Cheri L. Mitchell

Cheri Mitchell, age 60, of Granville, died on Tuesday, September 22, from injuries suffered earlier that morning when she was struck by a car as she walked through a crosswalk in Granville.

She recently retired from BalletMet Columbus after 16 years during which she served as Executive Director for 13 seasons. Cheri was a passionate, dedicated, and exemplary leader at BalletMet where she was cherished for her tireless energy, conscientiousness, and ability to deeply connect with everyone associated with the company.

Cheri’s first love for the performing arts was in theater during her high school years in Elyria, Ohio.  She completed a BFA in Theater Design from The Ohio State University in 1977. Over multiple summers Cheri performed and worked on plays at The Lost Colony in Mateo, NC. After serving as director of membership and education at the Ohio Dental Association for four years, she was appointed managing director of the Contemporary American Theater Company in Columbus where she served for nine years helping CATCO emerge into a much acclaimed professional theater company.

Cheri was currently serving as board president of A Portable Theater.  She served as President of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium and an officer for Ohio Dance.  She was committed to strengthening and advancing the role of arts throughout the Columbus community and the State of Ohio.

Cheri’s positive attitude, relentless energy, focused attention, and empathetic support were evident to everyone she encountered. Her dynamic personality was anchored by her beautiful smile and her ability to engage in rich conversation that was loaded with insight and intelligence as well as laughter and compassion.

Cheri is survived by Frank Hassebrock her husband of twenty years. Cheri and Frank shared many interests including gardening, travelling throughout the United States and Europe, cooking, attending arts performances, and being involved in the lives of a large network of friends in Columbus, Granville, and many other parts of the country.  

Also surviving are her mother, Mary Mitchell of Columbus; father, Don Mitchell of Lehigh Acres, FL; sister, Donna (John) Filipiak of Elyria; nieces, Nicole (Jeromy) Hensley and Rachel Filipiak; nephew, Ryan Filipiak; grandnephew, Josiah Hensley; grandniece, Kaleigh Hensley; and mother-in-law, Erna Hassebrock of Newark. Cheri’s absence in her family will be large, but her memory will be sustaining.

Cheri was truly a beautiful, treasured, and deeply respected spouse, friend, and colleague. Her tragic loss is countered by the tremendously positive impact that she made with her life.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Friday, September 25th and 1 to 4 P.M. Saturday, September 26, 2015 at the McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect St., Granville. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.

A memorial service celebrating Cheri’s life will be held October 24, 2015 at the Capitol Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. Time to be announced.

Contributions in Cheri’s memory may be made to BalletMet, 322 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43215.

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