Lawther Community Room dedicated at Cove Community Center

This afternoon, Mayor George and members of the Department of Human Services dedicated the main room at Cove Community Center as the Lawther Community Room in honor of Kathleen & Robert Lawther.  This honor celebrates and recognizes the lasting and impactful service by Kathleen and Robert Lawther to the citizens of Lakewood.

Kathleen began her service with the City of Lakewood in 1973 when she started and developed the Advocacy Group that successfully lobbied for a municipal Department of Aging in 1973. K

athleen was appointed the first Director of the Department of Aging that same year. Kathleen’s insight into the needs of an ever-growing elder population resulted in a municipal department that was looked to as a model from state and national officials; and,

Robert Lawther dedicated his life to public service serving as a member of the Lakewood City Council for 6 years and as Mayor of Lakewood for 13 years. It was under his administration that the first full-time municipal Office on Aging was established.; and,

In 1989, Kathleen proposed a Human Services Department in the best interest of Lakewood residents and in 1992 was appointed the first Director of the Department of Human Services comprised of four divisions – Aging, Youth, Early Childhood and Health; and,

A number of lasting projects and programs in the Department of Human Services were created under the direction of Kathleen Lawther including H2O – Help to Others, Lakewood Family Room, and Designated Agency Agreement for Adult Protective Services with Cuyahoga County; and,

The Cove Community Center opened its doors in April of 2022, serving as the new home for the Department of Human Services in the City of Lakewood. This community center serves as a physical representation of the work that Kathleen and Robert did years ago, bringing the divisions of Early Childhood, Aging and Youth together under one roof.

Kathleen and Robert’s profound, positive, and permanent impact on the citizens of Lakewood serves as their enduring legacy.