Morton B. Biel

Biel, Morton Morton Biel passed away on Aug. 29, 2017. Born in Cleveland in 1927 to Florence (Polster) and Louis Biel, he had a long and distinguished career as an educator. He served as a teacher and guidance counselor at Cleveland Heights High School, assistant principal at Roxboro Junior High School, principal at Maple Heights, Rocky River, and Independence High Schools, and administrator of general education at the Hebrew Academy. He was a co-founder of the Music, Arts, and Crafts Camp in Cleveland Heights. After his “retirement,” Mort helped train student teachers at John Carroll University, coordinated Elderclass programs in the Beachwood Schools, and co-chaired the Cultural Arts series at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple. He received several awards for his work as a school administrator. A veteran of the Army Air Corps, he earned his B.A. and M.A. from Western Reserve University.He is survived by Claire (Diamond) Biel, his wife of 61 years. His family and Claire’s shared a party line in the Glenville neighborhood, but they did not meet until they were both working in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools. He was the proud and loving father of Eric (Dana Rosenfeld) of Bethesda, MD, and Steven (Anna Henchman) of Cambridge, MA; grandfather of David, Josh, Jake, Olivia, and Alexandra; brother-in-law of Marjorie Zeaman; and uncle of Elliot Zeaman. Services will be held on Sunday, Sept. 3, 1:30 p.m., at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd. in Beachwood. The family will receive friends at 24151 Letchworth Rd., Beachwood IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING INTERMENT SUNDAY UNTIL 9PM and MONDAY AFTERNOON 2 to 5. Donations in Mort’s memory may be made to the Cultural Arts Series at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, Arden Courts of Chagrin Falls, 8100 East Washington Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, or charity of choice.