Pam, you come from a Yanero family tree with a LOT of branches

Pam Yanero Bragg, Class of 1969, of Monongah is part of a long line of Yaneros in Monongah High history.

Pam’s father was Fred Yanero, who had the two-story house that I passed on the right as I walked on Pike Street Extension on my way across the two bridges that took me over the creek in both directions and along an unpaved road till I reached the Mill Fall home of my uncle, Frank Loss, and my aunt, Gezala Futten Loss, to pick up milk fresh from their jersey cows on their 100-acre farm.

Pam Yanero Bragg

Jerry Loss, Class of 1956, who lives in North Olmsted, Ohio today, and the late Robert Loss, who passed away in Shinnston a few months back, were Frank and Gezala’s sons.

And my first cousins, because Gezala and my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, were sisters. Their brother, Si Futten, was a long-time barber on Fairmont Avenue in Fairmont. Their parents were Severino “Sam” Futten and Maria Fedrigon Futten, who came to America from Pellizzano, Italy in 1920.

Pam recalls “my parents were friends with the Losses, all of them” (which takes in a lot of people, including the late Arnold Loss, whose widow, Suzanne Barr Loss, Class of 1948, still lives on the land once owned by Frank and Gezala).

She added:

“My brother Freddie remembers you. He was a very successful high school basketball coach in Dundalk, Ohio and in Baltimore.

“He actually sent some of his players to Joe Retton at Fairmont State. One was Haywood Highsmith. I don't remember the names of the others.

“Maybe I will see you at the reunion!”

Pam is first cousin to Frank Yanero, Class of 1964; Rick Yanero, Class of 1971; Chris Yanero, Class of 1971; and Kim Yanero, Class of 1974.

Recalls Pam: “My Dad was an electrician at Loveridge mines and did tons of work for the churches and St. Barbara's nursing home (for free).”

Pam added:

“My brother Freddie said Uncle Danny played football for the Lions and was a very strong, good athlete.

“My Dad studied at home and passed the required certification to become an Electrician in the Mines. Of course, he did electrical work most of his life. Thanks.”

Through her dad, Pam is second cousin to Jerry Koloskie, Class of 1975, University of Albany (in New York) deputy athletic director.

Fred was the uncle of Jerry’s mother, Julia Monell Koloskie, Class of 1944, John Koloskie, Jr.’s late wife.

Don and Ron Evans are Pam’s second cousins.

Pam’s cousin Rick, of Dover, Delaware, once owned Rick's Bellview Lounge in Fairmont and is married to Harriet Yanero.

Gary Yanero is Rick’s brother.

Siblings are Dorothy “Dot” Evans, who lives in Monongah, and the late Paul Yanero, born in Monongah and a former Monongah High student, who passed away in 2014 in Melbourne, Florida, where Bob Cottrill, Class of 1951, lives.

On the musical side, there’s Ron Yanero, who performs in the Jenna Won’t Sing Band with Greg Patrick, Jim Pulice and Jim’s son, Eric Pulice.

On the culinary side, there’s Barbara Yanero, who spent 15 years as a chef, including one year in Italy, before becoming a pastry chef at WVU. Today, she lives on her family’s property on Shaver Street in Monongah.

Roger Fay Yanero, son of Albert and Ester Coleman Yanero, died in 2014.

Roger’s daughter, Patricia Yanero Herron, lives in Monongah with husband Kevin. Roger’s widow is Elizabeth Stahl Yanero of Fairmont.  Their other children are Roger Fay Yanero Jr. and his wife Joslyn of Barrackville and Betty Yanero Phillips and her husband Geoff of Fairmont.

Roger’s brothers are Robert Yanero of Monongah, Eugene Yanero and the late Edward “Eddie” Yanero.

Sara Bright Yanero, Class of 1969, lives on  Shaver Street, according to the 1993 North Marion High directory. Sara B. Yanero is a 1992 North Marion graduate.

Also:

Danny Yanero, Class of 1939, who died in 1977.

 Fred Yanero, Class of 1957

 Roselyn Yanero, Class of 1959.

Sandy Yanero Hatley, Class of 1960.

Danny Joe Yanero, Class of 1961.

Thomas Yanero, Class of 1963.

Marcia Bradley Yanero, Class of 1963.

Susan Yanero Fried, Class of 1965.

Alfred Yanero, Class of 1967.

Pamela Yanero, Class of 1969.

Jennifer Sabo Yanero, Class of 1970.

Diane Yanero, Class of 1977.

Linda Phillips Yanero, Class of 1977.

If I got any of the Yaneros wrong, or left any out, which isn’t hard to do with the Monongah landscape decorated with so many of them, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll add them on this Monongah High Alumni blog.