Marjorie D. Gotro

Below is the death notice of Marjorie Gotro, Mother of Jeffrey Gotro, Class of 1973. Please keep the Gotro family in your prayers

Marjorie Damm Gotro was born on July 14, 1929 and raised in Elyria, Ohio and lived in many cities throughout the State.

Marge spent most of her retirement in Ft. Myers, FL. In 2021, Marge moved to Parma, OH and spent her final 2.5 years at Mount Alverna Assisted Living. She loved her life there with the most caring and compassionate staff. For this, the family will be eternally grateful.Employed in the Parma Public Schools for 31 years, Marge was in the Special Education Department as an Occupational Therapist. She was a member of the original staff of the first public school educational program for special needs children in Cuyahoga County. The program served across 18 school districts. During her years in the Parma City Schools, Marge was also a member of the Clinical Faculty of Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University. She was involved in the clinical training of over 200 Occupational Therapy students.

Many years were spent volunteering at the Cleveland Playhouse Square, Cleveland Clinic, Westlake Hospital, and Health Park Hospital in Ft. Myers, Florida. Marge was also a Eucharistic Minister at Church of the Resurrection in Solon, Ohio, as well as at St. Anthony’s and St. Columbkille in Ft. Myers, Florida. Marge was an active member of the Social Justice Commissions and the Future Church. In addition, Marge was an avid Bridge and card enthusiast and loved playing whenever she could.

Education was very important to Marge, and she was an Elyria High School graduate in 1947, a Phi Beta Cappa college graduate of Mount Mary University in 1951, and later earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education at Kent State University in 1972. She also finished all her coursework for her PhD. Marge stated she was having too much fun in life to write her final PHD dissertation!

Marge’s living children include Dr. Jeffrey Gotro and wife Elaine, Kathryn Gotro Krebs and partner Paul Shearlock, as well as Brian Gotro and wife Julie. Marge has 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Angelo Fortini remained a close spiritual friend to Marge at Mount Alverna, and she took great comfort in his kindness and love until her death. Marge is predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Douglas Gotro, her father Arthur Damm, her mother Dorothy Adams Damm, and her beloved son Craig Gotro who was married to his faithful and loving wife Debbie Gotro (she is now married to Dr. William Esicar).

Upon retirement, Marge embraced the love of her grandchildren and great grandchildren as family was her life. Being a matriarch of the Gotro family, she will always be remembered with a smile. Treasured memories include camping, beach lake sunsets, cruises, “playing games” on Grandpa, making homemade Christmas candy with all the grandchildren, and very special times with Ohio and Florida friends hosting so many gatherings throughout the years! Marge loved her 94th Birthday Family Reunion at Mount Alverna this past year with everyone celebrating. She lived a truly blessed life and will be remembered forever by everyone that knew her.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., February 24, 2024, in the Mount Alverna Assisted Living Chapel (6765 State Road, Parma, Ohio 44134). Immediately following at noon will be a Celebration of Life at the same location in the Life Events Center. Marge wanted a party, not a funeral, so a simple burial will be held by a few close family members at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Marge would be honored to have donations made to the Mount Mary University Occupational Therapy Scholarship Fund. Marge’s obituary can be found at www.mcgorray-hanna.com

Posted on: February 15, 2024