DONALD S. EDELMAN

1928 - 2020

Thespian, Horseman, and Designer, Dies at 91, Sit down John, Sit down John! The opening number in 1776 rang out on the ICU nurse's cell phone before Donald S. Edelman, the celebrated actor who played the role of John Adams 500 times, made his final curtain call. Don was born on December 3, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio and was 91-years-old when he passed on Friday, September 18 due to complications from COVID-19. The loving and devoted son of Bernard and Mildred Edelman, Don was a long-time resident of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In his early years, Don attended Western Reserve University where he was a varsity wrestler. As a student, he formed his own theatre group called the "University Heights Players" and taught dance to help pay his college expenses. Don said, "I picked three things that made my life exciting, fun and fulfilling." He had won the trifecta of life devoting his unstoppable energy to three passions: horses, the theatre, and design. Waking up at 5 am, Don would drive each day to Thistledown Racetrack to train his stable of horses. He had a heartfelt love for his thoroughbreds--making sure they were never overworked or in danger of injury--always concerned for the horse more than the purse. By 9 am, Don was at his drafting table at Design To Serve, the commercial food service, space planning, and design business he founded and ran for 43 years right up until he was hospitalized for the virus. At the end of each workday, Don would head to Chagrin Valley Little Theatre (CVLT) to either star in a performance, direct it, or both. In addition to his defining turn as John Adams, Don was also revered for his roles as Mr. Green in Visiting Mr. Green and The Reciter in Sondheim's Pacific Overtures. Devoted to the theatre and his community, Don served as president of CVLT for seven years and created and co-founded the experimental River Street Playhouse. Ultimately, he would be honored with the first ever Chagrin Valley Little Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award. "He was tenacious, constantly going and doing. He never stopped," said his daughter Jodi Edelman Agapito reflecting on her father's incomparable life. "Calls, emails and texts are pouring in from friends and fellow thespians tell me what a wonderful influence he was on their lives," said his love and life partner Cindee Catalano-Edelman of the man she cherished for 36 years. In addition to Cindee, Jodi and her husband Juan Agapito, Don is survived by his older brother Robert Edelman (Marleen), nieces Wendy Hardman (Marc) and Robin Fisher Roffer, grandniece Roxy Roffer, grandnephews Keyan and Jori Hardman, beloved dog Huey and grand-dog Mambo. The family will hold a private service on September 23, 2020 and invite all to celebrate Don's life in the future when it is safe for us to gather again. Instead of flowers, please donate to the Parma Animal Shelter and the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre in Don's name. Online condolences www.diciccoandsonsfh.com