Obituary for Beverly Jo Ganim
Beverly Jo Ganim
10/22/1940 - 10/18/2020
Beverly Jo Boutross Ganim, 79, of Solon, Ohio, passed away October 18, 2020 after a long and courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Bev was born on October 22, 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri to the late Najla and George Boutross. She graduated in 1957 from St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City, and received a BA in Education from Avila University in 1961. She later earned a graduate degree in Education in Cleveland, Ohio. A beloved gifted education teacher, Beverly spent the majority of her teaching career in the Cleveland Public Schools, retiring in 2006.
Bev loved life. She lived passionately and deliberately. She was an accomplished pianist and shared her gift by providing lessons to hundreds of students through the years. Although jazz held a special place in her heart, Beverly loved all genres of music. As an ardent patron of the arts, she adored the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Ballet, Cleveland Playhouse, Jazz Art Group of Columbus, St. Petersburg Orchestra, St. Petersburg Opera, The Cleveland Museum of Art, among many others.
She was an avid USTA tennis player, winning numerous tournaments at the state and local levels. Beverly also enjoyed golfing, ballroom dancing, scuba diving, traveling, singing, gardening, swimming, exercising, and being the life of any party. When her disease began to limit her activity level, Bev honed her bridge playing skills and found success in competitive tournaments. At the time of her death, she had achieved the American Contract Bridge League rank of Bronze Life Master Player.
Beverly was a longtime resident of Solon, Ohio, and a parishioner at the Church of the Resurrection. She loved the ocean and vacationed annually at Seabrook Island, South Carolina. During the past several years, she enjoyed spending the winter months in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Bev was a strong, determined and fiercely independent woman. Her inner strength was undeniable; she never complained about her illness, and if she suffered, she did so silently. When her disease progressed and it became necessary she move to Columbus, Ohio for treatment, she took it in stride. In the end, and no matter what she faced, Beverly continued to live a colorful life. She was one of a kind, and will be dearly missed by family and numerous friends.
Beverly is preceded in death by her parents, and her sister Barbara Kamel. She is survived by her former spouse Douglas Ganim of Sunbury, OH; sons Douglas (Mary Beth) Ganim II of Westerville, OH, and David (Sandi) Ganim of Dublin, Ohio; grandchildren Douglas Ganim III, Logan Ganim, Jonathan (Katie) Luchsinger, Kristopher Luchsinger, Laura Luchsinger, and Juliann Ganim; great grandchildren Elizabeth Luchsinger and Jonathan Luchsinger II; and beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Beverly Jo Ganim to The Cleveland Orchestra Preservation Fund, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.