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The Siegel & Shuster Society
The Siegel and Shuster Society was created in 2007 after Mike Sangiacomo, a frustrated Plain Dealer reporter and lifelong Superman fan, authored a scathing article demanding that the city of Cleveland do something to honor and celebrate the creation of Superman in Cleveland by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Soon after that article was published, a hugely attended meeting led to the formation of The Siegel & Shuster Society, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization whose mission is to commemorate and celebrate the creation of Superman in Cleveland. Since then, the Siegel & Shuster Society has celebrated the following accomplishments:
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Raising $111,000 in an online auction to renovate the former home of Jerry Siegel in the Glenville area of Cleveland.
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Earning a $5,000 grant from Neighborhood Connections to create a fence at the former home of Joe Shuster depicting Action Comics #1.
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Raising $50,000 to create the Superman exhibit at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport welcoming travelers as they enter the baggage claim area.
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Unveiling a semi-permanent exhibit on the 2nd floor of Cleveland Public Library's Main Library, which includes items from the library’s Mike Curtis Collection of Superman Memorabilia. Mike Curtis, Arkansas native, comic aficionado, and writer for the syndicated comic strip Dick Tracy, spent more than forty years amassing an extensive Superman memorabilia collection which was donated to the library in 2016. The rotating exhibit features selections from the thousands of comics, posters, toys, packaging, clothing, photographs, and more, some dating back to 1939. New items will be revealed every six months.man License Plate
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Collaborating with other nonprofit organizations to create interactive ways to celebrate the creation of Superman in Cleveland, including the Great Lakes Science Center, NASA, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Maltz Museum, and The Cleveland Public Library.
Celebrating the Cleveland Public Library's Superman Tribute Exhibit opening with a rare collector's copy of Action Comics #1. Pictured (left to right): Samantha Baskind, Leigh Goldie, Michael Sangiacomo, and Brad Ricca.
Public art has the power to enrich and inspire our communities. Our statue project tells the story of how two Cleveland teenagers created the very first comic book superhero - SUPERMAN!
Gary Kaplan-Siegel relative/President Siegel & Shuster Society
The creation of Superman by teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio in 1932 marked the inception of the comic book superhero genre. Despite facing numerous rejections from publishers, their perseverance paid off when Superman debuted in Action Comics No.1 in 1938. This seminal character laid the foundation for the superhero genre, inspiring the creation of iconic figures like Batman and Wonder Woman. Siegel and Shuster's contribution to popular culture is undeniable, and their legacy continues to resonate today.
In 2007, the Siegel & Shuster Society was established with the mission to honor the creators of Superman. Their nonprofit organization aims to commemorate the duo's achievement with a significant project: the construction of a stainless steel Superman statue 18 feet up, alongside bronze statues of Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Joanne Siegel, the original model for Lois Lane. Collaborating with nationally renowned sculptor David Deming, Cuyahoga County Council and The Siegel & Shuster Tribute Plaza Committee, the society is dedicated to bringing this vision to life, preserving the creators' legacy for future generations.
The Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster Tribute Plaza, set to be located in front of the expanded Convention Center in the heart of downtown Cleveland, will serve as a lasting homage to the creators of Superman. The dynamic composition of the statues, with Superman seemingly in flight above Jerry and Joanne, while Joe is depicted sketching Action Comics No. 1, captures the essence of their creative process and the iconic imagery of the superhero. This plaza will not only celebrate the origins of Superman but also enrich Cleveland's cultural landscape.
Superman stands as a symbol of hope and inspiration, recognized globally for his unwavering commitment to justice. The statue project aims to evoke these sentiments, instilling pride and optimism within the Cleveland community while attracting tourists to experience the birthplace of a legend. The dedication of the Siegel and Shuster Tribute Plaza mirrors the determination of its namesakes, emphasizing the enduring significance of Superman and the creators behind him.
Your support for this endeavor is greatly appreciated, as together, we honor a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
Meet the Board
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Board Member, is a Distinguished Professor of Art History at Cleveland State University, and the author of 5 books and over 100 articles. She is also editor of "The Jewish Graphic Novel: Critical Approaches," the foundational volume in the field. An expert on comics and graphic novels, she speaks about those subjects in the United States and abroad.
Founding Board Secretary, is a cousin of Joe Shuster. Leigh joined the 2007 meeting after reading Mike Sangiacomo’s Plain Dealer article. She is the founder and Executive Director of Empowering Epilepsy, a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity organization whose mission is to show people living with epilepsy and seizures what they can do. For the past 26 years, she has been a Sunday School Teacher at Park Synagogue Wolf Religious School, currently teaching 2nd grade.
Board President, is a cousin of Jerry Siegel, the writer who created Superman. He currently serves as the President of the Siegel & Shuster Society He is a retired high school music educator, and the former owner/manager of Broadway Garden Center.
Founding Board Member, served as the former Executive Director of the Glenville Development Corporation and is currently the Center Director for the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. She helped organize the renovation to Jerry Siegel’s home in Glenville, and the installation of the Action Comic’s #1 fence sitting in front of the former home of Joe Shuster at the corner of Amor and Parkwood Drive.
Board Treasurer is the owner of Orange Blossom Press, the original location of The Love Letter to Cleveland Mural by Gary and Laura Dumm. He previously served as the Art Director at NASA, and also worked for Eastman Kodak Company. He has served as a board member and officer of 7 nonprofit organizations.
Founding Board Member and Creator/Owner of Big Fun, an award winning toy and collectible store in Coventry Village for nearly 28 years. Steve has served as a community activist and volunteer/board member of numerous local non profits. His mother graduated from Glenville High School after Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Founding Board Member & Current Board Vice President, Jamie is the keeper and curator of one of the world's largest Superman collections. He serves as a delegate on the Board of Southwest General Hospital, representing the community of Olmsted Falls, President of the Olmsted Falls Music Association. Advisory Board member of Superheroes to Kids in Ohio using Superheroes to fight adversity, Senior Wish Grantor for Make A Wish Ohio-IN-KY, and 22+ year business owner of superhero themed toy store.
Founding Board Member and lifelong Northeast Ohio resident, is the award-winning author of Super Boys, the first comprehensive biography of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Winner of a Cleveland Arts Prize - 2014 Emerging Artist Prize in Literature, he has taught for 20 years as a lecturer in English at Case Western Reserve University.
Michael Sangiacomo, a founding board member and retired Plain Dealer reporter, worked there for 30 years, writing a weekly comic book column from 1993 to 2019. In 2006, his article urging Cleveland to honor Superman creators Siegel and Shuster led to the formation of the Siegel and Shuster Society. He also taught comic book history at CWRU and authored several series and graphic novels, including "Tales of the Starlight Drive-In" and "Phantom Jack."
Board Member, is the Dean of the School of Arts, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, where she also serves as a Professor of English, Director of the Writing Center, and Co-Director of the Tower Honors Program. She has presented and published widely on feminism in comics and comic history and is a frequent guest on comics related podcasts.
Board Member, is Assistant Professor of English, Anisfield-Wolf Fellow, and co-director of the Rust Belt Humanities Lab at Ursuline College. He is American editor of the Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics and co-leads the Get Graphic program at Cleveland Public Library where he was the Ohio Center for the Book Scholar-in-Residence.
Superman Plaza Committee
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David L. Deming has enjoyed a successful career both as a sculptor and as a teacher and arts administrator. He has exhibited his sculpture in over 100 competitive and invitational exhibitions nationally and internationally with over 50 one and two-person exhibitions. His sculpture is in over 100 public and private collections. Learn More: https://demingart.com/
Tribute Plaza Committee - A seasoned real estate broker in Cleveland with over 50 years of experience, is deeply involved in his community. He serves as Secretary on the Board of the Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park and teaches art there. An accomplished artist, his student earned recognition from The Smithsonian for a portrait. Joe also played a key role in the Rocky Colavito Statue Committee and recently attended a National Conference in Washington D.C.
Tribute Plaza Committee - 40 years experience in licensing, brand and product marketing, and public relations. He founded "Cowboy By Choice" driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and love for horses and the Old West. In 2013, he acquired Bertman Original Ball Park Mustard. Randy also contributed significantly to honoring Cleveland Indians icon Rocky Colavito on the statue committee. His philanthropic endeavors and 20-year coaching tenure have positively impacted countless lives.