Longtime church member Wallace Adler passed away at age 99, at Judson Park Assisted Living, on January 15, 2021. 

Wally was an active member of the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland beginning in the 1940s. He served in many capacities over the decades, including as Trustee and President of the Board, and Church School teacher. He also held various positions nationally with the Unitarian Universalist Association.

After graduating from Yale University in 1942 Wally served as a United States Army officer in World War II, and was awarded a Purple Heart and two Air Medals for his service flying observation planes for the Field Artillery in France, Belgium, and Germany. He loved to travel internationally and throughout the United States. He was an accomplished photographer, Francophile and fluent speaker of French. Wally retired in 1986 as Preformed Line Products Company’s Executive Vice-President for Foreign Operations.

His wife of 75 years, Deborah Burton Adler, predeceased him in 2017.

He will be greatly missed by his three daughters, June Vail (David), Christine Phillips (Bill), and Wendy Adler, as well as his three grandchildren, Sri Charlesworth, Ben Vail, and Nick Vail, and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service and celebration of his life are planned for a later date.