Award-Winning Journalist, Loving Wife & Mother Passes Away

Mhari Saito -- a Shaker Heights native who won almost two dozen awards for her journalism work with ideastream and National Public Radio -- passed away Monday due to complications from cancer, ideastream announced.

Among those awards, the Ohio Associated Press recognized Saito as the Best Radio Reporter in the state last year.

She also received the Headliner Award -- a prestigious, national award -- for her work on a series called “Toxic Loans” that dissected the region’s foreclosure crisis and its impact on people.

Ideastream has posted a touching remembrance of Saito on its web site, which can be listened to here.

"It wasn’t just the reporting that made Mhari so appreciated here at ideastream," her coworkers wrote. "She never complained or criticized; she helped her colleagues --- always; and showed appreciation --- mostly in little ways, like the time she gave an intern a big bag of donut holes as a 'thank you' for some research. "

Saito is survived by her husband Tom Callahan and her daughters, Kaiah and Mia.

The family is holding a public reception from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Saint Dominic Catholic School. Schulte Mahon-Murphy is arranging the funeral, which will be private.