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advance her career by applyingto law school, Dyke applied toCleveland-Marshall College ofLaw, undeterred by the fact thatschool administrators claimedshe was the first nurse to applyfor entrance. She was accepted tothe school, attended in the evenings,served as secretary of her class duringher senior year, and graduated fromCleveland-Marshall in 1968 as one ofthree women in her class.During her years of study at ClevelandMarshall, she met Ted Dyke, one of herlaw professors. The couple married andhad three children, LoriAnn, Karla andJohn. LoriAnn and John both followed intheir parents’ footsteps and are practicingattorneys today.After receiving her J.D., Judge Dykebecame a sole practitioner and then openedDyke, Gamiere & Catliota, the first women’slaw firm in Cleveland. Because of hernursing experience, leaders in the medicalprofession encouraged her to run for aseat as a juvenile court judge in 1976.“I lost, and I swore I would never runagain,” she says wryly.However, in 1980, the same leadersconvinced her to put her name on theballot for a seat on the Cuyahoga CountyCommon Pleas Court against a candidatewho had been appointed by the governor.During this campaign race, her mostardent supporter was Ted Dyke.“My husband wanted me on the benchbecause he thought that I had the leadership,integrity and knowledge of the law.He thought I would be an honest judgeand that I would open the door forwomen,” she explains.Judge Dyke won the election andbecame a trial judge on the CuyahogaCounty Common Pleas Court. Onceagain, she was the only female member.“It was a little difficult for people toaccept a woman on the bench.Eventually, I won them over with mysense of humor,” she laughs.In 1986, Ted Dyke suggested his wifeseek the opportunity to move up to ahigher court.She ran and won a seat on the Court ofAppeals Eighth Appellate District. Sadly,the devoted husband became ill and diedtwo days after she was elected. JudgeDyke still serves on the Court.Despite her successes, it is during thedifficult times, such as the death of herhusband and the death of her daughterKarla, killed in an accident in 1989, thatthe judge looks to her faith to give her thestrength and compassion she considers“I have a philosophy thatstarted at NDA. The onlything that counts in life ishow close one gets to God.Nothing else really matters.”essential in both herpersonal and professional life.“I have a philosophy that started atNDA. The only thing that counts in life ishow close one gets to God. Nothing elsereally matters. Religion is the strong basein my life that has given me a deepunderstanding that bad things can happento good people. Some people can beturned around,” she believes.This philosophy is a blessing for thosewho appear in court before Judge Dykebecause they can be assured that justicewill prevail in her courtroom since shetreats every person with a great deal ofscholarship and empathy.According to Judge Leo M. Spellacy, whosat with Dyke on the Cuyahoga CountyCommon Pleas Court during her tenurefrom 1980 to 1986, she has earned therespect and admiration of those who standin front of or are seated behind the bench.“She has a thorough understanding ofthe law and always stays on top of things.She is compassionate but still firm in herconvictions and sentencing,” Spellacy says.Although Spellacy and Ann Dykeworked together on the Cuyahoga CountyCommon Pleas Court, they first got toknow each other socially back in highschool when she attended NDA andSpellacy attended St. Ignatius HighSchool. Spellacy describes Judge Dyke as“outgoing, friendly and religious” –attributes many of her former classmates,including Margaret Mary McCarthy Kilroyand Joan Fasimpaur Carriere, say she hadeven in high school.Kilroy met Ann Dyke when the twoplayed on the same sports team at NDA.The school girls started a friendship thatthrives to this day.“She’s exactly the same – intelligent andfunny with a good sense of humor and aquick wit,” Kilroy says. “She’s a very goodperson and friend. She was always therefor me.”When Carriere and the judge foundthemselves in several of the same classesduring their freshman year at NDA andsubsequently spent time together in classes,student council and Sodality, they didn’tknow that the friendship that began in1950 would grow into a lifelong connection.“Ace [Judge Dyke’s nickname to herclosest friends because of the card-playingskills she acquired in her youth] is mybest and dearest friend,” Carriere says inearnest.Judge Dyke, Kilroy and Carriere werepart of a group of eight girls who forged atight bond by sharing classes and icecream, riding the bus together, andspending a week during the summer atChippewa Lake.“She was the first person I ever sawwearing Bermuda shorts,” Kilroy chucklesat the memory.Although two members in the circle offriends have since passed away, the othersstill get together regularly. And while thejudge is just “one of the girls” when she’swith her longtime friends, the respect andhigh regard they have for her is undeniable.“She’s like a mentor to me even thoughwe’re the same age. I admire Ace tremendouslybecause she’s so smart and wiseand never tries to change your opinion.She has empathy, is very humble, and hasspirituality about her. She’s caring andasks how you’re feeling even though she’sso busy. When you go to her house, she’sa gracious hostess. She raised remarkablechildren because she’s a wonderful motherand also took care of her own mother formany years,” Carriere says, with clearadmiration in her voice. “I’m so proudthat she’s my friend. When God made her,God should have made a lot like her.”ANN MARIE KIRCHNER DYKE’SFAMILY LEGACY ATNOTRE DAME ACADEMYMother - Elizabeth Buehner (attended2-year program held at NDA circa1914-1916)Aunt - Sister Rembarta, one of the firstsisters of Notre Dame in Cleveland andburied with the original sisters fromGermany on Woodland AvenueSister - Agnes Kirchner (Class of 1943)Sister - Margaret Mary Kirchner(Class of 1944)Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Seasons Fall 2007 11