Phyllis Baumgardner

Phyllis Patricia Kaczmarek was the eldest daughter of Charlotte and Walter J. Kaczmarek of Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio, where her father served as the Fire Chief of Cuyahoga Heights Village. Phyllis loved to sing and dance, and she took on her father's commanding characteristics throughout her life.

Phyllis was awarded her Bachelors of Education from Bowling Green University. She married Andrew James Baumgardner of Maple Heights at the First Methodist Church in Cleveland on December 19, 1959. Phyllis and Andy moved to Chesterland, Ohio and went on to have three children: Mark, Lisa, and James. A fourth child, Patrician Ann, died shortly after childbirth.

In her early career Phyllis was a teacher. She was awarded her Masters of Education at Kent State University and taught both the Fifth and Sixth grades for years at Saint Helens Catholic School in Newbury, Ohio, which at the time was the home of the Saint Helens World Famous Unicycling Team. At that time Father Moran directed the unicycle team, and during lunch period and after school the unicyclists took over the school for practice in the gymnasium, through the hallways, and even up-and-down the stairs!

Later in life, Phyllis served over 20 years in her career with Progressive Insurance in Mayfield Heights, OH, where she started as an insurance adjuster and went on to become the head receptionist at the building that houses the Progressive Legal and IT Departments on Landerbrook Drive. Phyllis was very proud of her career at Progressive, and she loved greeting everybody and running the show at the front desk.

Phyllis loved to sing, and always sang soprano in the church choir wherever she attended. Phyllis was a lifelong member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in the South Broadway neighborhood of Cleveland, and when she moved back to Cleveland later in life she again became an active member. While in Chesterland, the family were members of Trinity United Methodist Church. Upon relocating to Maryland to be near her children, Phyllis sang at Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in Woodstock, Maryland.

Phyllis was the beloved wife of the late Andrew Baumgardner; devoted mother of Mark Baumgardner (Carter Lindsay) Lisa Malone (Brian Ocheltree) and James Baumgardner (Allison Jones); dear grandmother of Patrick and Andrew Malone, Brandon & Matthew Ocheltree and Ella & Will Baumgardner; loving sister of Mary Lou Kalish.

A memorial ceremony will be held at the Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church in Woodstock, Maryland on Tuesday March 1st at 10am. A graveside service will be held on Saturday July 2nd at 11 am, Slitor Cemetery, 16275 Claridon Troy Road, Burton.

Phyllis was a breast cancer survivor, so in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Captain Kirk and the Friendship Enterprise team at Avon 39 - The Walk to End Breast Cancer: