Georgianna Saloff, 84, passed away at Landings of Oregon on January 27, 2025. An accomplished leader and philanthropist in early childhood education in Toledo, Georgianna was born here on September 27, 1940, and was named after her parents, George and Anna (Dudash) Saloff.

Her father immigrated to America from Macedonia with one gold coin in his pocket. He worked as a chemical sampler at the Interlake Iron Corporation, and, for a time, also owned a small hotel and restaurant in East Toledo. That restaurant was in the building that is now Tony Packo's. Georgianna's mother was born in Pennsylvania and worked as a supervisor at the Electric Auto-Lite Company.

Georgianna attended Birmingham Elementary school and, in 1958, graduated from Morrison R. Waite High School, where she was the recipient of a glass key to the city of Toledo after winning an essay contest. She proudly attended the University of Toledo and received her Bachelor of Education degree in 1962 and her Master of Education degree in 1971.

In 1962, Georgianna joined the faculty of East Side Central school, where she taught first and second graders for 40 years, retiring in 2002. During her teaching career, Georgianna was secretary and treasurer of Primary Council, served on the Council of Instruction and the Mathematics Curriculum Study Committee. She was the author of a primary curriculum guide, "Think Metric Activities in Metrication". She also contributed to the publication, "Touching and Teaching Metrics". In 1973, Georgianna became a Jennings Scholar when she was selected as an outstanding teacher by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

In addition to her academic impact, Georgianna and her late sister, Dorothy, left their generous mark on two leading institutions in Toledo. Supporters of many local charities, Georgianna and her sister were especially grateful to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library and the University of Toledo, for the impact that books and education had on their lives.

Visitors to the Main Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library can visit the beautifully welcoming George K. Saloff Family Children's Library which was dedicated in 2019 in honor of their father. Georgianna and Dorothy also contributed to the expansion and renovation of the Birmingham Branch Library with The Saloff Children's Reading Room. They supported a similar project at the Locke Branch Library. Recently, Georgianna assisted the state of Ohio's Imagination Library program with a gift to the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, helping provide free books to children in the Toledo area from birth until they are 5 years old.

In honor of their parents, Georgianna and Dorothy established an endowed scholarship with the University of Toledo Foundation in 2005. The George and Anna Saloff Memorial Scholarship supports students pursing a degree in early childhood development. Together, the Saloff sisters taught at the elementary school level for a combined 83 years. Georgianna was a member of Women and Philanthropy at the University, a lifetime member of the University of Toledo Alumni Association and, along with Dorothy, dedicated a pillar in the Koester Alumni Pavilion to their parents.

Left to cherish her memory is her friend, Dan Saevig, and cousins including Diane Steagall, Jack Soulidis, Joe Oprie and Jim Oprie.

Special thanks to the wonderfully supportive and talented staff in the memory care unit at Landings of Oregon, for their compassionate assistance over the past several years, and to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Visitation will be held at Eggleston Meinert and Pavely Funeral Home, 440 South Coy Road, Oregon, Ohio, on Monday, February 3 from 1-5 p.m., with a Catholic Commendation for Georgianna beginning at 4:30 p.m. A memorial service, a Panachida, will be conducted at St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church, 4001 Navarre Avenue, Oregon, Ohio on Tuesday, February 4, at 10 a.m., with visitation at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Final internment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Those wishing to remember Georgianna's life are asked to consider a gift to the University of Toledo Foundation's George and Anna Saloff Memorial Scholarship Fund (1301397), to the George K. Saloff Children's Library at the Main Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, or to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.