Lutheran West to Induct Five New Distinguished Alumni
September 29, 2025
At this Saturday’s OMNIA fundraising gala, hosted by The Cleveland Lutheran High School Association (CLHSA), Lutheran West will recognize and induct five graduates as Distinguished Alumni.
Lutheran West’s five 2025 inductees are:
Bob Becker, Class of 1971
Bob Becker was an Emmy award-winning celebrity in Cleveland’s radio and television industry. Employed continuously for 40+ years in his hometown, fans recognized Becker’s voice from his sixteen years as a talk show host on WTAM Radio, as well as 24 years hosting Ohio Lottery television drawings. After Becker graduated from Lutheran West in 1971, he gained a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Communication at Cleveland State University. There, he served as the Program Director of WCSB, CSU’s radio station. Becker was an integral part of the student team that converted the station from a closed-circuit station to an FM broadcaster in 1976. Versatile and flexible, Becker crossed the radio, TV, and film industries as a deejay, writer, reporter, news director, producer, and on-air talent. He built a career of overlapping and complementary jobs and projects at WNCR, WWWM/M105, WHK, WMMS, WERE, WGAR, WWWE, and WKYC, before settling in primarily at WTAM and the Ohio Lottery. In radio, he amassed awards from the Cleveland Radio-TV Council, the Cleveland Press Club, and the Gannett Top News Award. At WKYC-TV, he won his first Emmy for a series about racism. In 1990, Becker was named one of Cleveland Magazine’s “Most Interesting People.” In 1994, Becker joined forces with wife Luanne Bole-Becker to form their own production company focusing on PBS documentaries and series work, as well as various non-profit videos. Together, they received 8 Emmy nominations and won 2 more Emmy awards, Silver and Bronze Telly awards, Ohio Educational Television Network awards, and a Silver Apple award. Their independent work was broadcast and shown in film festivals nationwide, including the Smithsonian Institution, and was awarded grant funding through the National Endowment for the Humanities. Becker also enjoyed a long-term association with the Cleveland Indians, producing an assortment of documentaries, TV spots, and Hall of Fame inductee videos with them. Becker was respected and liked by colleagues and listeners alike. He was known for his integrity, talent, objectivity, generosity, humor, and community service. Throughout Northeast Ohio, Bob Becker was instrumental in co-producing videos for a variety of arts, social service, education, and religious non-profit organizations, many of them in the Lutheran community. He served as a board member of the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences (NATAS), the Cleveland Press Club, Lutheran Chaplaincy, and Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve. He also served 13 years as president and vice-president at his lifetime church of Gethsemane Lutheran in Lakewood. Both Becker and Bole-Becker participated in mission trips to Haiti and mentored local refugees. In 2014, they received the Christus Vivit award from Concordia Seminary St. Louis for their work in urban & multicultural ministry. After being diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s at age 58 in 2012, Becker continued to impact and improve others’ lives with his help, optimism, and openness, both in person and as featured in a 2016 Cleveland Magazine article (Moments Lost, Moments Gained) and Fox8 year-long video documentary. Becker died in 2021 after his 9-year Alzheimer’s journey. Becker and Bole-Becker’s two sons are also Lutheran West alumni: Christopher ’04 and Bryan ’09.
Mary Griglak LaRocco, Class of 2001
Mary Griglak LaRocco graduated from Lutheran High School West in 2001. While in high school she enjoyed running Cross Country and Track & Field. She uniquely split her time between Lutheran West and the U.S. Olympic Education Center while training as a short track speedskater. In track, Mary was a two-time Most Valuable Athlete and State Qualifier for Coach Joe King. After graduating from Lutheran West, Mary qualified for the U.S. Junior National Short Track Team in 2001 and placed 21st at The World Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea. Shortly thereafter she finished 6th at the U.S. Championships and qualified for the 2002 U.S. Olympic Team. Mary attended Baldwin-Wallace College, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2006 with her degree in Business, majoring in Finance and minoring in Economics. In addition to her studies, Mary was a four-year member of the Track & Field team, where she served as captain for two years and was twice named team MVP. She earned all-conference honors more than 15 times, was an 8-time conference champion, and set two school records and one Ohio Athletic Conference record. She also qualified for Nationals in her junior and senior seasons and was named an Academic All-American as a senior. After graduating college, Mary pursued a career in finance while coaching high school track in her free time. Professionally, she joined Key Capital as an Investment Analyst. She has since continued to work in private investing for nearly two decades and currently serves as a Director on Apogem Capital’s secondaries strategy. Mary has also enjoyed a successful track & field coaching career. As a coach she has guided athletes to 25 State Meet appearances, 7 All-State finishes, and coached a state record setting relay team while on their way to a Team State Championship Runner-Up title in 2012. Today, she coaches Track and Volleyball at Royal Redeemer Lutheran School. Mary resides in Strongsville with her husband Dan and their two children, Alison (11) and Will (4). Alison and Will attend Royal Redeemer Lutheran School, where Alison participates in a number of school sports and activities. In her free time, Mary enjoys spending time with her family and staying active through sports including sand volleyball.
Ellen McFadden, Class of 1977
From a young age, Ellen was captivated by fabrics and design and, after Lutheran West, went on to study Textiles and Clothing Design at The Ohio State University. After working in various niches in retail, most notably at May Company department stores doing Window Display & Design, she stepped away to raise four daughters. When two of those daughters needed wedding dresses in 2015, she happened upon a small, charming bridal shop in Rocky River. She saw unrealized potential in the boutique and, shortly thereafter, bought her daughters’ dresses—and the shop! Rebranded as Radiant Bride, she and her husband, Scott LW’78, opened the doors in May 2016. Recognizing that these bridal moments with which she was entrusted were sacred ones, Radiant Bride became known for its culture of kindness and service, and business flourished, eventually outgrowing the original space. In 2023, they moved into a beautiful new building across the street, designed by Scott and Ellen for the growing needs of their shop. Each of their four daughters has helped in the shop at some point and Jessi LW’06 is currently the manager. Even before they sold their first dress, Ellen chose several little girls for the shop to support monthly through Compassion International. The ‘family’ of Compassion girls has multiplied many times over as the business has grown. “This whole adventure has been pure gift,” said Ellen. “I’m so thankful for the opportunity that the Lord dropped into my lap, allowing me to use my gifts and passion to create beauty and to serve others. It’s an absolute dream.” Because Ellen has curated a well-balanced collection of dresses from a range of designers, some that no one else carries in our region, many Radiant Bride dresses capture a unique and distinct style. There is definitely something in the shop for most every bride. Ellen and team have had the opportunity to travel to bridal markets in Madrid, Barcelona, Cabo San Lucas, New York, and Chicago. Radiant Bride has been named as the “Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress” in Cleveland multiple times in Scene Magazine’s “Best of Cleveland” annual issue. Ellen says of her journey with Radiant Bride, “Our success, I believe, is mostly due to the beauty created and the kindness offered from an exceptional staff. All gifts from above!”
Dr. Michael Neidert, Class of 1993
Dr. Mike Neidert ’93 is a distinguished leader in medical technology, dedicated to applying innovation to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. A native of North Ridgeville, Ohio, Mike attended St. Paul Lutheran School before graduating from Lutheran West in 1993. After high school, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, a Ph.D. in the same field from the University of Minnesota, and an MBA from the London Business School. His doctoral dissertation focused on a groundbreaking method for developing replacement heart valve tissue in a lab. Mike began his career at Medtronic, where he was integral in the development of new technologies, including the use of MRI and CT scans to guide cardiac procedures and the use of stem cells to repair heart muscle damage. He played a key role in the development and launch of the Resolute Onyx™ coronary stent and the Symplicity™ renal denervation system for treating hypertension. Following his 12-year tenure at Medtronic, Mike transitioned to a medical device design consultancy, where he forged partnerships with startups, venture capitalists, and Fortune 500 companies. His work has contributed to the development of diverse technologies, from surgical robotics to heart valve implantation systems. He is currently the co-founder and COO of an early-stage ophthalmology startup focused on vision correction. A prolific inventor, Mike holds 18 granted patents and has authored six scientific publications. As a corporate leader, he is guided by his faith, striving to translate Christ’s message of empathy and compassion into an equitable and inclusive work environment. Mike resides in San Francisco with his wife, Andrea.
Wayne Zeuch, Class of 1971
Wayne Zeuch was born and raised on the near southwest side of Cleveland, just three blocks from the Cleveland Zoo. He grew up in the Christ Lutheran congregation and attended Luther Memorial grade school. His parents, Ralph and Lois, were actively involved in Christ Church as well as the grade school and high school activities for Wayne and his younger brother Brian LW’74. At Lutheran West, Wayne excelled academically and artistically. With a strong interest in the sciences, math, and music, he was an active and well-rounded student leader. He played various woodwinds in the orchestra, dance band, and concert and marching band, serving as band captain. He was Senior Class Vice President, Editor of the 1971 yearbook, and was chosen as a commencement speaker. During this time at Lutheran West, Wayne was inducted into the National Honor Society, awarded a Capitol University summer music scholarship (1970), and received Cleveland’s Phi Beta Kappa Award representing Lutheran West (1971). He was also selected to represent his Ohio district at the prestigious Presidential Classroom youth congress in Washington, DC. Wayne earned his B.S. degree (cum laude) in Physics from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he was an active member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. During these years, Wayne volunteered on weekends as a physics tutor for local area high school students. He went on to earn an M.S. degree in Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. While at UM, he participated in innovative research in its high-energy laser laboratory and on-campus nuclear reactor. His academic pursuits culminated with an MBA from the University of Chicago, equipping himself with a solid foundation in business and strategic decision-making. Wayne began his professional career at NASA’s Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center in the cryophysics division, where he worked on future space mission technology. After NASA, Wayne spent nine years as a nuclear and mechanical engineer at the Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, conducting nuclear reactor safety analysis, software development, and computer simulations for the U.S. Department of Energy. This diverse technical background laid the foundation for a 23-year career in telecommunications at Bell Laboratories, first in Illinois and then in New Jersey, the research headquarters. As a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff there, Wayne advanced the development of services, applications, and standards. Wayne played a significant role in shaping international telecommunications standards. He participated in meetings across 40 countries, building strategic alliances among government agencies, regulators, and service providers. He held leadership roles in technical committees of the United Nation’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), contributing to protocols and standards for intelligent networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications, 5G wireless, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. For 17 years, he served as a private-sector technology advisor to the U.S. State Department, shaping industry discussions and policy decisions on emerging technologies. He has authored or co-authored over 200 technical papers and journal articles and has been a frequent speaker and panelist at global forums. Wayne lived in the Chicago area for over 20 years and was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, located on the Concordia University campus. He sang in the Senior Choir for 15 years, regularly participating in worship services and the choir’s annual Bach Cantata concert series. It was at Grace Lutheran that he met and married Joyce Hagen. Now retired and living in New Jersey, Wayne reflects with gratitude on his Christian education and career, appreciating the many teachers, mentors, and challenges that shaped his journey. Recent reunions with his LW’71 classmates have reaffirmed the enduring value of a Christ-centered education and rekindled meaningful friendships from decades past. Wayne continues to pursue his interests in technology innovations, the U.S. space program, photography, and world travel—having now visited 47 countries. Additionally, as a lifelong zoo enthusiast, he has visited 119 zoos worldwide—and counting.
To view all inducted Distinguished Alumni, visit the Alumni page (scroll down to Distinguished Alumni).