Karen Colvin Harbert, Class of 1955, passes away 

Sad, sad news today from Duane Harbert, Class of 1951, about Karen Colvin Harbert, Class of 1955, widow of Duane's brother, John Harbert, also Class of 1955:

John,

Karen passed away this afternoon.  She had lung cancer.

Duane

John and Karen had four children. John passed away in 1985.

Their children live in the Northfield, Ohio area.

Duane lives in Marlton, New Jersey.

As soon as I learn about arrangements for Karen, I will post them on this blog.

RIP, Karen . . . and John. They're together again, for eternity.

Mr. Hoagie’s smile tells you all you need to know

Brian Coleman – Mr. Hoagie – who is home after being in West Penn Medical Center in Pittsburgh and Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown on the WVU campus recovering from the fire that destroyed his and Ann’s home, posted on Facebook:

“Good morning to everyone. I'm so excited. I got some sleep last nite. Praise the KING. I'm on the way to therapy soon. I boldly confess all is well. I'm going to get better, the devil can't snatched me from God's hands though he tried. Continue to praise God with me for 

Brian Coleman with grandchild

all he has done and all he is going to do. I'm refreshed and restored and I'll never be the same. Have a blessed day but most of all find someone to bless. Thank everyone so much for all your prayers. I still need them but God's on the move.

“Mr. Hoagie”

One look at that smile on Brian’s face, as he holds his grandchild, tells the story. What a miraculous recovery!

There are donations of clothing and other items and fundraisers being conducted. 

Sue Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971, will be donating part of the money from her 6-9 p.m. April 11 Thirty-One party to the Coleman family. That will be at Sue’s Stoney Lonesome house, the yellow trailer on the left with a pool deck just before you get to Fazio’s Eldercare, run by Cora Fazio.

Branch Church at 801 East Park Fairmont is collecting donated items for Brian and Ann.

There is a fund for Ann and Brian at First Exchange Bank. You can go to the bank or mail the check to:

First Exchange Bank

Attention: Molly Kilcoyne

PO Box 388

Mannington, WV 26582

Make checks payable to Brian or Ann Coleman.

The address, phone number and email address for Heavenly Hoagies:

Heavenly Hoagies

1139 Booth’s Creek Road

Monongah

(304) 709-2333

heavenlyhoagies@gmail.com

Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955

Joe Martin well enough to go to Aruba

Joe Martin, Class of 1959, has recovered from his stroke enough to make a trip to Aruba with Arlene Kitchin.

Joe Martin, Arlene Kitchin

Joe is a professional photographer who lives on Treasure Island, Florida with Arlene.

Joe and Arlene are regulars at the Monongah High Alumni/Sarasota reunion in the home of Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, and wife Roleta, a Clarksburg Washington Irving graduate who handled her high school’s newsletters the way I do this Monongah High Alumni blog, which formerly was an emailed newsletter until it got so big that the Internet “police” labeled me a spammer, even though I split the emails into four groups. So they shut down my ability to Send, forcing me to switch to this MHS Alumni blog.

If any MHS alumni tell you that they stopped getting the emailed newsletters, tell them to go to jo4wvu.blogspot.com and see the same stuff on an Internet web site.

Happy birthday, Sandy Cook and Richard Fitzwater !!!

Sandy Weils Shaffer Cook, Class of 1959, celebrated her birthday March 25^th with husband Bob Cook. So did Monongah grad Richard Fitzwater.

Sandy Cook, husband Bob 

Sandy lives on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Her first husband, Michael Shaffer, Class of 1957, was a pitcher on Monongah High’s 1955 state champion baseball team. He also played on the Worthington team with Nick “Brother” Saban, Alabama’s 4-time national championship coach (1 with LSU, 3 with Alabama). Michael passed away in 1982.

If you want to congratulate Sandy, go to her Facebook page or her email address slcook2@comcast.net   And her U.S. mailing address is

Sandy Cook

4401 Bay Beach

Lane #812,

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 

Sandy and Bob Cook sold their home in Punta Gorda in December 2013 and kept the one on Fort Myers Beach.

After their retirement they moved from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Fort Myers Beach. Sandy worked in the medical field, mostly in management.  They owned and operated for 25 years an RV Park near Fort Wayne. 

They also have seats in Mountaineer Field several rows down from where I sit in Section 107, so we see each other there.

Sandy is the one who loaned me the 1959 Monongah Black Diamond that became the 21^st MHS yearbook converted from print version into an online album. You can see the 1959 yearbook by clicking on https://plus.google.com/photos/115483244393507838338/albums/5992251782469215233?banner=pwa 

April birthdays among Monongah High alumni:

4 – Charlotte Walker Cahill, Class of 1954

11 – Leo Kubiet, Class of 1942

12 – Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966

14 – Lyla Cosner Howell, Class of 1958

30 – Shirley Knight Ritterhouse, Class of 1954

If your name isn’t on the Monongah High birthday list, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com with your full name, including maiden name, graduation year, birthday date and current hometown and you’ll be added to the list.

January

6 – Jeanette Barr Baczuk, Class of 1940

13 – Beatrice Salisbury Mills, Class of 1951

17 – Susan Colaneri Monell, Class of 1949

18 – Arlene Marteney Decker Edgell, Class of 1951

?? – Marie Bee Zwiegel, Class of 1951

18 – Bertha Pazdric Sullivan, Class of 1954

18 – Greg Vandetta, Monongah mayor, husband of Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973

19 – Joe Martin, Class of 1957

19 – Joann Thompson, Class of 1962  

22 – Jo-Jo DeMary of Monongah, who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is married to Yvonne King DeMary

24 – Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974

29 – Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968

February

1 – Debra Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973

2 – Sylvia Edwards, Monongah grad living in Idamay

3 – Debbie Weaver Hurley, Monongah grad living in Monongah with husband Milton Hurley

3 – Rebecca Urish Anderson, Class of 1971

8 – Tom Fleming, Monongah grad living in Bridgeport

9 – Bob Nichols, Class of 1964

10 – Bonnie Nicholson Moats, Class of 1960

11—Linda Renay Hess Postlethwait, Class of 1968

15 – Jerry Koloskie, Class of 1975

17 – Larry “Danny” Eates, Class of 1970

18 – Mark Tarley, North Marion grad

20 – Harold Dean Kniceley, Class of 1960

21 – Eva Huey Jarvis, Class of 1975

24 – Mary Kelly, Monongah & North Marion

29 – Betty Sikinow Cunningham, Class of 1954

 

March

5 – Phil Colanero, Jr., Class of 1963

5 -- Doris Carpenter Rogers, Class of 1971

6 – Karen Fitzwater Pausch, Class of 1961

9 – Richie Basagic, Class of 1975 

9 – Brian Evans, Monongah graduate married to Patty DeMary Evans

11 – Benny C. Morgan, Class of 1948

15 – Donna Colvert Davis, Class of 1961, married to 1958 MHS grad Bill Davis

21 – Denver Browning, MHS grad, brother of Dorothy Browning Woods, Class of 1955

22 – David Haines, Class of 1964

25 – Sandy Cook, Class of 1959

25 – Richard Fitzwater, Monongah graduate

 

April

4 – Charlotte Walker Cahill, Class of 1954

11 – Leo Kubiet, Class of 1942

12 – Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966

14 – Lyla Cosner Howell, Class of 1958

30 – Shirley Knight Ritterhouse, Class of 1954

May

4 – Freddie Jane Colosino Villers, Class of 1964

5 – Frank Franze, Class of 1950  or 6^th?

6 – Jerry Loss, Class of 1956

14 – Donna Post Swiger, Class of 1955

14 – Mike Jurasko, Class of 1957

14 – Virginia Belle Littleton Curtis, Class of 1957

20 – Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955

21 – June Paxton Rogers, Class of 1948

28 – Terri Orsini Saye, Class of 1972

June

8 – John Koloskie, Jr., Class of 1944

8 – Pat Slovekosky Morris, Class of 1970

13 – C.L. “Roy” Parker II, North Marion Class of 1982

17 – Delmas Hartley, Class of 1979

17 – Dennis Jones, Class of 1954

23 – Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949

23 – Kathryn Manuel Marshall, Class of 1960  

July

3 – Susan Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971

4 – Bob Fox, Class of 1948

4 – Barbara Fleming Marsh, Class of 1947

5 – David Gowers, Class of 1971

5 – Bill Meredith, Class of 1957

13 – Ronald Shea, Class of 1954

14 – Ted Nagel, Class of 1954

16 – Jean Nagel Viglianco, Class of 1949

August

9 – Paula Kerns Fazio, Class of 1979

16 – Debby Morrison Harden, Class of 1966

18 – Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960

19 – Greg Postlethwait, Class of 1964

29– Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950

September

7 – Mary Louise Orsini, Class of 1948 (honorary)

8 – Fred Moorehead, Class of 1964  

8 – Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955

13 – Karen Manzo, Class of 1974

14 – Suzanne Barr Loss, Class of 1948

14 – Jim Shaver, Class of 1954

15 – Bettie Hensley Lowther, Class of 1948

17 – Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972

20 – Greg Patrick, Class of 1970

24 – Joe Fazio, Class of 1974

25 – Marylee Hertzog Gwinn, Class of 1948

25 – Jim Davis, Class of 1964

27 -- Bonita Lavencheck Waybright, Class of 1968

29 – Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959

October

7 – Sherry McIntire, Class of 1975

8 – Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973

9 – Mary Frances Miller Myers, Class of 1951

11 – Jay Holman, Class of 1971

12 – Brenda Manzo, wife of Danny Manzo, Class of 1957

16 – Jaimie Feltz Riley, daughter of Betty Lynn Wilson Feltz, Class of 1952, and late Coach Jim Feltz

20 – Leona “Duckles” Davis Schooley, Class of 1953

21 – Dorman Keith Beckner, Class of 1942

21 – Ken Slovekosky, Gilmer County High Class of 1976.

26 – Lori Hawkins Ice, Fairmont East graduate.

29 – Robert Boydoh, Class of 1956

31 – Patty Steele McCombs, Fairmont East graduate.

 

November

1 – Tom Dean, Class of 1949

5 – John Olesky, Class of 1950

10 – Tony Orsini, Class of 1946

14 – Ann Marie Mascak Davis, Class of 1955

19 – Jim Weaver, Class of 1948

20—Hellen Snider Carpenter, Class of 1950                

20 – Kathryn Toothman Crim, Class of 1950

23 -- Antheai Justice Turner, North Marion 1982

December

2 – Adam Michna, 1980 North Marion graduate

4 – Ronald Pearse, Classs of 1961

5 – Duane Harbert, Class of 1951

8 – Brenda Urban, Class of 1971

13 – Otis “Sarge” Shaver, Class of 1948

22 – Frances Wimer Miller, Class of 1951

I have converted 21 Monongah High Black Diamond yearbooks' printed versions into online albums that anyone in the world can see via the Internet, from 1939 through 1959. 

Either click on the blue URL lines to see the yearbook or other online photo albums you want to go to.

If that doesn't work, Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1939 yearbook

       https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/1939MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1940 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1940MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1941 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1941MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1942 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1942MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1943 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/1943MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook?authkey=Gv1sRgCK-jxabN5YaQdw#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1944 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1944MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1945 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1945BlackDiamondMonongahYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1946 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1946MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1947 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1947MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1948 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1948MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1949 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/1949MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook?authkey=Gv1sRgCL36u9jE8r_WiwE#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1950 yearbook

http://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/MonongahHighClassOf1950Book#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1951 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/1951MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1952 yearbook

https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/1952MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook?authkey=Gv1sRgCNOYy9uP__yZ9AE#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1953 book

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1953MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1954 book

https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/1954MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook?authkey=Gv1sRgCL3exdyNkuif8wE#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1955 book

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1955BlackDiamondMonongahHighYearbook#

 Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1956 book

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1956MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

 Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1957 book

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1957MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

 Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1958 book

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1958MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the online Monongah High Class of 1959 book

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/1959MonongahHighBlackDiamondYearbook#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of Monongah High Alumni album

http://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/MonongahHighEmailGroup#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see miscellaneous photos that have appeared in Monongah High Alumni newsletters, mostly recent photos of MHS grads mentioned in 2013 or later newsletters

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/MissingMHSNewsletterPhotos#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of Monongah High’s Kendzior family

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/KendziorFamily#

 Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of Monongah High Alumni Reunion in Sarasota Jan. 21, 2012

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/2012MonongahHighAlumniReunionInSarasota#

 Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of Monongah High Alumni Reunion in Sarasota Jan. 19, 2013

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/2013MonongahHighAlumniReunionInSarasota#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of the 2010 Monongah High Alumni Reunion. Everyone who was there, except those in the balcony at Westchester Village, is in the photos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/MonongahHigh2010Reunion#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of the 2012 Monongah High Alumni Reunion.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/2012MonongahHighAlumniReunion#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos the 2013 Monongah High Alumni Reunion

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/2013MonongahHighAlumniReunion#

   Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot yo see photos of the Kubiets, Pigotts and Weises

https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnOlesky/KubietPigottWeis?authkey=Gv1sRgCManzbPpk7KPyQE#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of the trip to Tom Dean, Class of 1949, to the Offutt AFB of his Air Force career, Missouri relatives, Monongah High classmates in Ohio and his Fairmont birthplace

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/TomDeanS2012Trip#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see the Henry “Dinkle” Martin tribute

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/HenryDinkleMartin#

Copy and Paste the next 3 lines into your Internet browser’s http destination spot, one at a time, to see each of the photos of the 3 visits by John Olesky, Class of 1950, to the summer home of Bob Kasper, Class of 1950, on Grand Lake, between Alpena and Rogers City in Michigan

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/2011VisitToGrandLakeSummerHomeOfBobKasper#

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/2012VisitToBobKasperOnGrandLake#

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/Michigan2013VisitToBobKasper#

Copy and Paste the next line into your Internet browser’s http destination spot to see photos of the visit by Bob Kasper, Class of 1950, to the home of John Olesky, Class of 1950, in Tallmadge, Ohio and the LSU-WVU game in Mountaineer Field

https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/BobKasperS2011VisitToJohnOleskySHome#

Laurelle “Lou” Costello Hustead ‘doing great’

Son Jo-Jo DeMary reports that "Mom is doing great! Thanks for much for all the prayers."

Mom is Laurelle Costello Hustead, mother of Jo-Jo and Julie DeMary; Kim DeMary Clowers, Class of 1979, married to Earl Lee Clowers and living in Red Bank, Tennessee; and Joanne DeMary. Their father is Joe DeMary, who graduated from Monongah in the 1940s.

Jo-Jo adds: "Lee is doing a lot better, too."

The photo montage shows Laurelle, usually called Lou, recovering and the DeMary family gathering, with Laurelle/Lou circled in red.

If you have memories of the Hustead or DeMary families, email John Olesky at jo4wv@neo.rr.com  and the information will be relayed in another Monongah High blog article.

Happy 90^th birthday, Hattie Savereno! 

Hattie Savereno, widow of Tony Savereno, Class of 1941, celebrated her 90^th birthday, which was March 13, with a family dinner.

Their children are Linda Savereno Moorehead, Class of 1968; Mark Savereno, Class of 1970; and T.J. Savereno, Class of 1979.

I didn't find Hattie in my records of Monongah High graduates. 

Other Monongah High alumni in the Savereno family:

Francis Savereno Pulice, Class of 1948.

Mary Savereno Hewitt, Class of 1952.

Jean Savereno DeCarlo, Class of 1945.

If you have memories of  the Savereno family, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll relay the information in another Monongah High Alumni blog article. 

Brian Coleman (Mr. Hoagie)  is home!

Fabulous news from Ashley Hunt, daughter of Brian Coleman (Mr. Hoagie), who was injured in the March 1 fire that destroyed their home:

Brian Coleman

Thank you Jesus....we r on our way home. Mr. Hoagie has passed all tests with flying colors. Physically he is healed.

Mentally he has a ways to go. He has a lot of things to deal with. To him it's like the fire just happened a week ago. You and I have had a whole month to deal with everything; he has not. Please continue to pray for him to have peace with it all.

I constantly have to tell the devil to get behind us. The devil is so rude, trying to steal his peace. But we are conquerors and can not be defeated. Our mighty God said so. He is true to his word.

Brian was in West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh for four weeks. What a remarkable comeback! Mr. Hoagie is one tough Lion!

Monongah calendar of events

Beginning with Jenna Won’t Sing Band Saturday at Firehouse Cafe

Patty Steele McCombs March 29 ~ “Jenna Wont Sing” Firehouse Café 6pm March 29 ~ NMHS Cheerleaders Elimination Dinner (Contact Marsha Westfall) April 5 ~ Vendor Fair – Monongah Town Hall 10a-2p Sponsored by Cancer Conquerors Relay for Life Team (Contact Brittney Sloan) April 6 ~ Thirty One Bingo – Monongah Town Hall - Sponsored By NMHS Basketball (Contact Debbie McIntire) April 6 ~ Spaghetti Dinner – Pleasant Valley Fire Hall - Sponsored by Team Tucker/Shuck (Contact Dietta Goush or Lori Shuck) April 7 ~ Robert’s Rule of Order Training Meeting – Monongah Town Hall @ 6p Open to public April 11 ~ Thirty One Party – Benefit Brian Coleman @ 6pm - Sue Schrader’s House April 12 ~ Annual Kids Fishing Day – Boothes Creek 8a-1p Sponsored by Warren & Dave Sloan April 12 ~ Breakfast with Easter Bunny - Camp Mar Mac @ 9a & 10a with Craft Vendors from 8a-1p April 12 ~ Team Heavenly Hoagie Benefit Dinner/Dance Monongah Town Hall @ 5:30 April 14 ~ Monongah Town Council Meeting @ 6:30p Town Hall April 19 ~ Easter Egg Hunt – Sponsored by Monongah 4-H (Details will be posted) April 28 ~ Monongah Town Council Meeting @ 6:30p Town Hall April 26 ~ Monongah Town Garbage Cleanup day 7a-noon – Town parking lot April 26 ~ Town Wide Yard Sales – Park Ave and Traction Park 8a -1p (Contact Amy Korcsmaros Herron) ==== JOHN OLESKY, CLASS OF 1950 ====