Class of 1957 Biographies

John Andrews Obituary

John Dwight Andrews, Jr., 70, of LaGrange, died Monday, June 9, 2008 at EMH Regional Medical Center after a short illness. He was born November 3, 1937 in Wooster. He was a 1957 graduate of Elyria High School and served with the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964.

John was employed as a project superintendent in the construction industry throughout Ohio and the Midwest, retiring in 2002. He was a member of The First Church in Oberlin, United Church of Christ and Carpenter’s Union Local No. 305, Norwalk.

He enjoyed golf, all sports, horses and working with his hands.

John is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lenore M. (nee Anthony); and daughter, Christa M. Andrews of LaGrange.

He was preceded in death by his parents John Sr. and Lucille J. (nee Weiker) Andrews, both in 1999; sisters, Marilyn Loper in 2002, and Jeannette Keim in 2003.

A graveside service will be Friday, June 13, 2008 at 9:30 A.M. in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township, followed by a memorial service at 11 A.M. at The First Church in Oberlin, United Church of Christ, 106 N. Main St., Oberlin. The Rev. David T. Hill, Pastor, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church. Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria, is handling arrangements.

Posted 4 May 2013

 

Esther Bendik Biography

One of Esther Bendik's proudest moments was performing with a symphony orchestra.

 

Esther performing

Circa 1994; recast 26 June 2013

 

Autobiography of Joanne Bokay Engle

 Although I lived in foster homes while growing up, I was able to go to a Baptist Bible College in Binghamton, New York. My degree was in Christian education, and later in 1968 I started a school in Toledo, Ohio, at Emmanuel Baptist Church where my husband Larry was pastor. The school, which includes all grades, is still in existence today. I have also attended Salisbury College (Maryland), Toledo University, and Akron University. In 1980 we moved to Stow, Ohio, where I taught English literature, American literature, and speech at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. I was privileged to have all three of our children in my classes and all three of my children graduated from CVCA. I thoroughly enjoyed my 43 years of teaching. Now both girls and my son are married and we have 11 wonderful grandchildren. I have traveled to England, Scotland, Germany, Holland, Israel, and all over the wonderful United States. The Lord has been gracious to us and we thank Him for His blessings. Larry and I have been married 53 years this June, 2013. We are enjoying traveling to The Villages, Orlando, and Tampa (where one daughter lives) now that he has joined me in retirement. See Joanne at home today

Updated 29 March 2013

Joanne Bokay Engle Photos

Joanne with Sparkie
The Chef
Larry Engle and Joanne Bokay Engle at home

Created 29 March 2013

 

Larry and Donna Boyd Biographies

I started college at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, in September 1957.  The dorm life was quite a change from living at home with your parents.  I started out in engineering, but this did not work out.  I found out I was not a draftsman.  I had to sit out for a semester.  In September 1958, I started again and graduated in February 1963 with a B.S. in Plant Science or as it was known then Botany.

 I had hoped to get a job with the US Dept. of Agriculture in their Plant Pest Control Division.  They wanted me to say that I would stay for 6 months after hiring.  I could not do this because of possibly being drafted.

 I received a call from the Food & Drug Administration in Cincinnati, Ohio.  They were looking for inspectors and said I could start even if I could only stay 2 weeks.  Well, I stayed for 37 years.  I was not familiar with FDA and knew they were involved with the cranberry scare in the late 50’s.

 I started on April 1, 1963 at the Cincinnati office as a Food and Drug Inspector.  The job title later changed to Investigator and later to Consumer Safety Officer.  I worked at the following locations as a field investigator:

            April 1963 to June 1967 – Cincinnati, Ohio

            June 1967 to September 1968 – Louisville, Kentucky

            September 1968 to September 1969 – Brooklyn, New York

            September 1969 to June 1975 – Indianapolis, Indiana

            June 1975 to March 1985 – Evansville, Indiana

            March 1985 to February 1992 – Indianapolis, Indiana

 The job involved inspecting all types of human and animal food plants, drug plants, device plants, blood banks, plasma centers, methadone clinics.  I got to see a lot of industries and learned a little bit about them.  The job became more complex through the years.

 In February 1992, I transferred back to the Cincinnati District Office as a Compliance Officer.  This was an office job.  I reviewed inspection reports and corresponded with the companies if there was a problem.  This could involve court action.  In May 2000, I retired from FDA.

 My main outside interest has been the automobile.  I was a young person during the muscle car era.  The car I liked best was the Chevrolet Corvette.  I bought my first one in 1966 and had one till 2000.  I met Donna in a Corvette club in Indianapolis and we were married in 1978.  She had two Corvettes and I had three.  The garage was full.  We competed in Corvette time trials and rallies.

 We also collected Corvette models for twenty years and have several thousand.  We also ran a part time business, D&L Corvette Supplies and sold literature and models at swap meets from Texas to Pennsylvania.  We are currently trying to sell our collection on the Internet EBAY Auctions.

 We also like auto racing.  We have attended all the Indianapolis 500’s since 1979 and all the Nascar Brickyard 400’s.  We have it easy at Indianapolis as Donna’s Mom and Dad live two blocks west of the Speedway.  We have also been to three Daytona 500’s.

 We also like to travel especially by cruise ships.  We have been to the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Panama Canal, Australia and Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland.  Attached is a photo from our latest trip.

We have no children.  We do have a cat named Willie who has been with us for 17 years.  He is very bossy.

We are looking forward to attending the 2002 reunion.  We have attended two previous reunions but missed the last one in 1997. 

P.S.  I never knew that “Hoppys” sidekick lived on my street in high school.

Created 2001; recast 5 May 2013

 

 

 

Rita Brown Clement Obituary

7 February 1938 - 17 September 2014

 

Graduation photo from 1957

circa 2014

Rita C. Clement (nee: Brown) 76, of Grafton passed away unexpectedly Wednesday 17 September 2014 at UH Parma Community GeneralHospital. She was born 7 February 1938 in Liverpool, England. She graduated from Elyria High School in 1957. She retired from American Greetings Co. where she was a Merchandiser.  She enjoyed working in her yard, camping, knitting, baking pies and loved her dogs; Bailey and Brandy.  Survivors include three sons; John M. (June) of Mebane, NC, Robert  A. (Sharon) of Elyria,  Mark W. (Kim) of Elyria, additional survivors include five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, a sister; Sheila Bockmore of Elyria.  Rita Brown Clement was preceded in death by her husband of forty seven years; John A. Clement, daughter Rita Mason and her parents; Leslie and Lillian (nee: Fellows) Brown.  The family will receive friends 4-7 PM Monday September 22, 2014 at The Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Services  38475 Chestnut Ridge Rd. (at State Rt. 57) Elyria (440) 322-4626 where funeral services will be at 7:00 PM Monday immediately following visitation.  Burial will be private. Her birth city of Liverpool is also the birthplace of John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr (aka Richard Starkey Jr.) aka "The Beatles."

 

 
 
 
 
 

Dick Cahl

SENOJAC

It all started while I was reading a diary from the Lewis and Clark Expedition of the Northwest Territory. Since I’ve moved to Oregon I’ve been very interested in what it must have been like to be on that historic expedition which begun at the Mississippi river and continued west along the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains and then along the Columbia river to the Pacific ocean. This historic trip is very well documented and some journals are available. Also there are some excellent videos on the Discover channel. This is where I first became ‘hooked” on this incredible adventure.

Along Lewis and Clark’s journey they where joined by the Frenchman “Charonneau” and his Shoshone wife “Sacagawea.” Sacagawea was a very important part of the expedition and many historians say that without her guidance and ability to interpret the many different Indian languages and dialects the success of the expedition would not have been possible. Sacagawea has been honored by the United States Government and is shone on the recently minted gold dollar. It was Sacagawea’s interpretation of a ritual practiced by young boys of the Arapaho tribe as part of their training to become braves that got my attention. I first read about it in 1999, one year after we moved to Oregon.

This ritual called “SENOJAC” in Arapaho is amazing to say the least. Arapaho Braves needed many skills for survival and therefore they had to start preparing at an early age. SENOJAC was maybe the most important because it taught patience, consideration, being one with nature, bravery and tenderness. After I read about it I wanted to experience what it must have been like to be a young brave in the Northwest. I learned that SENOJAC was not a name of a ritual but rather a journey from hope and aspiration through cunning, commitment, patience and if extremely fortunate, ultimately becoming the one in every 100 young braves that was successful.

Basically, SENOJAC involves convincing a baby owl to fly into your hand! This sounds unbelievable, but it is true and the technique is incredibly difficult. You must know the owl and be one with it! First, owls are nocturnal, their eyesight during the day is very poor. Second, their hearing is very keen and unidirectional. This is the reason they are observed turning their heads slowly.  In this way the owl can determine the exact location of their prey when the prey is hidden from view.  The owl, after locating the prey with this unidirectional, “sonar”, is then on alert to attack swiftly as soon as the prey leaves its hiding place.  Owls obtain their attributes by instinct, but like all other animals they must learn technique from their mother. The mother owl starts training their young as soon as they can fly. Also, the initial training occurs during the day so that other nocturnals will not harm the young owls. The mother owl sends the baby out of the nest on a limb high in the tree and then the mother flies to a position near the ground on a log, small tree or stump.  At this location the mother owl starts “whooing”…. whoo, whoo, whoo….”  The baby, hearing its mother, then starts to fly toward the sound relying only on its unidirectional “sonar.” At first the baby owl is confused so it flies in ever decreasing circles downward listening only to the whoo, whoo, whoo of the mother until ultimately the baby lands on its mother’s back. This procedure is practiced over and over until finally the mother does it at night to teach the baby how to hunt. The mother and young owl continue this until the young owl is able to hunt alone and survive in the wild.

The early Arapahos knew there where many important quantities to be learned by being “one with the owl”. Young boys on their path to becoming a brave watched the owls intently and realized that each mother owl’s “Whoo” was similar, but uniquely different. So “SENOJAC” was established. SENOJAC is the journey of a young braves quest to find a mother owl and her young and listen intently to her unique “Whoo” until he can imitate her “Whoo” exactly.  This is called “Whooing” and hopefully they can imitate the mother so exactly that the young owl can not distinguish between the two. In order to accomplish this the young brave must go out at sunrise each day and “whoo” in hopes the mother owl is nearby and is also training her young. If she is and if the young brave has perfected his “Whoo” the baby owl will fly in ever decreasing circles until it lands in his outstretched hands. Yes, it is possible, said Sacagawa to actually “Whoo” a baby owl to fly into your hands.

After I read this, I knew I had to try it myself even if the neighbors thought I sat on my spurs. But I had seen several owls and many times I know I heard “Whooing” in the early morning. So I started my “SENOJAC” in the fall of 1999. Each morning (well sometimes I missed), I would go out into the back portion of our property near the National Forest boundary and “whoo”. Sometimes, many times, I was disappointed only to see the frozen cloud of my breath and not hear or see an owl. I new what Sacagawea meant by patience. Sometimes however, I would witness the training of the young owl and hear the unique “Whooing” of the mother. Many times my “Whooing” was so bad I frighten both young and mother away. I realized that this would take time. Many times I felt I could never be an Arapaho brave. Sacagawea said that to become united in the earth and sky one must be patient in the  mind.

It was just sunrise on 30 October 2002, Sandy was in the kitchen making coffee and I was out back “Wooing” when suddenly I saw a young owl circling overhead. It was as small as my fist and I could tell it was making ever decreasing downward spirals toward me. I increased the volume of my “Whoo” and slightly elevated the pitch, (I learned this over the years as I watched and listened to many owl). Slowly the young owl was directly overhead, I extended my hands and the baby owl landed softy in the warmth of my leather gloves.

“Whooing” has changed my life. I know I can truly appreciate the native Americans and their oneness with our world. “Whooing” is a lost art. We should all do more “Whooing.”

Dickie

 

Circa 2002, recast 8 May 2013

 
 
 

Mike Carbin Obituary

Michael A. Carbin, age 75, of Pickerington, peacefully passed away Thursday, 30 October 2014 at the Pickering House. Mike was born 22 August 1939 in Fostoria, OH to the late Paul J. & Uldene (Stephenson) Carbin. Mike graduated from Elyria High School in 1957 and The Ohio State University. He taught health science in the Columbus Public Schools for 30 years, retiring in 1995. 

He is survived by daughters Kelly and Molly, special teaching friends, and former students. Mike supported many philanthropic organizations. He wanted to acknowledge Dr. Gina Love-Walker for her professional care. 

A Celebration of Life and interment at Violet Cemetery will take place in April,2015, with the time and place to be announced. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to either the PCMA Food Pantry or Wounded Warriors in his memory. 

Posted 15 November 2014

 

 

 

Tom Carter Biography

After graduation I went to Chicago Tech, then got a job with a local Co. as a draftsman. After a couple years of that I realized I didn't like the trade and went into business for myself. That proved to be successful, but there were to many hours involved so I dropped that . I then got a degree from The American Technical Society and went to work for another local company as a machinist tradesman. After working there for 38 years the company decided to close. There I was 60 years old with no job. I decided to go back to collage to upgrade my skills to compete with the younger generation. I went to LCCC 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 18 weeks on a real cram schedule. Studied Algebra , Trig, Geometry, Computer, Fluid Power, CNC programming and operation, more machine skills etc. Graduated with a 3.85 GPA and loved every minute of it. Sometimes I had to leave class a little early to beat those young whippersnappers to the cafeteria. I did acquire another job where I am currently employed.

I married Kathryn Rogers (class of 64) and have been married 35 years, We raised 3 children Terrie, who graduated from LCCC . Terrie and her husband (James Rinaldi) operate their own business in Lorain. They have my only grandchildren so far, Jennifer and Justin. They reside in Avon Lake.

My second child Thomas works for a local company and is doing well for himself.

My third child Kathryn , went into the Army Special Forces Airborne , After she served her hitch, she went to collage . She graduated from Cameron University in Oklahoma with a degree in Physiology and is presently working on her masters. Kathy went back into the Army and is a commissioned Officer.

The forth child is my nephew. My wife and I raised him so I consider him my own. Danny graduated from John Carol University with a business degree, and is presently a Lieut. Commander in the Army.

As for myself ,at this time of my life I have many interests. I do allot of genealogy for myself and sometimes I help others. My family were Quakers that came with William Pen Oct. 16, 1682 on a ship called The Lamb. It was an interesting study realizing that my family were there helping to build what we have today. I also do a bit of woodcraft. Toys for my grandchildren . I love to make fancy clocks. I also do tole painting for craft shows.

Tom Carter A Family Picture

Created 2001; recast 5 May 2013

Tom Carter and Family

 

 

Ralph Cheney Biography

   45 years - wasn't that just yesterday? Or a hundred years ago?  It is really great to see all the names and information on my former classmates.  And, yes, it does reunite - why just last week I got a call from Willie Junior - all because of this wonderful reunion!

   What have I done & where have I been?  Not that much and not that far - but OH, so much, and OH, how far!

   I married Margaret Lance - class of 1960, in November, 1960.  We had three children - Jim, Cathy & Jennifer. We lived in Prescott, AZ for about 2 years.  A beautiful town very similar to Elyria.  For want of a better job, we returned to good ol' Elyria. I worked in service stations - even owning and operating my own for awhile.  I started working at Gilford Instruments in Oberlin, OH as a shipping clerk and climbed the ladder to Supervisor and Traffic Manager.  The company was sold several times, the last being to Bayer Corp - yes, the aspirin people.  In their cost saving plan, they shut down the Oberlin plant and sent the work across the Big Pond to the country of Ireland.  So, as of Jan, 2001 - after 35 years of service - I am on severance - leading to retirement.  Now I"ll have time for all those "honey-do" jobs!

   My hobbies have been gardening, model trains and relaxing - and, of course, our seven grandchildren ranging in ages from almost 8 to 3 1/2 months. We have vacationed in Arizona several times - basically visiting the in-laws. In 1998 we took a sunrise hot air balloon ride in Sedona, AZ.  What a wonderful experience!  Very peaceful.

   I look forward to renewing old friendships. Ralph Cheney

   Ralph and Margaret and Ralph with pets in Prescott AZ

Circa 2001, recast 5 May 2013

 

 

Margaret and Ralph Cheney

Ralph and pets in Prescott, AZ some time ago

 

 

 

 

Chuck Cluley Biography and Obituary

Jackie and I got married in 1989. Between us we have five sons, Chris and Marty Settevendemie in Los Osos, California, Chuck and Michael Cluley in Elyria, Ohio, and S/Sgt. Chip Cluley in Charleston, South Carolina. I am retired from Sears and Jackie is employed at J.C. Penny's. The Happy Couple

The following obituary is from the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram

Charles Conrad Cluley, 74, of North Ridgeville, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Grace Hospital, Fairview, following a short illness. Born in Elyria, where he lived most of this life, until moving to North Ridgeville in 2007. He studied Business at Oberlin School of Commerce. He worked in Retail Sales at JC Penny and Sears at Midway Mall in Elyria, retiring in 2000. He had a great sense of humor and was known as Coupon Charlie. He loved to cook, was an avid Cleveland Sports fan, and was a member of the VFW Post 1079 Men’s Auxiliary and a past member of the Elks and Eagles Clubs in Elyria. Survivors include his wife, Jackie; sons, Chuck (Merna) Cluley of Elyria, Chip (Elvia) Cluley of Kuwait, Michael Cluley of Cleveland; step sons, Chris (Linda) Settevendemie and Martin Settevendemie, both of Los Osos, California; eight grandchildren; brothers, Greg (Rita) Cluley of Wakeman, Dennis Cluley of Elyria; sister, Kathy Crigger of Elyria; brother-in-law, John (Mary) Bichimer of Elyria; aunt, Rosemarie Springer of Elyria; special cousin, Phyllis Berger of Walnut Creek; and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles R. Cluley; his mother, Ellamae Cluley; step mother, Mary Cluley; sister, Joella Marcum-Boss; granddaughter, Erin Cluley and step son, Anthony Settevendemie.

Memorial calling hours will be held Thursday, April 3, 2014 from 2 to 5 P.M. at Bogner Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 36625 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Friendship APL, 8303 Murray Ridge Rd., Elyria, OH 44035.

Updated 2 April 2014

Jackie and Chuck Cluley

 
 
 

Nancy Cook

Prepared for '87 Reunion:

Nancy was living in Seffner, Forida. She was a homemaker and her husband, Lee Atterson was a Shipbuilding Superintendent for Tampa Ship. At that time they had been married for 30 years, had 4 children and 1 grandchild. Her interests at that time were oil painting, sewing crafts, reading and enjoying her grandaughter. She also enjoyed keeping in touch with her friends back home in Ohio.

Circa 1987, recast 6 May 2013

 

Larry Arthur Diederich Obituary

Larry Arthur Diederich 75, of North Ridgeville unexpectedly passed away 8 September 2014. He was born 25 February 1939 in Elyria. Larry was a 1957 Elyria High School Graduate and and retired as a machinist 1997 from GM Fisher Body following thirty four years of service. He was a direct descendent of the founders of Huntington Township. Larry was a member of the Lorain County Genealogical Society, Lorain County Historical Society, and the Elyria United Polish Club.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, hosting Fourth of July parties. He also enjoyed hunting, gardening, watching football, Cleveland Indians, and coaching LaPorte Girls Hot Stove softball.

Survivors include his wife of thirty years; Sally A. (nee: Simo), two daughters; Amy L. Zimmerman of SC, Stacey L. Mayer (Ron) of Vermilion, a son; Brian J. Diederich (Sharon) of SC, additional survivors include eleven grandchildren, a sister; Kathy Gemmel (Les) a brother; Allen (Sylvia) of Oviedo, FL. Larry was preceded in death by his parents; Carl and Olive (nee: Leimbach) Diederich, a sister; Marlene Messaros, and a brother; Don Diederich.

Funeral Services are 1:00 PM Friday 12 September 2014 at The Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Services 38475 Chestnut Ridge Rd. (at State Rt. 57) Elyria (440)322-4626 where the family will receive friends from 11:00 AM Friday until time of services at 1:00 PM. Rev. Dave Timm will officiate. Burial will be at Brookdale Cemetery in Elyria.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.laubenthalmercado.com 
 

Posted 14 September 2014

 

 

 

Gloria Doolan

Prepared for '87 Reunion:

Gloria and her husband, Ronnie Lyons lived on a farm in Bethlehem, Ky. They had 4 children, Jeff, Denise, Mark and David. Gloria worked for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Ronnie was working for Henry County Road Dept. In 1987, they had been married for 29 years and were grandparents of two grandchildren and two step-granddaughters.

Circa 1987, recast 6 May 2013

 

Dale and Patricia Eager Biographies

This past year has been a busy one for the Eagers. Dale and Pat purchased a new condominium in Westerville, their home town, and also a new home in "The Villages" in Florida. Dale also bought a new hi-powered notebook computer. By now, you probably realize, that Dale is spearheading this effort towards the finest reunion of class members ever for the summer of 2002.

Dale retired 5 years ago after a successful management career with a major firm in Westerville. Dale's joy comes from his children and grandchildren. He and Pat have traveled 37 states to include Alaska and the British Isles. Dale enjoys working on family genealogy, having traced his family name back to the 1700's where he found Eagers living in New York. He enjoys American history, particularly the Civil War and World War II. He still plays baseball and says he's "trying to teach the appropriate muscles how to perform an adequate golf swing."

Dale and Pat Photo

Circa 2001, recast 5 May 2013

Patricia and Dale Eager

 

Ed Fitz Obituary

Edward Linus Fitz, 62, of Canton and formerly of Elyria, died Saturday [June 30, 2001] in his home following an extended illness.

Born in Elyria, he had been a Canton area resident since 1963.

He served in the Air Force for four years.

He retired from Picker International (Marconi) in Canton, where he was employed for more than 35 years in medical imaging equipment services.

Mr. Fitz was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Marie C. (nee Hamker); sons Russell of Galion, Gene of Louisville, Ohio, and Bill of North Canton; daughters Deborah Swinehart of North Canton and Peggy Clugsten of Magadore; nine grandchildren; and his mother, Ruth A. Fitz of Canton.

He was preceded in death by his father, Linus H., in 1976; and a sister, Marilyn Brown, in 1983.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. today until the time of services at 11 a.m. in the Rossi Funeral Home, 730 30th St. NW, Canton.

The Rev. Kevin Fete, pastor of Little Flower Catholic Church, will officiate.

Burial will be in Northlawn Cemetery, Canton. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Little Flower Grotto Fund, 2040 Diamond St. NE, North Canton 44721.

 

George Garay Biography

(George passed away suddenly on July 16, 2001. Below his obit is a bio he prepared about six months earlier.)

George A. Garay

George A. Garay, 62, of Amherst, died Monday in the Intensive Care Unit of Community Health Partners in Lorain. Born in Filbert, WV, he came to Ohio in 1951 and lived in Elyria until moving to Amherst 36 years ago. He retired in 1979 from Ford Motor Co. in Lorain after 36 years as a maintenance electrician. Mr. Garay was a member of Family Fellowship Foursquare Gospel in Amherst. He was a hobby enthusiast and enjoyed model railroads and woodworking. He also enjoyed computing, reading and dogs. Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Gayle Lynne (nee Petry), of Amherst; a daughter, Christine Marie Garay, of Amherst; his mother, Mary (nee Mercs) Elkin; and a brother, Charles, both of Elyria. He was preceded in death by his father, Steven Garay, in 1942. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst, where funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday. The Rev. Bill Mouer, pastor of Family Fellowship Foursquare Gospel, Amherst, will officiate. Burial will be in Brownhelm Cemetery.

To the Class of '57: Greetings

My name is George A. Garay. Most of you will have to get out your copy of the yearbook to discover who I am! In high school I was a quiet unpretentious student who in all honesty was scared to death. My family had moved to Elyria from southern W.Va. in 1953. I immediately was enrolled in the EHS program, as a freshman, soon after we had settled down on West River Road. I quickly discovered that I had transferred from 1st grade to graduate school. The teachers were even talking in a strange language that I couldn't comprehend. I was to shy and intimated to ask for any help or explanations, as a result I managed to muddle my way thru 4 years of this strange educational program, plus at least one summer of "summer school" and received my "General Education Diploma" in '57. In my senior year a guidance counselor, no I can't remember his name, informed this country boy that I could succeed in anything except journalism!

Fortunately in '57 jobs were plentiful and by mid-summer I was recapping automobile tires in Elyria. The job was a bit dirty but it was fun and educational and yes I did receive my first big paychecks. Soon I wanted my own set of wheels, finding what I thought was a great buy I purchased my first CAR. To help shorten this BIO let me say that I soon found out that a certain unnamed car dealer who quickly ended my budding career owned the tire dealership. No I hadn't purchased the car from him. At the time I was a member of the 357th Ord. Co. of the Ohio National Guard stationed in Elyria. It was thru the 357th that I got my next job. Remember the Elyria Sesquicentennial in 1958! Well I was one of the "soldiers" driving an army jeep that just happened to be pulling one of the parade floats during the celebration. Oh yes! They were Army jeeps disguised as a small float pulling each large float. Unfortunately only a small square hole had been provided for the drivers to drive the jeeps from and this hole was also the only way for the heat from the engine to be dissipated! I must have lost about 20-30 pounds during that parade, I know that I was soaked from perspiration when the parade was finally over! As it turned out the company that built those parade floats also provide me with my next job. W.C. Abernathy & Co. of Red Rock, Maryland hired me to drive the company truck, hauling materials for the floats all over the eastern half of the U.S. What a grand job that was, $25 per week plus ALL expenses. I had photos of my mug published in many small town newspapers while I was ostentatiously arranging the local beauty queens dresses while they were seated on the floats! But as always, good things never last, after only one season I finally got a job that turned out to be "my career".

In May of '59 I landed a job at the Ford Motor plant in Lorain. With absolutely no thought of a career or future I was able to work my way into a production job that I actually enjoyed. About this time I had also started a radio-tv sales and service business in Elyria. Along with two partners we opened Elyria Electronics on the old Lodi Street (now Lake Ave.) in Elyria. This lasted about five years when one of the partners decided that he wanted out. He retained an attorney that was supposed to offer us his 1/3 interest, but instead filed legal documents that dissolved the partnership, selling everything with all profits going to the partner wanting out. That put the finishing touches to that phase of my life.

In 1962 I met my future wife, we dated off and on for about 3 years when she finally popped the question. Well are we or are we not going to get married? We tied the proverbial knot on Feb.6th, 1965. Our first child, a daughter was born in October of '66, and our son arrived in June of '68. In all honesty, I have no regrets what-so-ever over this enduring relationship. Thus far we have had a wonderful and fulfilling marriage that has never faltered. Gayle has stood by my side thru many a difficult moment and we both are richer for it. Early in our marriage Gayle's father, a tool and die maker by trade, informed me that I would never amount to anything unless I got into some sort of a skilled trade. As a result I took an apprenticeship test in 1966. In 1972 I was accepted as an electrical apprentice at the Lorain Ford plant. I was a maintenance electrician until I retired Jan. 1st, '97 after working for just under 38 years for Ford.

My wife and I just recently purchased our present home so that we could do the things we always wanted to do. We have just over 6 acres so a small garden is definitely in the works (yes we know that we are crazy) and we now have a place for our small but growing zoo. Hence the MDZOO in our E-mail address, that's Mom, Dad and the Zoo. We currently have two 13 yr. old Shih Tzu's, a very active 4 yr. old Maltese, a ornery Maine Coon cat, a Moluccan Cockatoo, a small pocket parrot and finally tropical fish. Yes I'm now a retired electrician playing "doorman" to the four-legged critters! But, what the heck, we do enjoy it. Gayle and I are looking forward to this grandiose reunion being planned and with the Good Lords blessing we hope to meet as many of you as possible. From the looks of the effort being put into the web site this will be a great reunion. We are enjoying all the camaraderie on the web site. Everyone, let's plan on attending, I'll admit to being a little overweight and getting bald, now what has happened to you in the last 45 years?

Regards to the Class of '57

George and Gayle Garay!!!! See George and Gayle

 

 

 

Ed Gembka Biography

The tall Polish boy from Elyria!

The road well traveled.

That tall skinny 17 year old, 45 years ago or so, graduated from high school! Today, Ed's still married to that lovely Sylvia June Howard, the nurse, the daughter of a Baptist minister, the love of Ed's life. Julie Anne Nardi, the daughter, has her BSN, lives in 4000 square feet of luxury with Ed's really great son'n law and his 4 grandsons, Jacob, Michael, Richard "Edward," and Daniel. Son Eddie III, a practicing architect, lives a bit farther down the road and with his beautiful wife Sandy, they are the parents of a beautiful "Gembka" named Sydney, the only granddaughter so far. Cindy, another beautiful daughter, with her degree in finance, has the title of Marketing Director of a commercial real estate company in Cincinnati, still single, with that status about to change.. The tall skinny kid doesn't know which road he took to get here, but he arrived, still healthy, very happy, and not so rich.....or is he.

My Polish grandfather, a milkman in Poland, arrived at the shores of New York shortly after the turn of the century, unable to speak English with no discernable skills. My Serbian grandfather and his Croatian wife to be, arrived here about the same time, my grandfather being 16 years old at the time. Both sets of grandparents had much in common: poverty, old country habits and superstitions, the depression, and with them they brought the disease of mental illness, from which my sister, an aunt, and cousins from both sides of my family suffered. My father and mother provided security for their children, having never attended a movie or having gone to a restaurant for dinner. My father learned early in life that if you had any fun, you would get hurt.....we stayed home, made no noise and had very few visitors.

When I graduated from high school in 1957, I got a full time job working at the factory where my dad had worked all of his life. The smell of the oil coming out of that factory on a hot summer day, put me on an airplane, 2 months after graduation, to Los Angeles, CA. I stayed for two years, attending Santa Monica City College for one year, working, going to the beaches, having a lot of fun, returning home in 1959. In 1961, I was finally drafted into the US Army......but of course, I decided a 3 year enlistment would be better. I was assigned to a finance unit, went to Germany for 25 months, learned the language well enough in 6 months to really enjoy my time there.

At age 21, I joined the Masonic Lodge in Elyria and was recruited for a job selling insurance for the Allstate Insurance Company. Today, I'm still an insurance peddler, but now specializing in retirement planning products and giving financial advice, independent, working out of my office in the basement of my home. Having spent all my money sending kids to college, I will be working out of my basement office well through my retirement years.

Who made the difference in my life? An aunt who made sure I went to church every Sunday and at age 13, sent me off for catechism lessons. A mother who always made sure I had clean ironed white shirts to wear to school. A guitar teacher who taught me how to tie a Windsor knot. Mike Whitman, the nephew of JC Penney who pulled me aside and told me that if I ever needed a job, mention his name at any JC Penney store in the country and I would have a job. My choice of the "classical curriculum" at Elyria High School, put me in classes with the finest kids in Elyria and some of the finest teachers the school had to offer. I led a charmed life. In the '70's, I was the founding charter president of an Optimist Club, learning to speak publicly and rising to an offer 5 years later to be the Ohio Governor of Optimist's clubs. Today, I still get involved with community service, greenhouse gardening, spending time trying to stay healthy with an athletic club membership. I never intended my bio to turn into a book.....it would never sell. If you took the time to read this far, my thanks. I'm not a bad guy.

A Gembka family photo

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

The Gembka Family

 

 

Jerry Gilbert Obituary

Jerry Curtis Gilbert, 75, of Lorain, passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at St. John Medical Center in Westlake OH after a brief illness. He confessed Christ at an early age and attended services at Triumphant Church the Kingdom of God Christ in Barbourville KY and St. Mary's Pentecostal Church of God in Elyria, OH.

Jerry was born in Barbourville, KY on March 16, 1938, moving to Lorain County at an early age. He graduated from Elyria High School where he played on the school's basketball, baseball, and track teams. Jerry was especially talented in basketball and continued to play after graduation until his early forties. These activities played a major role in Jerry's life, as he was able to positively influence not only his children, but other young individuals, as a volunteer basketball and baseball coach/mentor. He was also a skilled golfer and his talent and love for the sport allowed him to travel to numerous courses around the U.S.

Jerry worked as an electrician and was owner-operator of EKS Construction. He retired from Gilcrest Electric in 2000. He was also employed as an assistant basketball coach for the Clearview High School varsity basketball team and held a part-time position with Dick's Sporting Goods in the Golf Pro Shop.

Jerry will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Barbara Gilbert (nee Wells); sons, Jerry (Anita) Gilbert Jr. of Sacramento, CA, Gene (Brenda) Gilbert, James (Veronica) Gilbert, Jeffrey (Lisa) Gilbert, all of Elyria, Eric Gilbert of North Royalton, OH and Kenny Gilbert of Lorain, OH; daughter, Shayla Gilbert of Columbus, OH; brothers, Samuel (Ernestine) Gilbert Jr. of Elyria, OH, Anthony (Erma) Gilbert of Fairmead, CA, Micha (Nadine) Gilbert of Lorain, OH; sisters, Valerie (Jerry) Warfield of Lorain, OH, Sandra Gilbert of Elyria, OH and Olivia Gilbert of Youngstown, OH; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; one uncle, Eugene (Midge) Mays and one aunt, Thelma Bledsoe, both of Barbourville, KY; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jerry was preceded in death by infant twin sons, Keith and Kevin Gilbert; loving parents, Samuel and Mary Gilbert; and brothers, Ernest and Allen Pope.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 3, 2013 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. until time of service at noon at Lake & Walnut Church of Christ, 1101 Lake Ave., Elyria, OH 44035; where Jerome H. Garrison is Minister. Burial will follow in Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria.

Professional services entrusted to Brown-Robinson Funeral Home, 2652 Broadway Ave, Lorain, OH 44052; (440) 244-1831.

Posted 1 May 2013

 

 

John and Susan (Payne) Hasko Biographies

 Susan and I were the perennial high school sweethearts. We met in 1955 and after eight years of dating, going steady, not going steady, not dating, not seeing each other, seeing each other, dating, and getting engaged, we finally were married in November 1963. At this point I had completed over 5 years in the Air Force spent in training, a 3-year tour of duty in France and 1 1/2 year tour of duty in California. I believe that the courting period of our lives must be a record!

 After graduation I obtained employment at the Bendix Westinghouse Automotive Air Brake Company while continuing to work part time at Bazley's Meat Market on Broad Street and attending night school. In November 1958 I enlisted in the United States Air Force and unknowingly, began a career that would span 25 years. I was a Security Policeman, investigator, First Sergeant and a drill sergeant. After graduation Susan went to work as a receptionist for a local Doctor and later went to work at Elyria Memorial Hospital. She continued working there until we married.

 Against her family's wishes, I spirited Susan off to our new home in Wyoming. Her mother swore that Cheyenne, WY would have wooden sidewalks, complete with hitching posts for horses, that we would either die from thirst as we traveled westward or that wild Indians would attack. As it turns out, her mother was at least partially right, as there was a horse hitching post outside of the base commissary!

 The first of four children, our son, Christopher was born in Cheyenne. Unfortunately, Chris was brutally murdered in Riverside, CA over the July 4th weekend in 1993 during an ATM robbery. The three killers got $40.00.They are all in state prison with two receiving life without the possibility of parole sentences and the other received a 25 years to life sentence. In 1966 we were transferred from Cheyenne to San Antonio, TX, where I trained new recruits. Our daughter Kimberly was born and our second son William, was stillborn.Susan ran into Bob Roskoski during one of her Doctor visits! After three years of being the mean old drill sergeant, I was sent to Vietnam in 1969.

 After my tour in Vietnam we were re-assigned to the United Kingdom in 1970.We enjoyed England very much and extended our three-year tour to six years. We even took time out to learn the language! In our last attempt at parenthood, our son Kevin was born. During our six-year tour we visited France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Scotland. In 1974 we took a camping tour of England and Scotland, camping at Lock Ness; visited many castles and private estates in England and Scotland; drove on old Roman roads; visited an old Viking ship burial site; ate lunch at Hadrians Wall; toured Stratford-Upon-Avon, London, and many other points of interest. Susan took up the art of brass rubbing and we have an excellent collection of brass rubbings she rendered at Westminster Abbey.

After many years overseas, we returned to the United States on July 4th, 1976 and were re-assigned back to Cheyenne, WY. What a cultural shock! Re-learning to drive on the proper side of the road was a minor problem in comparison to the volume of traffic, the huge shopping malls, the prices of everything, and the crowds of people everywhere!

 After 12 years of the easy life being mother, wife, chauffeur, chief cook and bottle washer, Susan returned to work at a local hospital.In 1979 I was re-assigned to a remote (no family) location in Alaska as Chief of Security Police. In 1980 I returned to Wyoming. Yep, three tours, almost eleven years at one base. In 1981, we were re-assigned to March Air Force Base, CA on what would be my last tour. I was the Operations Superintendent for 15th Air Force Security Police, overseeing security operations for tanker, bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, communication sites, and Minuteman and Titan missiles at 10 stateside and three overseas locations. Susan went to work for the General Telephone Company (GTE).

 In 1983, I retired as a Chief Master Sergeant (E9) and we went back to, you guessed it, Cheyenne, WY. Susan went to work for a local Doctor, and I secured employment as the Security Director at the local Community College.

 After two years of very bitter and long Wyoming winters, watching the grass grow during the very abbreviated growing season and watching cars slowly rust, we moved back to California. I had been offered a position with Rockwell International, in their Internal/International Security Group and Susan returned to work at GTE. She is still there as a Resource Manager and Analyst and she will retire in June of next year.I retired from the Boeing Company  (Boeing bought out Rockwell) in January 2000.

 Our two children have presented us with six beautiful grandchildren, three boys and three girls, ranging in age from eight years old to six weeks old. Both Kevin and Kim live in the local area, defined in Californian terms, as less than 60 minutes or 60 miles away. Of course, that all depends on the volume of traffic, the time of day and the number and location of high-speed police chases in progress!

 Susan and I both enjoy the theatre, reading, and camping. One of my hobbies is metal detecting and you can see me on the local beaches looking for lost treasures. So far I believe I found enough money to pay for the first set batteries. Both of us greatly enjoy reading and we read everything from cereal box tops to modern romance, potboiler techo novels, military history and the classics.

 In an attempt to find distant living relatives, Susan and I, my five brothers and sisters and their spouses are taking a trip to the Czech Republic in October of this year.

 We really enjoy camping and traveling in our motor home and intend to see the United States beginning right after Susan retires and we attend the great class of '57 45th re-union.  After all up to this point, we experienced so little travel!

 The re-union committee is doing an outstanding job and we salute those who have put forth the effort to make this re-union the best ever.  Our heart felt thanks and praise to those who contribute their resources and time so generously! See John and Susan dining with Roskoskis

Circa 2001, recast 5 May 2013

 

 

Terry Hastings Biography

I guess I will admit to being the class "dunce". After we received our diplomas at Ely Stadium that evening, I continued my high school education by going to summer school for, I think, two months. I took Health...I had to get a half of credit...then the big day came...I really graduated! From there, I went to work for Elyria Savings & Trust but I was fired for messing up Christmas Club accounts about a year later. Oh, I was so young and dumb! So I said goodbye to Elyria...

And enlisted in the United States Air Force in August 1958. I did return to Elyria after I was discharged in March 1962 for about 13 months and worked for Peerless Laundry. Let me say that I was married in Texas in 1960 and we were divorced in 1962...married again in 1963 to a Grafton girl and we split in 1971. In 1963, I reenlisted into the Air Force and remained until I retired from active duty in Oct 1979. I had assignments at eleven different bases with a tour in Vietnam. Oh yeah, I remarried in 1971, and Donna and I have been together ever since...a truly wonderful marriage. Hey, if anybody needs a marriage counselor, I can help! My mother always said I had to be married in order to "fool" around. (Catch my drift?) "Mom, I wish you didn't tell me that."

Let me go back...after I retired from active duty I went to work for a Navy contractor in Norfolk, VA for about nine months in 1980, and then I was accepted into Air Force Civil Service later that year. I worked at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, VA commuting between there and Virginia Beach, VA where we lived. I stayed in that position until I retired on May 1st, 1999. Total years with the Air Force come to 38 years, 11 months, and 14 days. We now live in Newport News, VA...and I have a total of five children, two girls, and three boys...and eight grandchildren. "Oh mother, again, why did you say that?" Donna and I participate in "Relay for Life" every summer; a charity event dedicated to those who have cancer, are cancer survivors, or those who lost the battle. I do a few other insignificant things too. To those who read this: I wish you the very best and if you haven't read this...too bad!

I'll see you all at the reunion. And it will be the best ever! Life is grand! A Family Picture

Terence “Terry” Barton Hastings, 65, of Newport News, Va., and formerly of Elyria, died Monday at his home. Born in Elyria, he had been a resident of the Tidewater area for the past 24 years. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a master sergeant with 21 years of service and later retired from Civil Service at Langley Air Force Base with 19 years of service. Mr. Hastings was very involved as a volunteer for Relay for Life. Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Donna; sons Kevin, Patrick and Greg; daughters Lisa Hastings and Kim Clemens; 11 grandchildren; his mother, Dorothy Hastings; and a brother, Phillip. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Hastings. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. today at Weymouth Funeral Home Chapel, 12746 Nettles Dr., Newport News, Va. Interment with full military honors will be in Peninsula Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, 895 Middleground Blvd., Suite 154, Newport News, Va. 23606. — published April 29, 2004

Terry Hastings and Family

 

Judy Hawkins Biography

I graduated from M.B.Johnson School of Nursing. I worked for one year at Elyria Memorial Hospital and then moved to Cleveland  and worked at the Cleveland V.A. hospital as a Psychiatric nurse for 34 years. Needless to say, no two days were ever the same, but I loved it!

Currently I am divorced. I have two grown daughters: Heidi and Halle. Heidi, is a stay at home "Mom" and has three boys.The youngest, is a challenge, with Down Syndome, but such a blessing in our lives! Halle, is a model/actress, recently married to R&B vocalist, Eric Benet. As a result of that union, I have acquired a grandaughter by "osmosis"!

I recently retired to the "Shores of Lake Erie" What do I do? Absolutely nothing! Life is good! Warmest regards to all!

See Judy and Deja

Halle Gets Oscar !

Circa 2001, recast 2013

Judy and Deja

Source: Chronicle Telegram, Mar. 26, 2002
HOLLYWOOD — Oscar made history Sunday night and for many it was a sweet victory, long past due.

The double victory for Denzel Washington and Halle Berry — who became the first blacks to win Best Actor and Best Actress trophies in a single year — was one of those symbolic triumphs that signal social watersheds. And while Berry may be a long way from Ohio, she still has ties to Elyria. Berry’s mother, Judy Hawkins, is a 1957 graduate of Elyria High School, where she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen. Hawkins’ parents, Earl and Nellie Hawkins, lived in Elyria before they died several years ago. Earl Hawkins was a captain on the Elyria Police Department and was at one time in charge of the detective bureau.

Although Judy Hawkins is from Elyria, Berry was born in Cleveland and raised in Bedford Heights. Judy Hawkins is a retired registered nurse. Berry’s second cousin, David Dicken, runs Dicken Funeral Home in Elyria. Dicken’s father, Harold Dicken, was the brother of Nellie Hawkins. “She’s an extremely talented young lady,” David Dicken said of Berry. “My mother, brother and sister are all certainly proud of her.” The Dicken family was glued to the TV set Sunday night to watch Berry accept her award. They even spotted Judy Hawkins in the audience. “We get questions about it frequently,” Dicken said of his famous family connection. “She went off and made a great life for herself and we’re happy for her.’’

Seeing the two winners on stage with the evening’s black emcee (the often acid-tongued Whoopi Goldberg) on a night when Sidney Poitier was one of the honorary awards winners, made a unique impact — but it was for the kinds of roles they played as well as the facts of their race and joint high achievement. In 1939, Hattie McDaniel became the first black actor to win an Oscar for “Gone With the Wind.” It was a bittersweet victory; McDaniel’s role was blasted by progressive black groups, and she was straitjacketed for much of the rest of her career in similar, stereotyped roles.

Now Washington has won for his part as Alonzo Harris in the violent police thriller “Training Day,” playing a charismatic but corrupt narcotics detective who bullies his narcotics squad trainee (Ethan Hawke) while ruling the roost in an L.A. battle zone. Berry beat the field for her steamy part in “Monster’s Ball” as Leticia Musgrove, a Southern mother double bereaved — by the execution of her husband and the car-accident death of her son. Both movies are frank, verbally profane and violent. They show things unshowable in the time of “Gone With the Wind” or even 20 or 30 years later. But mostly, they showed that blacks could be portrayed onscreen as complex human beings — part good, part bad — rather than the bigot-fodder of decades ago: the cardboard villains, comic butts or long-suffering saints and mammies of Hollywood’s Golden Age. That battle, at least onscreen, was settled long ago. But this year’s double Oscar seals the contract. Berry gave a tearful, highly emotional acceptance speech, perhaps the longest since Greer Garson’s for “Mrs. Miniver.” Washington was smiley, upbeat in his brief speech.

Chronicle-Telegram reporter Christina Jolliffe contributed to this story.

 

Judy Henninger Biography

For the class reunion in 1972, Judy tells us the following: (Mrs. David Newell) 47 Zeller Ct., Berea, Ohio, 44017.  Children:  Ingrid 7 and Amy 4 ½ .  Judy is a housewife, but plans to spend this summer as a camp nurse.  She graduated from Metro General Hospital Nursing School in 1960, attended evening school at Baldwin Wallace, graduating in 1970.  She belongs to Berea Human Relations Council, is interested in local political scene, city government, etc.  Judy says she is taking classical guitar lessons and plays poorly!!

For the class reunion in 1987:  (Mrs. David Newell)  13792 Brigadoon Way, Strongsville, OH 44136  Judy is a counselor for mental health center for Human Services.  Her husband is a music teacher.  They have been married for 26 years and have two children and one is on the way – due in October.  Fairly lazy – enjoy watching the woods in the backyard, reading, walking, swimming, country music and classical, and flea market shopping. She is also a Garrison Keillor addict,

This is all we know about Judy Henninger.  In school, she is remembered as being soft-spoken and well liked. 

If there’s anyone who would like to make a written contribution to this writing, please let us hear from you. Send a e-mail to EdGembka@aol.com

Circa 1972, 1987, and recast 6 May 2013

 

 

PAT@CONNIE KILLION d.b.a. CONNIE'S COTTAGE

July 24, 2001

EHS CLASS OF "57"

HELLO TO ALL,

PLEASE FIND THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PAT KILLION AND HIS MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS AS FOLLOWS

After the successful (?) completion of high school, memories of which include ducktails, long sideburns, smoking next to the barbershop corner of 6th and Middle, a pack of "Luckies" rolled into the sleeve of a white "T" shirt, from shop class to college prep and all the indecision that goes with career search, attempts at athletics, theater, and yes even an attempt at the all meaningful "flat-top" (which like so many other things did not work out well as hair was too fine). I probably remain in your memory as "Francis Killion who??"

AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY!!!! 

I was accepted to college at Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. My plans were to pursue a career as a minister in the Methodist Church. I was immediately assigned as the youth minister in Carrolton, Ohio. I commuted there each weekend, and life became full and VERY hectic for a 19 year old that had little if any understanding of the scope and depth this career path would place on one so young, immature, and poorly prepared to accept the demands of adulthood. After a full year of trying to deal with this life and make it work, I accepted the guidance and wise council of my dad and resigned my position to take time to re-evaluate my life and career goals. I think I also realized that my decision had been made on a matter of what I felt others expected of me, rather than what I knew was best for me. somewhat of a theme song for the first 30 years. I floated through my sophomore year with no purpose, goal, or plans. I made every mistake and exercised all the bad judgements that any young male totally on his own for the first time in life could make. As my second year in college came to a close, both Mount Union and I realized the need to take time off and regroup. I left college and returned home to Elyria. In what was to be a temporary job I returned to a position with the Nobil Shoe store that had been my high school source of spending money. As is so typical of most retail employment, I quickly advanced into a management position and became self absorbed with the title. Ego and financial success took priority and the path was set. This path led me to some 40 years of highs, lows, successes, and failures that brought us to where we are today. Early on I met Norma, my first wife. We were married in June of 1960. This union was met with the usual enthusiasm of young adults. In 1961 we welcomed our first born, Justine Marie (Tina) and again in 1963 we became new parents of Patricia Rene (Trish). Shortly thereafter we were transferred to Pottstown, Pennsylvania near Philly. And thus it began. The marriage slowly began to crumble. The worse things became at home, the more I worked to stay away from home. This then led to my becoming undone not only as a husband but also with my job. I lost both in the summer of 1971. I walked away from this with my clothes, a 1965 Dodge Dart and an undying love for my Tina and Trish. Time does heal all wounds. I have accepted my failures, Norma and I are better friends than we could ever have been married partners. 

On to phase two. As always the wounded dog returns home with its tail between its legs and life goes on. I was approached by an acquaintance from JC Penny and I accepted a job offer. I also met my Connie Anne and life again had purpose and meaning. We met in September were married in November. And yes I know we were both accused of a rebound affair (she had just broken a long engagement) but 30 years later this rebound affair is stronger than ever. We were content with each other as we set our plans and goals. In 1973 we met our first challenge when our first child (Michael) was still born at full term. For Connie whose Italian heritage longed for a house full of children this was a major disappointment. For me I think reality of life smacked me up side the head and I realized it was time to grow up. Then in 1975 we were able to get through a difficult pregnancy and our daughter Carey Beth was born. She was 4 lb 7oz and fit into the palm of my hand, but in spite of this God had given us all we could have asked for, and she continues to amaze and please us to this day (well I should say most of the time. Sometimes she is a normal independent 26 year old and does things that to which dad may take exception).  Having finally accepted my responsibilities as an adult our JC Penny career begins in earnest.  From 1971 to 1980 I was merchandise manager at JC Penny in North Olmsted, Ohio and then I was promoted to human resource manager. From 1980 to 1989 I was human resource and operations manager at JC Penny in Parkersburg, West Virginia. From 1989 to 1992 I was human resource manager for a new store in an existing market at JC Penny in Cheektowaga, New York (a Buffalo suburb). I closed two stores and relocated  and reassigned all associates into the new store. All told this was resolving and satisfying some 400 associates from the closing units and staffing the new store with 500+ associates.  When the store opened I was reassigned as operations manager (responsible for plant, equipment, maintenance, security, and services, i.e., catalog, credit, salon, etc.). Not long after this JC Penny began to down-size. My position was dropped, but I was reassigned with an assistant manager title. I had most of the same responsibilities with an added merchandising assignment. What had been fun and a source of great satisfaction was rapidly changing and loosing its value to me. JC Penny was not the entity that had commanded my loyalty for some 28 years. The next downsizing came in 1997. I was to be assigned as a store manager, but after serious consideration of the "buy-out " package (I read the particulars on-line at 4 pm and called Connie to review the offer with her) I sent a confirmation accepting the buy-out before the 5 pm close of business that day. .

Thus begins our life, phase three. We retired in January 1998. Connie had also developed a career as a key office associate with Penny's. She worked audit, cash office, and personnel specialist at another Buffalo location. We quickly sold and disposed of all New York ties and made the decision to return to West Virginia. Our nine-year assignment there had shown us a life that we felt was strong in the family values that had become so important to us. Our home is small but comfortable. We have about two acres that has 240 feet of river front. The river is often muddy from rain and run-off, but the view is still good and its ours. Tina and Trish visit on a somewhat regular basis. We have three grandsons, Christopher is 20 , Jay is 14 (Tina's boys). Tina and her husband David live in Wakeman Ohio.  Trisha's son Michael is 14 also. Trish and her husband Michael live in Columbus Ohio. Our Carey Beth graduated from Ohio University with a major in biological science. She is a vocal democrat and currently working for JC Penny. (Remember I said there are things dad took exception to - particularly the democrat thing). Carey asked for and was granted a transfer back to Buffalo. Why Buffalo is beyond me, but she has been there going on three years and is very content. She has told us that she is currently looking to pursue a masters in her field before she becomes trapped in her current job. Her salary is fast approaching that at which we retired. She makes it very clear that a grandchild from her is a somewhat remote possibility. Career and social life are the priority. Men are necessary to provide an occasional dinner or theater date and any other bidding that fits her needs at that time. Our other "children" are a pair of "shelties, LORD GRAYSTONE of WELLS LOCK, and LADY SAMANTHA of WELLS LOCK, more commonly known as "Sam" and "Grey." In spite of my complaining of how they rule our life, we would both be very lost without their company. A picture of them is attached.  In the past two years Connie and I have become heavily involved in crafts. We do shows in the fall and have a small shop here at home that we open on weekends, thus the explanation for the letterhead. This and all other facets of retired life keeps our calendar more full than when we were working. 

I DO APOLOGIZE!!!! for the length of this saga, but I have to say Ed is right, when you do start there is no end. Have more that I could share, but as my wife just said. WHAT IN H%&L ARE YOU DOING. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!

Circa 2001, recast 7 May 2013

 

Pat Killion dogs

 

 

Larry Lahiff

As remembered by Babs Bauer

When this reunion activity first began, one of the persons I thought of was Larry Lahiff, who lived on my block of 7th Street when we were in Franklin Elementary. And I have been especially looking forward to finding out what Larry has been doing after high school because he really took my breath away in junior high. I attended Eaton School in 5th through 8th grade -- a very small 12-grade country school that became part of Midview. Until Miss Harmon's 9th grade art class convinced me otherwise, I thought I might become a commercial artist. But there were no art classes at Eaton, and most of my classmates who played in the band were drummers because drumsticks were as much as anyone could afford. In a classroom of 30 seats, probably a third to half of them had drumsticks sticking out of the recently outdated inkwells. I vividly remember visiting my Franklin classmates -- I think they were in the Washington Building in junior high and being amazed at all the talent that was nurtured in art classes in Elyria. Most impressive of all was Larry Lahiff. He had some absolutely beautiful work on display. I always felt he was the most gifted artist in our class. And tonight I found him on the Memoriam list. The list is longer than it was when I last looked, so I counted it, before I remembered Lyn is tracking that in his pie chart. Does anyone know anything about Larry? The art of our lives lingers in some more lasting ether, so for a few years yet, while memory lasts, Larry will linger, a tall, quiet red-head with a kind smile and a gift for re-creating the special color and shape of things. (Feb 9, 2001)

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

Pat Larkin

Surprise note (Dec, 2001) from a "Lost Soul":

Hi Ed,

Good to hear from you. I plan to attend the class reunion. I am currently living in Blythe, CA. I have been working for Social Security for 36 years, I am currently married and own a horse ranch. We board and show horses, give riding lesson and train horses. I am interested in contacted Etta Gilmore Prescott, have you heard from her?

Keep in touch, have a Merry Christmas, gotta run!

Pat (Larkin) Choat

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

 

J. Edgar Martin Obituary

J. Edgar Martin, 62, of Elyria, died Monday at Cleveland Clinic after an illness of several months. Born in Elyria, he was a lifelong resident and a 1957 graduate of Elyria High School. Mr. Martin was a member of St. Mary's Church in Elyria.

Survivors include his sister, Priscilla King of Virginia; an aunt, Frieda Pitts of North Ridgeville; a niece; a nephew; and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Justin Martin, in 1974; mother, Agnes (nee Pitts) Martin, in 1983; and a brother, Phillip Martin. A Mass will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Church, 320 Middle Ave., Elyria. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Elyria. Dicken Funeral Home, 323 Middle Ave., Elyria, is handling arrangements.

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

 

Gene Meili Biography

Hey there, classmates of 1957,

Where to start..well here it goes. My wife of 40+ years Anita and I reside in Tiffin, Ohio. We have 4 children, all of whom I would have traded for a used car while growing up, but by some miracle they have turned into decent human beings (Must have been Anita's influence). We have a total of 7 grandkids, hopefully no greatgrandkids for a while.

We both retired from teaching in 1993 and have traveled the U.S.A extensively. Our last stint was a 5 1/2 month trip to Wyoming where we worked on a ranch/lodge.

Before retiring, Anita was an elementary teacher while I focused on the junior high/senior high. A rather neat experience while a prinipal of a junior high was when the student council decided to sponsor the building of a school in Costa Rica. At the completion of the project, arrangements were made for several students to present the check for the school to President Nixon in the Oval Office at the White House. That was one of the few times in my life I was tongue-tied.

Looking forward to seeing you all next summer!

Gene Meili (=:

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

A Tribute to Frederick C. Meng

March 3, 1938 - February 23, 2000

Two kids that stayed in high school for 46 years. Fred never went anywhere! He was glued to that donut shop from the day it opened until the day he died. His last request was that his business card be engraved on his marker and it was the donut shop that was his demise. Sweet Crème Donut Shop! You would always find Fred there. That was his life and livelihood. Sleeping 3 - 4 hours a day for the last number of years, Fred would drive the delivery truck during the night, spending his waking hours running the business.

Fred stayed busy all the time. Ordering supplies, filling in when an employee didn't show up to work, collecting, hiring new help, watching through that one-way window into the seating area to make sure that the customer always paid for that second cup of coffee. Dunkin Donuts went "belly up" a few years earlier there in Elyria! The donut business profits were slim. A watchful eye would sometimes make the difference between profit and loss.

Having been married twice, Fred had a large family and he loved his children dearly. He had 8 children and 2 step children and he was there for all those children. At the hospice center, they were there, every day. Even though Fred was in a coma, those children were there at his bedside telling him "I love you, Dad!" Of course, I was there too. I did his eulogy at his funeral service.

I had talked Fred into going to the last reunion in 1997. Looking at the group photo taken that day, Fred smiles reflecting his pleasure being there with class mates whom we often talked about over the many lunches we had throughout the years. If Fred could be here today, he would really be excited about the reunion activities going on over the internet. I'm sure he will be at our next reunion in spirit.......I think Fred's happiest and carefree years were there at EHS. I think he would agree.

Fred did finally do something besides making donuts. He had joined the local Lions, pestering me with the rose sales every year, inviting me to meetings in Elyria. Fred served in many ways, taking on the Presidency of the local Lions one year. Fred even recruited a son, Matt, to be secretary of the club and go on to become President. Fred was given a large placque in honor of his service as President of his club. That placque still hangs there on the wall at the donut shop. His Lions jacket.......why he's wearing that right now.

A fond farewell to a good and trusted friend, a classmate from EHS!

Written by his friend Ed Gembka.

Two Old Friends: Fred and Ed

Ed Gembka and Fred Meng

 

Barbara Mitchell Obituary

Barbara Jean Butler (nee Mitchell), 70, formerly of Elyria, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at her home in Tacoma, Washington. She was born September 20, 1939 in Lancaster, Ohio.

Barbara worked with the Elyria Municipal Court as Chief Deputy Civil Department for 12 and a half years and in the Clubhouse at Brentwood Golf Club Inc. for 11 years. She was a member of Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Does of Elks 465, Elks Ladies Golf League at Brentwood, Elks Friday Night Couples, and Women of the Moose 949 of Elyria. Barbara was an avid golfer and enjoyed bowling, reading, and handcrafting.

Survivors include her son, Craig Stephen Butler of Puyallup, Washington; grandchildren, Sara Nicole, Megan Christine; sisters, Mary E. Donahue of Lancaster and Marjorie M. Mitchell of Knoxville, Tennessee and a brother, Richard L. Mitchell of Edmonton.

She was preceded in death March 30, 1994 by her husband, Clyde Walter Butler, whom she married June 26, 1959 and her parents, Oswald Irvin and Dessie Faye (nee Downs) Butler .

Memorial Services will be at 3 P.M., Saturday, 28 August 2010 at the Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home, 38475 Chestnut Ridge Rd.(at State Rt. 57), Elyria, (440) 322-4626, where the family will receive friends from 1 P.M. until the time of services.

Memorial contributions in Barbara’s memory can be sent to Franciscan Hospice & Palliative Care, P.O. Box 1502, Tacoma, WA 98401-9836.

Posted 4 May 2013

 

Lynn Thomas Owen

Lynn Owen gave us the following information in 1972 ..... the only information we have on this pleasant, well liked classmate. At the time of our class reunion in 1972, Lynn and his wife Dianne lived at 341 Michigan Avenue in Elyria, Ohio. He had two sons, Scott age 9 and Eric age 7. Lynn was vice-president of Lorain County Savings and Trust Company in Elyria.

If there are words you would like to say about Lynn, let us hear from you. We'll post your writings right here.

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

Lyn Pankoff Biography

(18 October 1939-12 February 2013)

After high school I went to Case (with Cliff Rosenau), majored in Management Science (BS) and Behavioral Science (MS), then enrolled at the University of Chicago (with Bob Roskoski and Sid Tamm), majoring in economics and statistics in the Business School (MBA and PhD). I spent the next 30 years as a professor of statistics in the Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. After a brief stint as dean of the College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology, I am back in St. Louis, officially retired, but nonetheless busy.

Besides working on this reunion web site, I coach a kid ice hockey team, am giving a statistics course on the internet to some doctoral students in Occupational Therapy at NOVA University in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and do occasional statistical consulting.

Over the years my favorite recreations have been ice hockey, racquetball, skiing, golf, and marriage. My wife, Belinda, is the third--and last. She is a speech therapist to young kids, a very good one. I have two sons in their mid-thirties and two step-daughters in their early twenties. And three grandchildren. I'm quite proud of them all.

My parents are gone and my younger brother, Jon (EHS '60), died at age 54 from heart problems--a shocking and scary event. Having also had a minor heart scare a few years ago, I just aspire to arrive at our 45th intact.

Snapshot; (Lyn is the one wearing sunglasses.)

Lyn Pankoff died on 12 February 2013. An obituary can be found at the following Washington University Olin School of Businessweb site

Original created 1 November 2001, updated 7 March 2013

 

 

 

 

A Frank Radik Favorite

A Hug

If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you
And share with you its beauty
On the days you're feeling blue

If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own
A place to find serenity
A place to be alone

If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea
But all these things
I'm finding are impossible for me

I cannot build a mountain
Or catch a rainbow fair
But let me be what I know best
A friend that's always there

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

 

 

Bert Rosen Biography

Who am I? Where have I been? What have I done? High school was a mere stepping stone into a world unknown. The lessons of life had really not begun when we sat in the stadium on June 5, 1957, listening to Dr. Bonds extol on the formula for success.

Four years later I graduated from Ohio State, moved to Washington, DC, and began to ponder my life. Many forks in the road were ahead and the road less traveled proved more rewarding than the one more familiar. At one point in high school, I thought I wanted to be an astronaut. I even wrote a paper for Mrs. Happy Bottom's(Gladys Fowell) English class on landing on the moon in 1977. But alas, I didn't have the right stuff and so it was not to be. However, during the Apollo Manned Space Program, I was administrative office responsible for the three manned centers at Cape Kennedy, Huntsville and Houston. During each manned mission, I was at the Cape doing security detail in the control room prior to launch. I would work the Midnight to 8:00a.m. shift, then to the beach for a day of sun and surf, and finally to the bars for an evening of enjoyment. Very tough assignment. I never figured out when to sleep. I watched each launch from the VIP stands and realized this was the next best thing to going with them. I learned to fly and would fly my plane to the Cape for each of the missions.

But my calling was really in the financial services arena. I became a Certified Financial Planner and have enjoyed many decades providing tax and investment advice.

I have been married to Barbara for over 30 years and have 4 children and 6 grandchildren including triplets!

I still enjoy cars and have a beautiful 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible. (Snapshot)

The place we call home consists of ten acres of gently hilly Maryland countryside about 30 minutes west of Baltimore and an hour north of Washington. Tonight the moon is nearly full and bright as a beacon. Undaunted, the stars shine with their own icy brilliance in the clear cold sky. The sounds of summer are no more-the crickets are gone. But alas, spring is not too far off; another wonderful season of flowers and smells will begin, and with them the thoughts of summer at Ocean City...

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

Barbara Rosenthal

For our reunion in 1972, Barbara tells us that she has been married to Jack Sparks for 12 years and that she was a full time home maker. She had 3 children at that time, Elizabeth was 10, Jacqueline was 7 and Susan was 5. Barbara is remembered as being a quiet, warm, well liked classmate during her high school years.

If anyone would like to add a few words to this writing, please let us hear from you. Send your e-mail to EdGembka@aol.com

Circa 1972, recast 6 May 2013

 

Bob Roskoski Biography

When I was in the 8th grade at Jefferson, I planned on quitting school when I was 16 and work in a shop. When I was getting close to the age of 16, I had cold feet. I stayed in school and my parents were gratified. After graduating from EHS, and as noted in the next paragraph, I graduated from Bowling Green State University, received an MD from the University of Chicago and then worked toward a PhD. I was 26 years old and my parents wondered when was I going to get a job. My first real-paying job was with the Air Force. My mother was happy about this because she thought that the military would strengthen my character. I don't know whether or not it did, but I met my wife Laura five days before I was discharged, and that made it all worthwhile. We were introduced by Col. Clare Garrett, who became one of the first female Brigadier Generals in the Air Force, and she's now interred at Arlington National Cemetery. 

I was in a pre-medical curriculum with a chemistry major and biology minor at Bowling Green (1957-1960). Esther Bendik, Susan Griffiths, Gene Meili, Mary Katharine Sampson, and Sylvia Vargo also attended BGSU. My goal was to become involved with "medical research." Toward this end, I attended the University of Chicago (1960-1966) and concurrently pursued the MD and PhD degrees. I received an MD in 1964 and a PhD in biochemistry in 1968. Lyn Pankoff and Sid Tamm attended graduate school at the U of C, and both received the Ph.D. degree (from the Business School and from the Division of Biological Sciences, respectively).

I was "invited" to join the US Air Force as a Captain in the Medical Corps (1966). During the Viet Nam conflict, nearly all physicians under 30 years of age were drafted. I did a one-year residency at Wilford Hall USAF Hospital, Lackland Air Force Base, (San Antonio) Texas. John Hasko and Susan Payne Hasko were also at Lackland AFB at this time. Next I became a Flight Surgeon and Research Scientist in Pharmacology and Biochemistry at the School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base, also in San Antonio (1967-1969). When I took the course to become a flight surgeon, we were informed that 95% of deaths in airplane accidents were due to "impact with the ground." One person in the last row yelled "No sh*t!". As noted above, I met my future wife, who was an Air Evacuation Nurse, at the Officer's Club during my last week there. She flew wounded out of Viet Nam for 18 months, and she believes this was her most fulfilling time as a nurse. When we were in Viet Nam in the summer of 2012, she found that it had changed; when you took a shower, the water did not turn yellow. 

To continue my academic and scientific training, I was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Fritz Lipmann (Nobel Laureate in Medicine) at the Rockefeller University in New York (1969-1972). Lipmann was arguably one of the three most influential biochemists of the 20th century, and I appreciated the opportunity to receive this training. During my stay I became close friends with people from Africa, Australia, China, Europe, Japan, and South America (this was an international group; there was only one other American in the lab at the time). I traveled abroad in1970 for the first time as a result of these friendships.

I moved to the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) as Assistant and then Associate Professor of Biochemistry (1972-1979). I set up my own research group and taught medical, undergraduate, and graduate students. Laura and I were married in Iowa City in 1974 (no children). In 1979, I moved to the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center as the Fred G. Brazda Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

In the 1990s, I was more involved with administrative and educational aspects of biochemistry. I wrote a biochemistry text and a biochemistry review book (1996) aimed at medical and dental students. The preface contains the following expression, "Biochemistry is fun!" Although the text was translated into Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, it was not a best seller. I was president of the Association of Medical School Departments of Biochemistry in 1997. I stepped down as department head in February (2001), and I remained as a professor where I continued to teach and perform research.

I retired from LSU Health Sciences Center in 2006 and moved to Hendersonville, NC. I wanted to keep active in biomedical research and founded the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, a 501(c)3 Federal Tax Exempt non-profit. I devote about 50% of my effort at BRIMR. It's a one person operation, and I'm the one person. My research focus is on targeted cancer therapies, particularly oral drugs that inhibit a class of enzymes called protein kinases. It's a think tank operation; we don't perform experiments. I maintain a web site - http://www.brimr.org - that chronicles all of my research activities. As noted later, it contains many photos of this area.

After 25 years in nursing, my wife earned a master's degree in Library and Information Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (1991). She established and operated a Louisiana Area Health Education Center Library for a decade. She is happy in her retirement that began 2000. Her baccalaureate degree was from Western Reserve University (she still does not accept Case Western Reserve as the appropriate name), and she received her first master's degree from Columbia University Teachers College in New York.

My early academic goal was to participate in "biomedical research," and it has been an exciting journey. My personal research has centered on how enzymes work (the mechanism of enzyme action). Most of the enzymes that I investigated since 1972 play a role central nervous system function, and I authored about 140 papers in various journals on this subject. These studies were of a fundamental nature and were not performed with the idea of "curing" a specific disease. One of my first independent projects focused on a protein kinase that is now known to play an integral role in both short-term and long-term memory (in sea slugs, rats, mice, and no doubt humans). When I was a graduate student, studying the biochemistry of memory was fanciful. I wish that I had known how protein kinases participate in memory when I wrote grant applications 40 years ago.

As a scientist, I attended meetings and conferences that took me to Amsterdam, Belize City, Berlin, Birmingham (Alabama and England), Budapest, Grand Cayman Island, Grenada, Hamburg (Germany), Hong Kong, Ixtapa (Mexico), Jerusalem, Hamilton (Bermuda), London, Lyon (France), Madrid, Montreal, New Delhi, Paris, Prague, Puerto Varta (Mexico), Rio de Janeiro, San Jose (California and Costa Rica), Singapore, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, Stockholm, Tokyo, Toledo (Spain), Toronto, Vancouver and possibly other cities I cannot recall. I had the opportunity to attend an International Congress of Biochemistry in Australia in 1982, but I chose not to attend. I regretted this decision for many years, but I made amends in the summer of 2012. Although I never left the State of Ohio before graduating from EHS, I enjoy traveling.

White Sox, a neighborhood cat, adopted us in 1998 in New Orleans, and the household revolved around him. (See White Sox with Laura). He disappeared in 2003. We adopted Pasha in 2004 (See Pasha here). We didn't travel much because we didn't like to house her in a kennel. Unfortunately she died in 2012. Within two weeks I made arrangements to travel around the world in the summer of 2012, which took us about eight weeks. You can go to http://www.brimr.org/RTW/RTW.htm to see our itinerary that included nine cities (to return to this page click the back button). The site also has about 500 photos and commentary, which take a long time to go through. After we returned, we attended the EHS Class of 1957 reunion in September. The day we returned to Hendersonville from the reunion, we adopted two cats: Josie and Jasper. They are brother (orange) and sister (gray) and were about nine years of age (See them here). They are keeping us in high spirits. 

Avocations include reading, music, cuisine (we all have to eat), and visiting the world's art museums (the Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the best, and it's still free). It was not until my second year in San Antonio (1967) that my tastes in cuisine began to broaden as I learned to appreciate Tex-Mex food. After this first step, appreciation for other types of food came rapidly. My favorite subjects for reading include (auto)biographies of (a) scientists such as Niels Bohr, Francis Crick, Linus Pauling, and James Watson and of (b) political and military leaders such as Omar Bradley, Winston Churchill, Ike, Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, George Patton, FDR, and Harry Truman. I also read all the books that New Orleanian Stephen Ambrose wrote.

In New Orleans, we lived a quiet life. However, I marched with Pete Fountain's group on Mardi Gras for several years. The name of this distinguished organization is Pete Fountain's Half Fast Marching Club (Don't say it too rapidly). Pete is a well-known Jazz clarinetist with his own club at the New Orleans Hilton Hotel, one of the best shows in town. We continue to lead a quiet life in western North Carolina. Of the eight cities in which I've lived, it's by far the prettiest. If you go to my web site listed above, I have a bevy of local photos of the area including several water falls that are indigenous to this area. 

Yogi Berra - America's foremost philosopher - entitled his recent book "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." I have encountered many forks, and I follow his advice. (See the multi-forked Bob of yesteryear)

Updated 17 April 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

George Rubenson Biography

Dr. George Rubenson, Associate Professor of Management, earned his B.A. from Miami University, M.A. from Central Michigan University and Ph.D. from University of Maryland College Park. Prior to joining the Perdue School in 1987, he retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. He has received Outstanding Teacher and Outstanding Faculty Service awards from the Perdue School and played a leading role in coordinating its report which culminated in AACSB accreditation in 1994. His research interests are principally strategic human resource management. He has published articles in a variety of journals including Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, Business Horizons and Journal of Education for Business. In addition, he regularly writes strategic management cases which are widely published in business texts. He is married to Nancy Rubenson and they have two grown sons, Paul and Todd.

(The above is part of an announcement that on July 1, 2001 George will become Interim Dean of the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury State University.)

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

 

Mary Sampson Carpenter Biography

June 7, 2001

Currently I am doing what I imagine a lot of classmates are doing-helping out with Grandchildren, adjusting to retirement, volunteering, travelling, gardening, etc.

After graduation from EHS, I went to BGSU, graduating with a BS in Education in l961. Then I moved to Detroit, MI to start a work/study program at Detroit Public Library and Univ. of Michigan. I married Bill Carpenter from St. Clair Shores, MI in 1963. We had a daughter in 1964 and a son in 1965 and I received my MA in Library Science in 1965. I stayed home with the kids until they entered school. In 1970-1976 I was Assistant Librarian in a 2000 student high school in St. Clair Shores, MI. In 1976 we moved to Monroe, MI. I tutored grade school students and worked part time in the public library until 1980 when I became librarian in an all boys' private high school. Being the only female on the faculty gave me a unique role. I felt each of the young men could be my son. I also was senior class moderator for two years, which meant helping to plan dances, the prom and graduation. The entire 6 years I was exhausted. Do you remember how much energy we had when we were in high school? It was the best working experience I ever had. To my surprise some of the young men still keep in touch.

In 1986 my husband's work brought us to Cleveland. Our daughter and son did not move with us. Our daughter had started her first job as a social worker in a hospital in Toledo and our son was in graduate school. Since coming back to the area I have worked part time library jobs.

My husband and I enjoy travelling and do as much as we can. We have two grandchildren, who are our pride and joy. Church related activities and volunteering keeps us busy.

Mother Teresa said something to the effect that most of us do not do great things, but little things with love.

Looking forward to the BIG Event!

(Click here for a current snapshot of Mary.)

Recast 5 May 2013

 

 

Barbara Shaw Frymier Biography

God has been so gracious to me in my life. I owe Him everything. When I was young, I learned that He loved me so very much that he sent His Son to die for me. I accepted His salvation and dedicated my life to serving Him until He called me Home.

After graduating from Elyria High School in 1957, I attended Oberlin School of Commerce and took some Secretarial courses. I really didn't want to be a secretary, but wanted to go to a Bible School. However, I had no money and my father wouldn't pay my way to Bible School, but would pay for me to go to secretarial school. Little did I realize it then but God was using this to prepare me for the years ahead.

After Oberlin, I went to work at Ridge Tool Company as Secretary to the Personnel Manager. In 1959 I married Clarence H. Frymier. I met him at my church's roller skating party during my senior year and dated off and on until August of 59 when we got married. We settled down in our own house on Concord Avenue. Clarence was working at Lear Sigler at this time. I began taking some classes at LCCC off and on before our first child, John was born in 1960. After this I decided to stay at home and take care of him. In 1962 our daughter, Karen was born. She was handicapped in her leg and required numerous surgeries and finally braces. At age six she had her leg amputated and was fitted with an artificial leg. This was a very difficult time for our family, one that truly tested our faith. But, as in all of the experiences of life, the good ones and the bad ones, God had a purpose and His Presence always guided us. These difficult times taught us some wonderful lessons and used the experiences to prepare me further in ministry opportunities down the road. We purchased a farm in LaGrange and settled down to be "Gentlemen Farmers." Our third child, Michael was born to us while at this farm. This was a real "oasis" in our family life.

We were very active in First Baptist Church of LaGrange, working with the young people there as Sunday School teachers and counselors. But in 1974 God called us to make a move. My husband got a job opportunity as a supervisor with Bendix's new plant in Frankfort, Kentucky. After much prayer, we decided to move there with our family. While in Kentucky we helped start the Frankfort Baptist Tabernacle and Tabernacle Christian School. I became church and school secretary and also taught in the school part-time. I began a Ladies Bible Class, a Missionary Fellowship, and formed a choir. I also played the organ and did much counseling of the ladies and young people in the church and school. Because our school was not accredited, the State took us, and many other Christian schools, to court. We became plaintiff in a big court battle that ended with the US Supreme Court granting us the freedom to have our schools. We continued living and working in Frankfort until my husband decided to retire early from Bendix in 1988. Our two oldest children graduated from the Christian school and began their college careers at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN.

We had been given the opportunity to volunteer as managers of a Youth Wilderness Camp for the AWANA ministry during the four summer months. The camp was located 100 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie with access only by rail or float plane. It provided a wilderness experience, much like Outward Bound, for high school teens in the 10th - 12th grades. We prayed a long time about this move and finally felt God's leading to accept this great responsibility. We moved back to Elyria in 1988 just two months before leaving for Canada. In May we moved to our little cabin in the woods and managed this camp for seven years during the summer months. It was a very rewarding, but difficult seven years. We came to love the wilderness, the teens God sent us, and the many adults that came to help us run the camp. Because of the rugged and isolated terrain, we experienced many hardships in keeping up the camp. I cooked three meals a day, everyday, all summer long. I also had the privilege of working with some really neat people, hiking through the wilderness, canoeing in quiet, secluded ponds and lakes, and climbing rugged hills. Since we had no income for the summer months we both took jobs in the winter to supplement our meager retirement income. Clarence began working for the Senior Citizen's Association where he helped older people stay in their homes by doing small repairs. I took the job as Secretary to Baptists for Israel Institute, a college for Baptist students who wanted to work and take classes in Israel. During the winter months I basically ran the US office of this exciting ministry. In 1994 my husband and I were privileged to go to Israel and spend some time there with the Institute and tour this land of the Bible.

In 1994 my husband was diagnosed as a diabetic and we felt it was time to leave the camping ministry and return to civilization. We had purchased a country home on Oberlin Road and spent the next few years fixing it up. Both of us continued our "winter jobs" full time. In 1999 Baptists for Israel hired an Executive Director and moved their offices to Ashland, Ohio and I went to work as secretary for J. L. Moore, Inc.,a construction company owned by friends of ours. Clarence retired from the Senior Citizens to work part-time for the same construction company and part-time for our church, First Baptist of Elyria, as maintenance man .

Our oldest son and his family live in Florida. John is a successful salesman of a large, privately owned furniture store. He has two lovely children, Michael, age 7 and Joy age 2. Our daughter is living somewhere in Cleveland. Our youngest son, Mike is Technical Sargent in the US Air Force. He recently was selected for the Commissioning Officers program and is currently attending Akron U. towards his degree in Electrical Engineering. He and his wife have twin four year old daughters, Abbie and Brooke. We are enjoying them living close, at least for the next two years.

I retired from the Construction company in January 2001 to work full time on my writings, in our church, and be a full time wife, mother, and grandmother again. Life just sort of goes around in a circle doesn't it? But we are enjoying this time so much. Our health is reasonably good and we are free to do some of the things we feel God is asking us to do.

I'm thrilled to hear from our classmates and will continue to pray that God will give you "leaders" wisdom as you plan this great reunion. (Snapshot).

 

Barbara Shaw Frymier

Circa 2001; recast 5 May 2013

 

 

Mary Ann Smith Ensman Biography

Strange to be getting in touch this way, but really convenient.

My maiden name was Mary Ann Smith. Now I am Mary A. Ensman. My e-mail address is MaryE90@Excite.com.

I am working two jobs. Secretary at Lorain County Community Action Agency and Computer Technician at Midway Mall, Elyria.

I raised ten children. Lost one son at age 15 to a hit-and-run driver. I have twenty-six grandchildren with another one due in September and I will also become a great-grandma at the same time.

I would love to go back and visit the school again. All I remember about freshman year was a lot of construction going on and wooden passageways to get from one building to another for classes.

Please do try to keep me informed. Thanks.

Mary Ensman (A Family Snapshot);

Circa 2001, recast 5 May 2013

 

 

 

 David W. Stegman Biography/Obituary

29 June 1939 – 23 March 2011

David W. Stegman, died March 23, 2011 at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. A native of Elyria, Ohio, he was the son of the late Albert & Evelyn Faze Stegman. He was an active member of Moores Chapel United Methodist Church and retired from U.S. Airways. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Nancy Swisshelm Stegman; son & daughter in law, Andre & Lisa Griesinger of Astor, FL.; daughters & sons in law, Marie Matteo of Denver, CO, Susan & Neal Young of Winston-Salem, Dana & Glen Webster of McKinleyville, CA, Christina Moore of Laramie, WY; brother & sister in law, Michael & Janis Stegman of Bellevue, OH; 8 grandchildren & 3 great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Cindy Hollar and grandson, Joshua Hollar.

 

 

Megan Thomas Galajda Biography

After graduation I continued working in the office of Harold Rorick Insurance, where Etta Gilmore also worked. I married John Galajda on February 6, 1960 and left Rorick's before our son, John Thomas, was born in May of '61. Our daughter, Erika Leigh, was born in October, 1962.John was hired by North American Aviation in 1963, so we moved to Columbus in September of that year, living not far from John and Joyce Fazekas Tartar who were also working for North American. I started working part time at the J C Penney catalog desk in 1964 and have worked continuously in several jobs since then. 

I started working for GE in 1973 and began attending evening classes at Ohio State University the next year (GE paid tuition). It took me 19 years, but I finally graduated from Ohio State in December, 1993, magna cum laude. In those intervening years I took some time off from classes--the years my kids were seniors in high school, and several years after John died in 1984.I also found time to participate for about 10 years in a great Columbus tradition-- an amateur musical show called Vaud-Villities.

My son, John, is still single and works as an architectural drafter with Acock Architects here in Columbus. My daughter, Erika, worked for many years at the regional office of State Farm as the administrator of their teaching programs. She married Keith Kresina in 1997 and they have a house on The Golf Club in New Albany, where he is the greens superintendent. They are the parents of my grandsons, Kenneth Thomas, born in January of 2000, and Grant Keith, born in December of 2001.  

So my life now consists of work, work, work. I am one of five Managers of Government Relations for GE at the state level. We have about six counterparts in Washington who do the same thing at the federal level. We're all lobbyists--but not the sleazy kind. I'm on the Board of the Ohio Public Expenditure Council, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Ohio Unemployment Compensation Advisory Commission, and a trustee for the Jo Ann Davidson Legacy Scholarship Fund.

Moved into a condo in October of 2000 and am still trying to get it into shape. I don't get to spend a lot of time with my grandsons, but since they have a stay-at-home mom, I manage to give her some time off occasionally. My mom will be 97 this November and has lived in Columbus for about 3-1/2 years.  I had to persuade her to move from Elyria--she was still volunteering at Elyria Memorial Hospital.  So I'm officially part of the "sandwich generation."  Can't wait to graduate to the "retired generation" as so many of you have--and you all seem to love it!

What a great reunion we'll have in 2002----looking forward to seeing each and every one of you!!!

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

Duane Donald Tilberg Obituary

Duane Donald Tilberg, 62, of Grafton, died Sunday at his home after a short illness.

Born in Elyria, he lived in the Grafton/Elyria area his entire life. He attended North Eaton Christian Church Disciples in Eaton Township. Mr. Tilberg worked for Alltel for 45 years as a supervisor of plant operations in Elyria. He was head of 9-1-1 operations for five states in its beginning.

He was a member of King Solomon Masonic Lodge 56 in Elyria for many years, United Polish Club, Moose Lodge and Elks Lodge, all of Elyria, and Black River Hunt Club. Mr. Tilberg enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. He was an avid New York Yankees fan.

Survivors include his companion, Darlene Cobb of Grafton; a son, Todd Tilberg of Sheffield; a daughter, Beth Cahill of Fairfax, Va.; seven grandchildren; his parents, Donald and Luella Tilberg of Grafton; a sister, Lenore Kaiser of Elyria; and brothers Norman of Detroit, Ala., and Dean of Elyria. He was preceded in death by a brother, George Laurel.

Friends may call 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Blackburn Funeral Home, 1021 Main St., Grafton, where members of King Solomon Masonic Lodge will conduct Masonic services at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday at North Eaton Christian Church Disciples, 35895 East Royalton Road - also known as state Route 82 - Eaton Township. Dr. Paul Durbin, pastor, will officiate. Memorials may be made to Skin Cancer Foundation, 245 Fifth Ave., Suite 1403, New York, N.Y. 10016.

Circa 2001, recast 6 May 2013

 

Jim and Sherryn (Weiss) Trescott Biographies

In high school Jim and I went on many double dates – even the Senior Prom – so we knew each other pretty well.  After our freshman year in college, Babs Bauer set up another double date, but this time Jim and I were together with her and Steve Miko. Remember Crystal Beach?  That’s where we went.  We had a great time and he asked me out again.  We went to a drive-in movie. We consider that date the start of our 5-year courtship.  Since that time, “our song” has been the theme from The Bridge on the River Kwai!

I attended OU on the Cadet Teaching Program, and began teaching at the age of 19 at Cascade School in Elyria.  I taught second, third or fourth grades over 5 years.  Esther Bendik and I lived together one year in a Parma apt. and taught school there.  Jim attended Fenn College on a small scholarship and the co-op plan and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in June 1963.  He took the state examination for Professional Engineers and scored highest of all engineers at Fenn and better than all EEs in the state.

 We got married in July 1963, after his graduation.  Bob Roskoski was in our wedding party.  For our honeymoon, we went to downeast  Maine on the first of many trips to the Trescott Camp.  It is a four room cabin on a lake surrounded by big, old pointed firs.  Much better than camping – it had electricity and a fireplace – but no plumbing.  We brought up water from the lake and had the sweetest little outhouse.  I got to love it.  Recently we put in running water and a bathroom.

 We promptly started a family.  Brett Christine was born July 1, 1964, and on our first anniversary, July 27, we moved into our present home with a 26 day old baby.  In April 1967, Jason Dale (Jake) was born, and we had the perfect family. 

 But in 1976 we made a big change in our lives.  Jim had determined he didn’t want to stay in engineering, so he joined a firm as a technical writer of manuals for electrical systems.  The job came with a 20% cut in pay, so I headed out to work too.  For over 20 years I worked part-time as a proofreader and paste up artist for community newspapers.

We did all the small town America stuff – Little League, music and ballet lessons.  I was a room mother at various times.  In high school the kids were in band, choir, football and plays.  Jim often was accompanist for the high school musicals and summer productions.  He also was organist and choir director for a local church for 15 years. Both our kids graduated from college:  Brett from OSU and Jake from BGSU. Upon hearing recently that his cousins chose not to go to college, Jake said, “I didn’t know we ever had a choice!”  He was right – they didn’t.

I usually say we don’t travel much except for the trips to Maine, but then I started thinking about it and I was wrong.  We have visited our friends in at least 9 states.  We took Amtrak to California, and we were in Yellowstone in 1988, the year of the big fires. Jim and I also like to “go meet spring” by traveling south in March or April to visit gardens and museums. 

Jim and I thought maybe our kids would never marry.  They were each 30 when they did.  Then boom!  Brett married Bob in 1994 and had Buddy in 1996.  Jake married Diane in 1997.  In 1998 Brett had Jimmy, and Jake and Diane had the twins, Brad and Nicole. Just this June, Brett and Bob had baby Emily.   We see them a lot!  Brett lives in Shaker Heights and Jake in Stow, so we’re right in between.  I have actually watched the twins 2 days a week since they were three months old, so I’m still working part-time. 

Jim and I love classical music and try to see the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance and Blossom as often as possible.  Jim likes to play piano – we have 2 grands and a harpsichord.  I love gardening, but with the problems of too much shade and too many deer, my gardens will never be what I imagine.  Jim has been a jogger for over 20 years; he has great legs.  I’m not into sweat, but I enjoy hiking with Jim.

We are so looking forward to Jim’s retirement at the end of this year.  Our lives seem frantic; we’re always behind.   With all we plan to do in our free time, and from what other retirees tell us, we’ll be as busy and behind as ever.

This reunion business is just so captivating and fun.   We check the web site nearly every day to see what is happening.  We really appreciate everyone’s efforts and being kept informed.

An evening with the Bob and Laura Roskoski.

Circa 2001, recast 5 May 2013

 

 

 

Audrey L Wood Obituary

Audrey L. Wood, 69, died Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at Lima Memorial Health System, Lima, Ohio. She was born Jan. 18, 1940, in Elyria, Ohio, to the now late Russell and Dorothy (Taft) Wood. Audrey retired from Kraft Foods, Glenview, Ill., in 1995. She was a member of the Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove, Ill., since 1991.

Survivors include her lifetime friend, Betty J. Frank of Wheeling, Ill.; brother, Donald E. (Joy) Wood of Fultondale, Ala.; and sisters, Phyllis Igneczi of Ada, Ohio, and Carolyn Edmonds of Toledo, Ohio. She was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Ann Wood.

The memorial service is at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, Ada, Ohio. The Rev. G. Alan Brown II O.S.L. will officiate. A memorial service will be held at a later date at the Kingswood United Methodist Church, Buffalo Grove, Ill., as well. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and/or American Diabetes Association.  Arrangements were made by Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Ada, Ohio, 419-634-2936.

Posted 4 May 2013