PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Wednesday, February 5, 2025; Retirement party for Community Relations Second District Representative Michael McDonald, Sachsenheim Hall, 7001 Denison Avenue: (L-R) Ward 13 Council Member Kris Harsh, Lynn Scheerhorn, Michael McDonald, Ward 12 Council Member Rebecca Maurer, and Ward 16 Council Member Brian Kazy.

     (Plain Press March 2025) Friends, family, and co-workers held a surprise retirement party for Michael McDonald on February 5^th at Sachsenheim Hall. McDonald is retiring from his position as Second Police District Representative for the City of Cleveland’s Community Relations Board where among other duties he coordinated the monthly community meetings for the Second District Community Policing Committee. Prior to working for Community Relations McDonald worked for a nonprofit called SafetyNet which worked closely with then Ward 18 Council Member Jay Westbrook on safety issues.

     McDonald, a musician, regularly provides entertainment at Sachsenheim Hall. Among the retirement gifts he received was a guitar and a different cowboy hat for every day of the week. (McDonald’s signature headwear)

     McDonald is married to Lynn Scheerhorn. The couple met forty years ago when they both were doing community organizing in Buffalo. In 1985, they both came to Cleveland to work for the Ohio Public Interest Campaign, which is now called Ohio Citizen Action. Scheerhorn stayed with Ohio Citizen Action and now plans to retire from the organization. Scheerhorn says their son Kyle and his wife have brought them their first grandchild. The couple’s retirement plans include spending time with their children, their families, and their first grandchild.