The home of Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, which is off Bridge Street Extension at the top of the hill, is a magnet for Monongah High alumni.

It is normal for Ramona to have 21 gathered around for the family dinner at her home just outside the Monongah corporation limits (up the hill from where Joe and Ann DeMary Eates live).

And former Lions who venture into Monongah often head for Ramona’s hideaway with its mountains of Monongah High mementos and take a dip in Ramona’s swimming pool – in the summer, of course.

Tom Dean, Class of 1949, who lives in Altavista, Virginia, makes it a priority stop with his friend of 65 years, Ramona.

Tom wasn’t the only one to show up in August.

Joining him with Monongah’s hostest with the mostest were Mary Maurovic Connor, Class of 1949; Jeanie Nagel Viglianco, Class of 1949; long-time Ramona friend Loretta McDonald Larimore, Class of 1962; and Otis “Sarge” Shaver, Class of 1948.  

Tom’s daughter, Colonel Pam Dean Mitchell (retired), lives near him in Arlington, Virginia.

Tom has three sons in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and brother Jim, Class of 1945, in LePlace, La. 

Tom’s wife, 1950 Uniontown (PA) High grad Rosemarie Dean, passed away in 2012. His brother, Charles Robert (Chub) Dean, class of 1954, passed in 2011. Chub’s wife, Shirley Salisbury Dean, Class of 1957, who grew up in Four States, passed in 2013.

Mary lives on Swisher Hill just south of Monongah.

Jeanie grew up in Stoney Lonesome in Monongah, in the first house at the top of the hill from the Union Hall. She’s a widow. The Vigliancos ran a Fairmont newsstand.

Jeanie’s brothers are Ted Nagel, Class of 1954, and Marty Nagel, Class of 1959. Ted lives in Altavista, Virginia and Micco, Florida with wife Faye. Marty is in Peninsula, Ohio.

Loretta lives in Monongah.

Sarge lives on Old Monongah Road. His siblings are Jim Shaver, Class of 1954, who resides at Old Monongah Road when he's not visiting his wife's native Peru, and their sister, the Rev. Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Shaver Wycoff, who lives on the Shaver Farm on Old Monongah Road.

Sarge’s son, Mark Shaver, has a daughter, Audra Tucker, who is Sarge’s oldest granddaughter and lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Sarge frequently winds up.:)

Ramona was married to the late Frank Michalski, who was in the Class of 1949, and played football for Monongah High School.

Daughter Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, is married to Dave Westfall, Class of 1978. Marcia and Dave have traveled thousands of miles on their Harley-Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle.

Other children of Ramona and Frank are Mike Michalski (wife Jan) and Jay Michalski (wife Debbie), both of Monongah, Carol Michalski Drake (husband Bob) of Shinnston and Ramona Michalski, who lives with Ramona in Monongah.

Another child, Mary Frances Michalski Gapen, Class of 1968, passed away in 2012.

The late Lionel Nichols, Class of 1942, is Ramona’s uncle.

If you have reunions with Monongah High alumni, email the details and photos in jpeg format, with complete identifications, to John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll post them on this Monongah High Alumni blog.