Page 40 - October2019_BarJournal

MERIT AWARD HONOREES!

LINDA D. BROOKS CRAIG W. FROMWILLER
2019 PUBLIC SERVANTS
Director of the Clerk of Juvenile Court, Records Supervisor,
CONGRATULATIONS,
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Probate Court of Cuyahoga County
Linda Brooks says her mother was an inspiration. Craig Fromwiller is a man who follows his passions.
“Growing up in low-income housing, I watched my This Lakewood resident loves seeing live local music.
mother work with the neighborhood children by “I have worked part time at local music venues and
organizing boys and girls drill teams and a majorette coordinated bookings and promotions.”
team,” she recalls. “Participation helped to provide
the children with discipline, respect, self-esteem, Craig is also passionate about family. For 65 years, his
teamwork and goal-setting.” Linda’s mother and aunt family has been traveling to Ontario, Canada for an
also spent many years managing a food and clothing annual fishing trip that reaches across the generations.
center for CMHA. “My desire has always been to “The lifelong memories that are created there are
strive to positively impact the lives of others,” she says. priceless,” he tells us.
For 30 years, Linda has served the Juvenile Court. She’s Craig’s passion for this work is obvious. He has worked
currently Director of the Clerk’s Office. Linda has also for the Probate Court for 21 years. His department
served in a top leadership role with the employee’s is responsible for more than 25,000 active case files.
union, working to resolve work-related conflicts. Judge Anthony Russo says, “When anything needs
immediate attention, you can always be certain that
Linda’s co-workers describe her as “always listening he will get the job done. Craig says he’s grateful for
with an open mind, never failing to make everyone the lifelong friendships he has made at the Court.
feel special, driven to move the department toward
excellence and dedicated to treating everyone equally.” Perhaps his biggest passion is for public service.
“My father dedicated his work career toward public
service,” he tells us. “I knew I wanted to do the same.”

ROBERT J. FURDA TIFFANY JENNINGS
Chief Bailiff, Senior Clerk,
Cleveland Municipal Court Cleveland Municipal Court
In more than 30 years with Cleveland Municipal Tiffany Jennings is described as an exemplary employee
Court, Chief Bailiff Robert Furda has made a lasting of more than 30 years by Clerk of Cleveland Municipal
impact. Judge Michelle Early says that he exemplifies Court Earle Turner. “Ms. Jennings has demonstrated
the court’s motto of “Public Service With Pride.” a devotion to duty, has given wise counsel to the
public and attorneys and possesses a desire to help
Chief Furda started his career at the Court in 1986 the public and members of the Bench and Bar with
as deputy bailiff. His demonstrated loyalty, dedication patience and courtesy,” Turner explains.
and faithful service earned him promotions to
supervisor in 1993, then Chief Bailiff in 2015. Tiffany says she loves to learn and to help others,
especially helping customers at the courthouse. If she
Robert Furda has shown the same dedication to his hadn’t been serving the court for all of these years,
family. He and his wife of 30 years Darcy raised three Tiffany says she might be an elementary school teacher.
children. That included coaching basketball, baseball
and soccer in their home community of Seven Hills. Tiffany also loves her family with one son, one brother
and five sisters.
Chief Furda says his dream would be to attend the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
hosted in Cleveland.

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