

A Memorial Mass and celebration of Donalene’s life will be held at Saint Francis Chapel at John Carroll University on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 10 AM.

The family welcomes donations in Donalene’s name to Heights Community Congress (P.O. Box 18492 Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 or www.heightscongress.org/donate.html/) or to Smithsonian Libraries (www.library.si.edu/donate/make-a-donation).

Arrangements by THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS.