Jan. 25, 2022 -- There is no doubt that once you are a member of Tiger Nation, the connection lasts a lifetime - and beyond. It’s true no matter how you may be connected, whether as staff, partner organization, community member volunteer, or of course as graduates and their families. So, when we receive unexpected donations, it isn’t a total surprise because we’ve seen time and time again how true the saying “Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger” is for so many.
We didn’t know that
Dr. Ita R. Kaiserman-Abramof had made a bequest of $200,000 to support scholarships for Heights High seniors until notification came from her estate attorney after her death in September of 2020. Dr. Kaiserman-Abramof was a longtime, respected Professor of Anatomy at Case Western Reserve University from 1971-2015. A native of Brazil, she moved to the United States in 1964 and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University and taught at Boston University Medical Campus before joining the faculty at CWRU.
She was also a Heights High parent. Dr. Kaiserman-Abramof’s donation was designated for scholarships and given in honor of her son,
Heights alumnus Sergio Abramof, of blessed memory. Locals knew Sergio, Heights Class of 1975, as a chef and restaurateur. He created his name-sake restaurant, Sergio’s in University Circle followed by Sergio's Sarava at Shaker Square. Both restaurants achieved national acclaim. Sergio was also known for his work building the Cleveland-area food scene until his untimely death in 2012.
“A portion of this generous gift will immediately be put to work dramatically expanding the number of awards for graduating seniors of the Class of 2022,” said Julianna Johnston Senturia, Executive Director of Heights Schools Foundation. She added, “The remainder will be invested with our Heights Schools Foundation Fund at the Cleveland Foundation, with scholarships given each year in memory of Sergio. We’re grateful to both Dr. Kaiserman-Abramof and Sergio, who will be remembered as members of the new Legacy & Legends Society for this impactful gift.”