Marking the latest chapter in a decades-long local tradition, five graduates of the city’s public schools will be inducted into the Cranston Hall of Fame later this month.

The Hall’s class of 2019 – Michael Chalek, Leonard D’Errico, Meri Kennedy, Steven Maurano and David Schiappa – will be honored during the 39th induction ceremony on Friday, Oct. 25, at the Alpine Country Club, located at 251 Pippin Orchard Road in Cranston.

Tickets cost $40 and are only available in advance. To purchase tickets, contact Deborah Greifer at dgreifer@aol.com. Additional information about the Hall of Fame – including how to nominate Cranstonians for future classes – can be found on the Cranston Public Schools website, cpsed.net.

This year’s inductees represent a wide array of what Cranston is known for and the quality of students the city sends out into the world. They were chosen by the Hall of Fame’s selection committee from a field of nominees submitted by members of the community.

Chalek, a 1976 graduate of Cranston High School East, has distinguished himself in the filed of law enforcement for 41 years. He served the city of Cranston as chief of police for 27 years. He went to Bryant University, Salve Regina University and graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Chalek currently works for the University of Rhode Island Campus Police, where he was sworn in as the administrative captain in February of this year. He represents the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association on Violence Against Women and is a members/liaison to URI’s satellite campuses and as a member of university’s Sexual Assault Response Team.

The senior member of this year’s class, Leonard D’Errico, is being inducting posthumously. He graduated from Cranston East in 1964 and spent his life dedicated to community service. He was an outstanding student athlete before finding success as Cranston police officer, and he ended up taking command of the department’s Traffic Division.

D’Errico dedicated a great deal of time to volunteering. He was a football coach for CLCF and at Cranston West, and went on to be the equipment manager at West.

A highlight for D’Errico was when the Rhode Island Interscholastic League asked him to supervise all state playoff athletic events.

The sole woman in this year's class is Meri Kennedy, who graduated from Cranston East in 1981. She has distinguished herself as a newspaper reporter and columnist, author and community activist.

After Cranston East, Kennedy attended Rhode Island College. She served as the executive director of the Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce for 10 years.

Some of her volunteer activities include the Community Emergency Response Team, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation and serving as a volunteer teacher at Eden Park Elementary School for many years.

Kennedy has also authored a book, “My Enemy, Myself,” that outlines her journey through childhood sexual abuse. It is highly acclaimed by survivors and practitioners as a tool in the healing process.

The first inductee from Cranston High School West is Steven Maurano, a member of the class of 1974. He also attended Providence College and earned a master’s degree in public relations from Boston University.

Maurano spent time in the private sector working at Rhode Island Hospital Trust National Bank and the public relations firm of Duffy & Shanley. He was appointed to the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education in 2006.

Additionally, Maurano is a trustee for McAuley Ministries and Bishop McVinney School and a member of the music ministry at Immaculate Conception Church.

Schiappa graduated from Cranston West in 1993. With degrees from URI and RIC, he has set himself apart in the psychology field.

Since 2006, Schiappa has been an assistant principal of special and related services for Cranston Public Schools, overseeing the Cranston West Special Education Department and all aspects of related services.

He is also the administrative liaison to Special Olympics Unified Arts, Best Buddies and the Diversity Club.

Schiappa’s involvement extends outside the classroom and into the community. He has served as the general manager for the Gershoff Auto Body Post 20 American Legion baseball team, on the Rhode Island Amercian Legion Board of Directors and as a member of the Holy Apostle Leadership Council.