Acting CIA director's Falls roots

So, who is acting CIA director Michael Morell, other than just a Cuyahoga Falls native?

Michael Morell

Well, before he joined the CIA in 1980 and became an expert on Asian affairs, Morell was a St. Joseph’s School student in Cuyahoga Falls through eighth grade, then went to Roberts Junior High before his 1976 graduation from Cuyahoga Falls High. He rode his bike and played a lot of baseball growing up on Notre Dame Avenue.

Karen Gaone of Cuyahoga Falls is Mike’s only sibling.

Mike got a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Akron and earned money as an usher at the old Richfield Coliseum, once home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The CIA paid for his Georgetown University doctorate.

After Michael and Karen's mother, Irene, died in April 2005, their father, Joseph, moved in with Karen and her family. 

Morell lives in McLean, Va., which is where the CIA has its headquarters, with his wife, Mary Beth, a Michigan native, and their three children.

Kathy Berg, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls with husband Ed Berg, is Mike’s cousin.

In May 2010, Morell was sworn in as CIA Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, succeeding Stephen Kappes.  On July 1, 2011, Morell became the Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Friday Morell got the same job after the resignation of David Petraeus, who confessed to having an affair.

To read more about Morrell in a 2008 Falls News Press article, click on http://fallsnewspress.com/news/article/3503622