It’s that special time of year when One South Euclid (OSE) honors outstanding South Euclid citizens or businesses for their accomplishments in improving or enhancing the community with the Hometown Hero awards.

OSE selected three 2024 Hometown Heroes this year—former South Euclid City Council Ward 2 councilmember Modestino “Moe” Romeo, rock and roll personal manager David Spero, and U.S. Army veteran and former South Euclid service director, the late Edward J. Gallagher.

One South Euclid will honor the 2024 Hometown Heroes on Thursday, Sept. 19 at its Mingle at Mayfield event Mayfield Country Club.

Since 2021, OSE, the nonprofit Community Development Corporation (CDC) that promotes sustainable economic, social, and cultural connections in the east side suburb, has awarded individuals, groups, organizations, or businesses that have had a positive impact on the South Euclid community with the One South Euclid Hometown Hero designation.

The Hometown Hero hopefuls are nominated by community members who outline the contributions. OSE’s executive committee then reviews the submissions and selects the winners.

Past Hometown Heroes include Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, Notre Dame College, and retired South Euclid Lyndhurst City Schools teacher and librarian Cathy Stang, to name just a few.

OSE executive director Annette Iwamoto says OSE uses the Hometown Heroes program to demonstrate the strength of the South Euclid community and to promote OSE’s economic, social, and cultural connections to the city.

Additionally, the organization ensures the city continues to thrive as residential and business community. Hometown Heroes reflect this mission.

“South Euclid's Home Town heroes embody the spirit of service and dedication that makes our city thrive,” says Iwamoto. “Through their contributions and commitment, I think that they're an inspiration to us all. By celebrating them, we not only honor their achievements, but also hope to encourage a collective desire to build a stronger, more vibrant community together.”

Nominations for 2024 Hometown Heroes opened this past spring, with the three winners announced July 6 at the South Euclid Food Truck Park.

FreshWater highlights the accomplishments that earned Romeo, Spero, and Gallagher the title of “Hometown Hero.”

Modestino RomeoModestino Romeo

Modestino “Moe” Romeo has a deep history in South Euclid as a 58-year resident. Romeo served for 23 of those years as the Ward 2 South Euclid City Council member. Through the decades, his many contributions have made positive impacts on his hometown.

The 84-year-old Army veteran moved to South Euclid following his discharge in 1966. Romeo and his first wife Lucy made a life in the city and raised three children together. Following Lucy’s passing in 1998, Romeo stayed in South Euclid. He remarried in 2000. He and his wife, Jane, have seven children and 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren between them.

Romeo worked in information technology at Bobbie Brooks women’s clothing until becoming project manager of information technology at the Cleveland Clinic. In the time he was employed, he was also devoting time to South Euclid.

Romeo was appointed to city council in 1992 by former mayor John Kocevar and became the chair of the finance committee.

“We worked real hard making sure we had the money spent in the right locations in the city,” explains Romeo, specifically referencing finding grants to help the senior citizens. He says he is also proud of improvements that were made during his years on council. “We were able to find money to repair streets, repair a lot of the challenges in South Euclid and it worked out well.”

In 2016, Romeo retired from civic service. “When I retired from Council, I hooked up with people at One South Euclid because that was a nice transition from politics to non-politics and still with South Euclid,” says Romeo. “That really gave me a good understanding of what volunteering can do and how we can service the residents of South Euclid.”

The former councilman remains a volunteer with One South Euclid today, which he says was a natural transition after retiring from the OSE board last year.

“He has impacted a lot of people,” says Iwamoto, who worked closely with Romeo for three years. “He has also been instrumental in bringing other board members on. Several of our board members mentioned he’s the reason they joined the board.”

Romeo served two terms on OSE’s executive committee as board treasurer. He made strides for the city on OSE’s revitalization committee until 2023. From the housing crisis in 2008, to helping businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Romeo’s contributions to the city’s wellbeing are vast.

Romeo and his wife Jane have no plans to leave South Euclid. “We love our house,” he says. “We love our neighbors; we enjoy being here.”

The nomination came as a shock to Romeo. “I was really surprised when they did choose me,” he says, adding that he first tried to get out of the nomination and asked if he could help find someone who he believed may be better suited for the honor.

The team at OSE let him know he’s more than deserving of the title of Hometown Hero.

“We’re committed to staying here,” Romeo says. If the time comes when living in his house is no longer accessible, he says it will be hard to leave, but he won’t leave a moment sooner. “When I can’t crawl up the steps to go to bed, then I might be forced to move out,” he chuckles.

David SperoDavid Spero

A humble David Spero won’t tell you about his fascinating career until he talks about the city where he lives.

The 73-year-old has traveled the world but has been rooted in South Euclid since 1982. It’s his home base with his wife of 47 years, Ellen, and the two have raised their son Adam together.

Spero says he loves the walkable streets and accessibility of his neighborhood and adores his neighbors.

Prior to COVID-19, he traveled about 200,000 miles each year for work, but his heart has always been true to South Euclid. “I could live in London or L.A. or New York or any of the big media markets I work in, but I never wanted to do that,” he explains. “I just wanted to stay here.”

“He’s very personable and very helpful in the community,” says Iwamoto. “He’s an under-the-radar nomination—that’s why we open it up for anyone to nominate so everyone can hear about people like [Spero] who have chosen South Euclid as their home. He’s a phenomenal asset to the community.”

Spero says he is humbled by the honor. “I’ve always done what I can to help out the community and be active in things I need to be active in,” he says.

As a young teenager, Spero worked with his father in the rock music sector of the entertainment industry—specifically in television.

He was a pioneer in Cleveland rock radio as a disk jockey in the 1970s before managing rock bands and solo artists.

Some of Spero’s most notable clients over the years include the Allman Brothers, Ringo Starr, and Michael Stanley. In fact, Spero and Stanley became best friends and Spero bought Stanley’s house many years ago.

Spero was on the inaugural Rock & Roll Hall of Fame board of directors and was vice president of education and programming. Most recently, he published a memoir, “A Life in the Wings: My Sixty Year Love Affair with Rock and Roll,” detailing his career in the music industry.

When asked about his contributions to the city, Spero humbly mentions he is active in the community to make a difference.

“I always felt the need to pitch in when it was time to pitch in,” says Spero, who wasn’t expecting the nomination. “Honestly, I was shocked. Once I found out what [OSE] does, with helping the elderly people in the community [with] snow plows and getting their lawns cut, or whatever their needs are…. I was so intrigued by the whole thing, I asked the mayor, ‘how do I get involved?’”

Edward J. Gallagher

A sterling example of a community member who actively served his town, the late Edward J. Gallagher, is being honored as a Hometown Hero. His passing in 2023 at the age of 75 left a void in the lives of his family and residents of South Euclid including the staff of OSE.

“I’m really pleased with the selection that we’re honoring someone who unfortunately isn’t with us anymore,” says Iwamoto. “But [Gallagher] was our first president and was really instrumental in working with the city during some tough times to complete some transformational projects.”

Gallagher’s first wife, Kathleen, passed away in 1993. When he married Marie in 1998, she wholeheartedly supported his dedication to both South Euclid and veterans. His two children and four grandchildren were the lights of his life.

Celebrating his life is an honor Marie says she is grateful for. “He certainly is deserving of it, as he did whatever he could for the city,” she says.

Prior to living in South Euclid, Gallagher’s career took him around the globe—earning the rank of Army staff sergeant during his two-year service in Vietnam.

Gallagher settled in South Euclid in 2001 and began the South Euclid branch of Purple Heart Homes to rehabilitate homes for veterans.

“He was a Vietnam war vet, and clearly had a heart for service from the beginning,” says Iwamoto.

In 2004, Gallagher began his career with the city as service director and became the economic development director in 2009. Through the years, he was instrumental in upgrading the city’s facilities, improving parks, and leading projects to improve various areas of South Euclid.

When Gallagher retired in 2011, he wasn’t done with helping the city he loved—not by a longshot.

Gallagher used his retirement to help start One South Euclid and became its first president.

A milestone year

One South Euclid will celebrate its 15th anniversary and honor this year’s Hometown Heroes during Mingle at Mayfield on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at Mayfield Country Club, 1545 Sheridan Road, South Euclid 44121.

The reception-style event draws around 150 people each year.

“I really feel like South Euclid is a hidden gem,” says Iwamoto, who says she hopes attendees will use the event to mingle with their neighbors and learn more about OSE and their city. “There’s a real value that the community places on diversity and being an inclusive community,” she says.

Ticket prices start at $50 through this Saturday, Aug. 31, and are $65 through Sept. 19 at 12:30 p.m. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Tickets include appetizers, dessert, a drink, and entertainment. There will be a virtual auction. Proceeds from Mingle at Mayfield and the auction will benefit the business, residential and cultural programs, including neighborhood grant programs for projects such as critical home improvement, senior landscaping support, storefront renovations, and more.