Jane Elizabeth Eastin, Unofficial Ambassador of Sheffield Lake

Mrs. Eastin had been involved in and around Sheffield Lake politics and happenings for many years. Well known for her public and community interests and remarkable memory, Jane was generally acknowledged to be the city’s historian, unofficial ambassador, and a reservoir of information about her home community.

She was born in Cleveland, but had been a resident of Lorain County for most of her life. She was a graduate of Lorain High School and later studied at the former Cleveland College.

Early in her career, she was employed by the Family Services Agency of Lorain. She left that post to embark on a career that spanned more than 30 years with the city government of Sheffield Lake. Her positions included serving as secretary to the Sheffield Lake’s mayors, clerk of council, finance director, and income tax director. In 1986, a proclamation from the Ohio General Assembly recognized her as Woman of the Year in the city.

She was also an accomplished artist who possessed a special interest in oil painting. She studied with such painters as Fred Leach of Avon Lake and Hal Scoggy and Homer Hacker at Pine Knob, Pennsylvania. Her work, which included a wide variety of nature paintings and seascapes, has been displayed in the Parma Area Fine Arts Council Show, as well as the Beck Center in Lakewood and the Sheffield Lake Art Club shows throughout the years. She had previously been co-chairman of the 20th annual art show sponsored by the Sheffield Lake Art Club and Erie Shores Art League.

In her earlier years, she enjoyed sailing on Lake Erie; she and her husband did not own a trailer, so they sailed their boat from community to community along the north coast as well as Put-In-Bay. They also competed in a variety of sailing competitions until her husband’s death in 1960.

Up until the time of her passing, Jane retained the sparkling personality that won her the title of Miss Sheffield Lake when she was in junior high school.

Mrs. Eastin attended the Sheffield Lake United Church of Christ and was a member of the Sheffield Lake Arts Association, the Women’s Democratic Club, the Sheffield Lake Women’s Club; the Erie Shores Professional League, and was a participant and supporter of the Erie Shores Girl Scout Council. She was also acknowledged by the Lorain County Board of Elections for twenty-five years of service as a volunteer in the polling booths.

She is survived by her son: Keith, residing in Houston, Texas; and by her long time friend and caregiver: Vivian McCullough of Sheffield Lake.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Keith in 1960; and by her parents: John and Clara (nee Umlandt) Heimer.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 1-5 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel; 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral chapel with the Rev. Robert Reich, pastor of Sheffield Lake United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow in Garfield Cemetery, Sheffield Village.

The family suggests memorials in her memory to either the Domonkos Library; 4125 East Lake Road, Sheffield Lake, Ohio 44054 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.