Mitzie Mahne

Mitzie Mahne follows footsteps of others in the family

Mary (Mitzie) Mahne for years preferred to let her husband. Tony, carry the ball at the Fairport Slovenian Club, He was posthumously honored as the Club's 2006 Slovenian of the Year. But when he passed away in 2001, Mitzie—as she is known among all her friends- jumped in and took over where he left off.

"Mitzie is a long time member of the Club and often helped out at various events but preferred to let her husband be involved while she stayed in the back ground for some time tending to his needs as he battled cancer," says Steve  Zalar, Club president, in announcing the Board's decision to name her this year's Slovenian of the Year.

Mitzie has served on the Board for four years and for some of that time served as recording secretary. In addition she was totally committed to working in the kitchen for various events.

"Before she suffered a stroke she was a fixture in the kitchen working to help make the teak/pork chop barbeque nights, held on the last Saturday of every month, such a success," Zaiar added. She also was involved in baking desserts and grocery shopping for the events.

Even now as she is recuperating in the Summerville Assisted Living facility in Mentor, she shows up to help in the kitchen. She loves to receive calls and visitors. Her phone number is 440.392.6356. Her mailing address: 5700 Emerald Court; Apt. Ill; Mentor, Ohio 44060.

Her extraordinary time and effort in behalf of the Fairport Slovenian Club will be recognized at the Federation of Slovenian Homes banquet in March held at the St. Clair Slovenian Home.  She will also be the honored guest at the Fairport Slovenian Club Slovene of the Year picnic held in August at the Club located at 617 Third St., Fairport.

She was born in Johnsonburg, Pa,, to Mary and Louis Hervatin in 1934. Her father died and her mother, Mary, remarried to Louis Grzely. At age three the family moved to Fairport Harbor for a short time and then settled permanently in Painesville.

She has two brothers, Louis and John Grzely who are both very active in the Club. She attended Huntington Grade School and was graduated from Harvey High School in Painesville. She went on to become a cosmetologist having graduated from the White Cross School of Cosmetology. She started her career working at Halle Bros in Cleveland. She also worked at the Mr. John Beauty Shop, in Painesville.

Eventually she left cosmetology and spent the next 22 years working for Lake County National Bank (now Chase) in Painesville. She retired from the bank in 1996. Mitzie was married to Tony Mahne Sept. 8, 1956. They had two daughters both of whom are now married; Christine to Walter Ruuska and Lucinda to David Mitchin. Both are living in the Painesville area.

Mitzie enjoys visiting with her four grandchildren—Carl and Erik Ruuska and Tyier and Jacob Mitchin. She is a member of St, Marys Church in Painesville and was very active in the Mother's Club at the school there. She is also a member of the Slovenian Women's Lodge, SNPJ Lodge 355, and the Polka Hall of Fame.

In addition to her involvement with the Slovenian Club she loves listening to polka music and playing cards. On a more energetic note she loves yard work and does refinishing of antique furniture. She also enjoys embroidery.