Eleanor Melzer, aka Ellie, is a valued member of Advent. She usually sits on the left side (as
you enter) toward the front, smiling shyly at everyone and enjoying hugs when we pass the
Peace. And if you don't think you know her - she's the one with the New York accent!
Born in Brooklyn, Ellie married Bob and lived 2 doors down from her in-laws before moving to Farmingdale Long Island when the children arrived - Robert III, Laura (Sheridan) and Leslie (Tancredi). How we miss Bob, who died November 22, 2004.

When he was asked to start a new office for his NY textiles company in Shaker, the family
moved to north Solon. When the company wanted to move him back to NY, the family stayed - good for Advent! And when another sales job ended, Bob and Ellie turned his passion for
photography into a profession. Many Advent brides and graduates had their photos taken by the Melzers, who started the photo board in the narthex.

Ellie worked for some years for a newspaper, and later in Leslie's office, but was joyfully a homemaker. And now she is busy enjoying the many activities at the Solon Senior Center. In fact, she goes there just about every day for "senior games," singing and acting groups, cards, speakers series, and bus trips - including to grandson Eddie Tancredi's fabulous near-west-side restaurant The Distill Table (a shameless plug -- Eddie trained at the Pittsburgh Institute of Culinary Arts and then trained, and worked at WV's Greenbrier Resort). She is suitably proud of her family, which now numbers 5 grandchildren 32-40, and 7 great-grandchildren 8-21 (and, yes, there is a Robert IV and a V).

Ellie said her life was changed by the two-year Bethel Bible study she had participated in at her church in New York, and the Melzers encouraged Advent to host the program. Ellie went to Wisconsin for the intensive training program, and later trained to present the Wisdom Series as well. Both made her so much more aware of Jesus' love and sacrifice.

And what is something you might not know about Ellie? She is still a faithful and active blood
donor for the American Red Cross.

Elena Naydinskaya and daughters Sasha (almost 13) and Nina (9) moved to Solon Ohio from
Moscow in 2016.  Elena's background is Jewish (on her father's side) and Russian Orthodox, but she decided after moving that Orthodox services would not be easy for the girls to understand or enjoy (they are held in Russian - old Russian; everyone stands; etc).  Advent is happy to have them here!

Originally from Ukraine, after a few years at the local teachers'; institute Elena moved to Moscow to study languages: Russian, English (at Trinity College, Dublin), and French (in Lyons, France).  You might ask her about summers volunteering at the Taize community in France, or about working as an au pair for a French family.  After finishing her university she married and became mother to the girls, but sadly the marriage ended.  By then Elena's parents had emigrated to Cleveland (in 2002) and established themselves, and Elena had visited them 3 times. They encouraged her to emigrate in 2016 after finding that the refugee program would still be applicable.  In fact many members of her immediate and extended family are in the greater Cleveland area, including a married sister and brother.  

Nina attends Lewis Elementary, and Sasha Solon Middle School. Both girls have been enjoying a variety of camps during the summer. 
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Elena is currently studying Occupational Therapy at Tri-C.