The Quaker Foundation is set to honor three New Philadelphia High School alumni at its annual recognition banquet May 1, at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University Tuscarawas.
The foundation will also present scholarships to 87 members of the Class of 2026, according to a community announcement.
Lifetime Contribution Award
James M. “Mac” Patrick, a 1979 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, will receive the Alumnus of the Year for Lifetime Contribution Award. Patrick earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan in 1983 and has worked as a financial adviser with Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firms for more than 36 years.
James Patrick
Patrick and his wife, Elsie, have lived in Darien, Connecticut, since 1998. Since 1999, Patrick has served as an elected member of Darien’s Representative Town Meeting, the town’s legislative body representing six districts. He chaired the Public Health and Safety Committee for 20 years and served as District 5 chair from 2004 to 2024.
From 2005 to 2025, Patrick was an appointed member of the Darien Advisory Board of Health, advising on matters such as beach water quality, emergency preparedness for disease outbreaks including COVID-19, and planning for natural disasters. He also worked with the Darien Police Department on a campaign to increase awareness and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Special Achievement Award
Michael E. McInturf, a 1980 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, will be honored as the Alumnus of the Year for Special Achievement Award. McInturf received a bachelor of environmental design from Miami University in 1985 and a master of architecture from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1988.
Michael McInturf
McInturf worked in the offices of Skidmore Owings and Merrill, participating in the design of large-scale multi-use urban projects including Rowes Wharf in Boston and Bishopsgate in London. He also joined the architectural firm of Eisenman Architects, contributing to the design of multiple high-profile and award-winning projects worldwide, including the Wexner Center for the Visual Arts and the Columbus Convention Center.
As an associate partner at Eisenman Architects, McInturf managed the final design and construction of the award-winning Aronoff Center for Design and Art at the University of Cincinnati. He later established his own design firm, michael mcinturf ARCHITECTS. McInturf is also a full-time tenured professor at the University of Cincinnati.
Distinguished Service Award
Tom Police, a member of the Class of 1967, will receive the Alumnus of the Year for Distinguished Service Award. Police earned degrees from the United Electronics Institute and the University of Akron. He and his wife, Beth Drensky, owned and operated the Bethlyn Thomas Company, manufacturing custom-made window blinds and distributing the Softub portable whirlpool.
Tom Police
Police served as vice president of Goodwill Industries in Wooster from 1994 to 2014, where he established and managed the Vocational Rehabilitation Program that provided job training and placement for individuals with disabilities. He also served as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of Ohio for six years and was associate executive director of Goodwill Industries in Canton from 1984 through 1988.
As a member of the New Philadelphia Rotary Club, Police has served as chairperson of the StoryBook Lane project, spending 12 years restoring the original displays and adding mechanical automation to them. He was awarded Rotarian of the Year in 2017 and again in 2025. From 2014 through 2025, he served on the New Philadelphia Rotary RTY Board, which operates the Tuscora Park rides, concessions, and the Summer Showcase. He is a member of the Fairlawn Rotary Club as well as the New Philadelphia club, and former president and chairperson of numerous committees for the Tuscarawas County Little Theatre.
Tickets to the event can be obtained by contacting the Quaker Foundation at 330-343-0100 or at the door starting at 6 p.m. Desserts will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards program at 7:30 p.m. The cost is a donation.
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This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Quaker Foundation celebrates alumni achievement and service
