There are no words to express our sadness regarding the incident this morning at the Veteran's Resource Center on East 152nd in Cleveland. The Cleveland media will cover the story, and there will be time to talk about the larger issues in the future. Now is not the time. Instead we need to focus on comforting the family, the other residents, and the agency. We hope that everyone involved can get help for the trauma that they witnessed this morning. We are stunned by the loss of Rita Ciofani who dedicated her life to serving others. The NEOCH staff and Board extend our heartfelt sorrow to the Volunteers of America family, over the loss of the director of this shelter.
Here is the press release from the VOA site about Ms. Ciofani who only took the job eleven months ago.
New Cleveland Veterans Resource Center Director - Friday, March 20, 2009
Rita Ciofani has been hired as the director for the Veterans Resource Center, responsible for running all program operations including transitional housing and employment services for veterans. Previously, Ciofani was the executive director of Lake County Committee on Family Violence, Inc. for 17 years. Ciofani is certified by the Ohio Supreme Court as a mediator and is the past-chair for the Coalition on Housing and Support Services of Lake County. Ciofani earned a law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law and her bachelor’s in education from Lake Erie College.We are all stunned and shocked over this tragedy.
Brian Davis
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3 comments:
Rita was a wonderful person who was well-respected for her intelligence, kindness, and experience. We will deeply miss her as a noncredit instructor at Lakeland Community College too.
What a terrible loss, my heart and prayers go out to Rita's family and the staff and residents of the VOA.
Very tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with all.
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