From the Ohio Department of Aging
Two Northeast Ohio residents recently were inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Statehouse Atrium in Columbus.
Ronald E. Kear, of Avon, and Pastor Anthony L. Small, Sr., of Cleveland, were among five people who were recognized for their lifelong contributions to their communities, professions and vocations by the Ohio Department of Aging, Governor Mike DeWine, the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio’s area agencies on aging, and leaders from Ohio’s aging network.
For Ron Kear, there’s nothing quite like watching families move into the homes he’s built.
With more than 27 years volunteering for the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity–longer than any of their current paid staff–Kear has gotten to experience that joy frequently. He has helped build and repair more than 80 homes for Northeast Ohio families, and more than 200 children have moved into homes because of his efforts.
Since 1998, Kear has been volunteering more than 20 hours per week for Habitat for Humanity. He oversees construction or repair of several houses at one time and is currently the site supervisor for all six homes on a single Cleveland street.
When Greater Cleveland Habitat embarked on a strategic plan to provide affordable home ownership for 125+ families by offering both newly constructed and fully rehabbed homes in 2019, Kear’s experience was invaluable. His expertise resulted in 25 new homes sold so far to families who earned between 30-80% of the area median income.
In addition to their church and Habitat, Kear and his wife, Becky, have contributed to Orphan Medical Network International, an organization that helps the poorest of people in Zambia. Kear made one medical mission trip himself, assisting more than 400 people every day who walked 10 miles to see a doctor. Not a medical professional himself, Kear continues to fund physician travel for the organization.
Pastor Anthony L. Small, Sr. is a passionate and dedicated servant to others through spiritual guidance, empowerment and community engagement. If there’s a way to advocate for improvements to the lives of those in his community, he will find it.
Whether that means combatting food deserts, improving his youth ministry, or helping Clevelanders get vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Small seems to have a hand in just about every good deed being done in his part of the world.
His service to others began more than 30 years ago when he became a member of the City of Cleveland Safety Force.
One of the biggest ways that Small has made a difference is ensuring that Clevelanders have access to the healthy, nutritious food they need. As a Pastor of Starlight Baptist Church, he has built a bursting-at-the-seams food pantry to the people of his church, and the church gives away food twice a month at its parking lot. In an area with no grocery store, that makes a huge difference.
Small also convinced Walgreens–which was intending to leave his community–to instead move to a smaller location so people would not lose access to their pharmacy services.
He has taken interest in older and younger Ohioans at Starlight, establishing a special recognition day for seniors at church and rejuvenating the youth ministry with field trips, bike giveaways and more.
