First posthumous recipient spent entire career as champion of individuals with developmental disabilities.
CLEVELAND—June 23, 2026—Blossom Hill, a Northeast Ohio-based organization dedicated to the care of individuals with developmental disabilities, has announced that the recipient of its 2026 Award of Excellence is Deanna S. “Dee” Vosmik. A renowned advocate for special education services in Ohio and past vice president of the Blossom Hill board of directors who passed away in 2024, Vosmik becomes the first posthumous recipient of the recognition.
Vosmik had a long and impactful career in service to individuals with development disabilities and their families, with a list of accomplishments that continues to reverberate to this day. As the director of residential services at the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, she led the effort to build the county’s first group home for children and adults with developmental disabilities. From 1983-2002, she built 57 group homes in Cuyahoga County, many of which still exist today, including Blossom Hill’s Parma House and the Center Ridge House in Westlake. In 2014, she was inducted into the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities Hall of Fame.
The mission was a personal one for Vosmik, as her daughter, Lisa, sustained a traumatic brain injury and required specialized care. Lisa eventually became a resident of Center Ridge House until her own passing in 2015. Vosmik’s legacy continues at Blossom Hill, where another daughter, Lori Inks, serves as chief development officer.
“This is a full-circle moment for our family, some of whom traveled from as far away as Portland, Oregon, to be here and celebrate my mom,” said Lori Inks. “She was a dedicated supporter and volunteer with Children Forever, an educational program that served children with disabilities and later became Blossom Hill. My sister eventually lived in the first group home our mom helped establish in Cuyahoga County—Blossom Hill’s Center Ridge House. Today, I have the privilege of continuing her legacy through my work at Blossom Hill. It is both humbling and meaningful to celebrate the lasting impact she had on so many lives and the countless individuals and families who have benefited from her vision, compassion, and commitment.”
Vosmik, who had a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in special education, first worked for Easter Seals of Northeast Ohio, where she created the first respite program for caregivers of children with special needs. Her later efforts to supply alternative housing for individuals with disabilities led to the closure of several state institutions for the intellectually disabled in Ohio.
Blossom Hill’s Award of Excellence honors a person of distinction within the Blossom Hill organization, who exemplifies a generous spirit and a heart for service. It is bestowed annually at Blossom Hill’s Golf Outing, its signature fundraising event.
For more information about Blossom Hill, visit https://blossom-hill.org/.