2024 Board of Trustees / Officers

Aaron Haynes, president

JIM HAVACH, senior Vice President

  • Committees: Preservation/Standards, Bylaws

Jim

I have lived in Forest Hill since 1975, initially on Rumson and since 1979, on Burlington. I first got involved with FHHO around 1980, serving as the trustee for my block and also as the Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee from about 1982 to 1985. I became the President in 1986 and served until 1989. I then decided to get involved again in 2021. I was elected as the Senior Vice President and have continued as such to this day. My main reasons for all this service to FHHO is because I believe it helps to maintain the quality of Forest Hill homes and thereby preserves and enhances their value.

My favorite parts of living in Forest Hill are its history as a community planned by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and its proximity to the museums and other cultural, arts and pro sports destinations of University Circle and downtown Cleveland.

My initiatives this year as a trustee and officer are the same as they have been throughout my tenure with FHHO, being to improve the perception of residents as to the value and importance of FHHO, the maintenance of the high quality of our homes, and the compliance with the covenants covering Forest Hill homes.

Tony Rupcic, Treasurer

Tony

I have been a resident of Forest Hill for 29 years and live here with my wife Angela. I haven on the FHHO Board and have been the Treasurer for 22 years. Outside of FHHO, I have over 30 years of experience in a career of banking and finance.

Lisa henry, Secretary

Druscilla robertson, Vice President — membership and OUtreach

Drucilla

I am a long-term resident of the Forest Hill neighborhood, having moved here in 1989. I was attracted here by the park like surroundings. I also appreciated the existence of a home owners group acting as guardrails to my investment. As a Cleveland Heights resident, I have been involved in various city initiatives and programs through the years. I joined the FHHO Board to assist in the preservation of our beautiful, diverse neighborhood. This is my second year as an active board member, and I am the Vice President – Membership and Outreach. This year, I will be working to give a warm welcome to new residents, while making the new homeowners aware of the existing covenants and deed restrictions that have been instrumental in maintaining our home value and desirability.

sarah fuller, marketing Chair

  • Committees: Marketing

Sarah

I moved to the Forest Hill neighborhood in 2021. After spending a number of years away from Cleveland, I wanted to moved back to a neighborhood I cherished. I was drawn to this area because of the proximity to Forest Hill Park and other Cleveland Heights destinations and felt fortunate to find a beautiful home here. I look forward to raising our family here and hope that my kids have many fond memories of growing up in this special, historic place.

I joined the FHHO Board in 2022 to meet neighbors and to help create a welcoming community. Since joining, I have been the Marketing Chair and focus on keeping our website updated and promoting upcoming FHHO events. The Board members have incredible knowledge and experience, and I want to make sure other community members can access those available resources. By sharing the expertise of those who have lived in the neighborhood for decades, I hope to build and grow our community connections.

Chris Hubbert

  • Committees: Preservation/Standards, Bylaws

Chris

I immediately volunteered on behalf of FHHO when we moved to Forest Hill from Shaker Heights in 2002. I have served as the association’s corporate secretary and as president for eight years, and subsequently joined the board of trustees and have served as chair of the board. I joined FHHO because I believe that the association makes a positive difference in the community and want to be a part of making that difference. This year, I intend to continue updating our bylaws (this year we are considering revisions concerning officer roles) and to prepare a nomination to designate at least a portion of Forest Hill as a Cleveland Heights landmark.

donna kolb-Jones

Donna

I moved into my home during the spring of 1989. I moved here because of the beautiful homes, well maintained and with stunning landscapes. The peaceful surroundings, charm and tranquility was the major contender for my longevity. I found Forest Hill to be a hidden gem and an under-discovered paradise. As a single parent, my son and I enjoyed the peaceful, safe serenity of our home. So much so that I purchased a second home in the community. Currently, I have no desire to leave what I have come to love and rarely can find in other similar neighborhoods. The neighbors that I am fortunate to have are the “icing on the cake.”

It is really hard for me to put a number on how long I have been a part of FHHO. I can remember that I was involved from the very beginning of my moving into the community, so roughly 1989 through today. I felt that I was vested due to wanting to maintain all the reasons that I chose to move into the community. I served on whatever was asked of me. I do not even know that we charted time. We just rolled up our sleeves and did what was needed, helping neighbors, doing things to bring us together as a community and enhancing and maintaining that original neighborhood charm. We sat in living-rooms with a person who was president. Not sure I ever had a title. Just was there enjoying the opportunity to continue loving my home, my neighbors and the beauty of Forest Hill and my forever home by doing what I was able to do.

My favorite part of living here are the reasons I came: the unique beauty, the rich history, the diverse population, professions, and wonderful neighbors.

This year, I will be providing guidance in establishing neighborhood block parties, recognizing good deeds, recognizing the beautification of homes, assisting with getting information out to other homeowners and whatever else I can contribute towards helping make our neighborhood a better place for all of us to call home.

Bradley Toth

  • Committees: Marketing

Brad

I moved into the neighborhood with my girlfriend Dania in July of 2022. Not long after moving in, I was welcomed to the neighborhood by a member of the board who invited us to an upcoming block party where we began to meet so many wonderful residents of the neighborhood. We have made some great friends, and it's all traced back to FHHO. I joined the board at the end of 2022 because I wanted to pay forward to community members what others had done for me. Since joining, I've loved learning more about the history of our area and seeing the community come together during the events we put on. This year, I continue with my position on the Marketing committee where I aim to help keep people in the loop about all the news happening in our community and events where people can come together and socialize!

Jayati Basu

Mary Rice

Mary

Our family moved into the Forest Hill neighborhood in February 1986, on a very snowy and cold day. I have been on the FHHO board for several years. Not sure the exact year, but I believe from 2010 to present.

 My membership has been steady for several years. I joined the Board to help keep our neighborhood one that will be safe, beautiful, and welcoming to future generations. I love the neighbors and the community atmosphere. In my senior years, I enjoy helping to spread the word about a great place to live, work, and grow.

Fran Mentch

  • Committees: Preservation/Standards

Fran

My parents bought a home on Burlington Rd in 1993 when they moved from Pennsylvania to be close to their grandchildren. They were very involved with their neighborhood and FHHO projects and that is how my husband, Mace, and I learned about FHHO. He became a trustee, and when he passed away, I decided to pick up the torch and became involved as a trustee; I am serving my third year.

I have lived here since 2010, and I love our neighborhood’s history, the curved streets, underground utilities, the lot sizes, and spacing of the homes. Preserving history and historic buildings is swimming against the tide in the greater Cleveland area; we do not seem to value them nor appreciate the beautiful and unique building materials and workmanship of historic buildings—not just in the FHHO area. My interest in communities and the buildings in them led to my activism in efforts to preserve public historic properties. Thus my interest in serving on the FHHO Preservation/Standards committee.

Non-Voting Members

  • None currently

    Non-voting members are invited by the president. Typically chairs of committees who report on ongoing activities. May be others, such as legal counsel, or residents appointed as additional VPs, based on having particular skills or insights of use to the committee. Since they are non-voting, they do not necessarily have to be FH residents, although the president would hopefully ensure that the whole committee was in agreement before inviting a non-resident to participate in committee discussions. All non-trustees participating as non-voting members, need to read the fiduciary responsibilities of trustees, the Association’s Mission Statement, Covenants, and Bylaws. In addition, they must sign a Conflict of Interest, Ethics, and Confidentiality Agreement.