Amelia with one of her many Easter cards

Love poems to Amelia from a grateful town

By John Olesky, Monongah High Class of 1950

When Monongah coal miners went on strike in the 1940s seeking safety and survivable income, Pete and Nell Shenasky, owners of the P.P.  Shenasky Grocery next to Thoburn School, let their families run up grocery tabs so their children wouldn’t go hungry.

When the strikes ended, some as long as eight months, the miners would work off the tremendous “loan” as quickly as they could. The only interest Pete and Nell had was in aiding its customers.

Monongah never forgot the Shenasky helping hand when its residents needed it the most.

So, for Easter, 84 Easter cards have reached Amelia Shenasky Zentz, 98, with more on the way, in response to a “bombard Amelia with love” suggestion from Mary Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, who lives on Lyndon Avenue in Monongah.

The goal is to have 98 cards, one for each of Amelia's years on this Earth.

It’s a “thank-you” from grateful people with memories that go back eight decades.

Many of the cards, such as the one with Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, recall the generosity and kindness of Amelia’s parents and their blonde daughter behind the counter who was beautiful enough to be a model.

Kitty and Personnel administrative assistant Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, the angel of Thomas Street who led the Charge of the Lights Brigade that put 21 Christmas street lights in Monongah, visit Amelia often. Their emotions ping-pong between delight and amazement.

Amelia was the blonde behind the counter of her parents’ grocery store. Amelia and Nell, her mother, handed out free candy to the children of the parents who shopped at P.P.’s place.

Amelia was amazing then and now.

She was a fantastic dancer and was invited to compete in ballroom dancing in New York City. As Amelia recalled, “When I was 19, I went to New York City and danced in the Cotton Club.”

Her partner, the late Walt DeWitt, was her dancing partner for years, including in West Virginia. They were the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of Monongah.

Joining Amelia behind the Shenasky counter was Bruce Zentz, her husband. In 1968 George Shaw built their Dairy Kone on property that once housed Joe Hanus’ garage. It was across U.S. 19 where children played baseball in the 1940s and where brothers Angelo and Alec Catania built the Sinclair service station that covered part of the baseball field where children played before the Catania family  -- father, the brothers and two sisters – moved to Covina, California.

Belinda Morgan Sheppard, Class of 1969, recalls working for Bruce and Amelia for three summers (1975-1977). “I loved working there,” Belinda writes. “They even gave me a baby shower in 1977.”

After 18 years, Bruce and Amelia – married for 55 years -- sold the Dairy Kone to Chris Martin, Monongah’s #1 photographer, who had worked for the Zentz couple for a few years.

Later owners were Patty McCombs, Milton Hurley, Larry and Donna Anderson, Gary and Diane Masters and Lloyd and Sandra Parrish.

Pete and Nell bought the Shenasky building from Mr. Martin in 1921. Pete, who passed away at the age of 69, sold the building to John Boggess, son of Evelyn Kasper Boggess, Class of 1953, and retired coal miner Okey Boggess, who still owns the building today.

Amelia and Bruce also accumulated a roomful of bowling trophies. This woman could do anything, including play a wicked around of golf that brought her more trophies. But, most of all, she could make the children of Monongah smile with a few pieces of free candy and a “welcome!” greeting.

Bruce passed away years ago from Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS, amyotropic lateral sclerosis), after 55 years of marriage to Amelia. Her brother, dentist Dr. John Henry Shenasky, also passed away.

Amelia is as famous in Monongah as Amelia Earhart was to the world with her solo flights into history and death.

At 98, Amelia has a fantastic memory. You mention a name from Monongah’s past and Amelia is an encyclopedia of their life events.

When I phoned Amelia once, and said, “This is John Jr. Olesky,” the almost-century-old Amelia responded: “Johnny and Lena’s boy, on Church Street. I remember you and your sister, Jackie,” Class of 1955, who today lives in Rivesville and sent Amelia an Easter card with a note thanking the Shenaskys for letting the Oleskys avoid starvation and the free candy.

Astounding! Many of us can’t remember what we ate yesterday, but Amelia recalls accurately, without prompting, what happened in 1940 and 1950 to people in Monongah. They aren’t even her family. Actually, they ARE her family, thus the out-pouring of Easter cards to the lady who lives on Shenasky Lane, which was renamed to honor her family.

Coal mining towns do not forget incredible acts of kindness and generosity. The dear hearts and gentle people who live in Monongah are repaying Pete and Nell’s daughter.

There isn’t a movie made that can beat this emotional payback.

John Olesky graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic elementary school and Monongah High School, in 1950, before attending Fairmont State for a year before graduating from West Virginia University School of Journalism and embarking on a 43-year newspaper career as founder of the West Virginia High School All-State selections, 15 years as a sportswriter, later a newsroom electronics coordinator, State Desk assistant editor and Television Editor. He retired in 1996 and has traveled to 56 countries and 44 states and has had season tickets to Mountaineer Field for more than 30 years, thanks for his Monongah upbringing and education.

When I phoned Amelia on Easter Sunday to wish her a Happy Easter, she reminded me that she was the 1935 Marion County jitterbug champ and that she still can "kick her leg up." Oh, yeah!!!

 

Amanda & Chris Morgan, sons Jimmy & Andrew

Amber Efaw, Randy Ramsey, Asher

2 new alternates for Lights Committee

Amanda Morgan and Amber Efaw are new alternates for Susan Staron Sanders’ Charge of the Lights Brigade, as I call the Monongah Christmas Lights committee.

Amber is a North Marion High graduate whose family once lived in Mannington. She is engaged to Randy Ramsey from Idamay, who did two tours in  Iraq and Afaganistan with the Air Force. They have an 18-month old son, Asher.

Amanda is a 1998 North Marion grad.  She moved from Mods Run near Rachel to Monongah in 2015. She is married to Chris Morgan. They met at Wal-Mart.  Amanda worked at Wal-Mart for 14 years before switching to the Office of Global Affairs at West Virginia University. Chris still works at Wal-Mart. Their sons are Jimmy, 16, and Andrew, 6.

Monongah’s Christmas Lights Committee, responsible for 21 holiday brighteners beaming down from town street lights, had its first 2018 meeting March 24 at Susan’s home on Thomas Street, only two doors down from my parents’ rental when I still was in diapers before Johnny and Lena Futten Olesky bought the Church Street home from Consol Coal that Angela and Mary Raymond were renting (because it had indoor plumbing – halleluah! – and the Thomas Street rent only had a two-holer outhouse.

Mayor Greg Vandetta gave permission for the Angel of Thomas Street and her energetic friends to add 5 more Christmas street lights, for a total of 26! And Susan didn’t begin her lights campaign till 2015!

The Mothers Day Craft Show for May 5 in the town hall will be another opportunity to raise funds for the street lights

The committee’s current lineup:

President - Susan Sanders, Class of 1971.

Vice President - Shelly Yankie, 2002 North Marion grad.

Treasurer - Linda McCullough.

Secretary - Kitty Morrison, Class of 1968.

 

Alternates - Josh Scritchfield, North Marion grad; Breanna Stewart, Bill McCullough, Amanda Morgan, Amber Efaw.

Family of champions in biking for MS

Jayce Riley, grandson of legendary Monongah High football coach Jim Feltz, will be pedaling his bike from Yorktown, Virginia to San Francisco to honor his mother, Jaimie Feltz Riley, who battled MS for 13 years before passing away when Jayce was a Fairmont West senior.

Jayce Riley

Fairmont State junior Jayce will participate in June and July in the Bike the US for MS campaign, which began in 2007. Jayce’s cousin took part in the biking for MS cause a year after Jaime passed away.

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation says more than 400,000 Americans have MS, a debilitating attack on the central nervous system.

Jim Feltz’ widow is Betty Lynn Wilson Feltz, Class of 1954, who lives in Fairmont with son Jon Pat Feltz, who taught math at Monongah Middle School for decades. Betty and Jim’s other child is Jay Feltz, who quarterbacked Monongah High to its fifth and final state football title in 1973. Jim coached the 1952 and 1954 MHS state football championship teams.

The MS trip will cover 3,785 miles. MS campaign hopes each biker will raise $3,785, or one dollar for every mile.

Donations can be made for Jayce at http://biketheusforms.org/cyclists/detail.asp?cid=1380.

The Fairmont Times story about Jayce’s bike for mom and MS:

Pedaling for a cause

Cross-country bicycling trip to honor memory of FSHS grad’s mother

• By Tiffany Towner | Times West Virginian

Editor

 

 

FAIRMONT — To drive from Yorktown, Virginia, to San Francisco, California would take a person 43 straight hours. That’s a long time to sit in a car.

Imagine riding a bike all that way. It seems like an outlandish thought, but it’s not. It’s what Fairmont resident Jayce Riley will be spending two months of his summer doing.

Jayce will be biking 3,785 miles across the United States throughout June and July. But his motivation for doing so isn’t because he’s an avid cyclist.

“I’m not like a road cyclist or a mountain biker or any of that stuff,” said Jayce, a graduate of Fairmont Senior High School who is currently a junior at Fairmont State University, where he’s majoring in exercise science. “I don’t think I’ve even ridden a bike the past three years.”

So what would possess Jayce to undertake this journey? He’s participating in “Bike the US for MS” in honor of his mother, who had multiple sclerosis (MS) and passed away in 2014.

Honoring an amazing mother

It’s estimated that more than 400,000 people in the United States have MS, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. It is “an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body,” states the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Its cause is unknown.

Jayce’s mother, Jamie (Feltz) Riley battled MS for 13 years, and passed away from it when Jayce was a senior in high school.

“She was an amazing, amazing mother,” Jayce said. “She was such a loving person. She cared for so many different people, and was always willing to accommodate others.”

He recalled how strict she was with him when he was a child in school, pushing him to be the best person he could be.

“When I’m going to college, I’m using all this knowledge that she gave me, all these lessons ... and I think it’s made me the person I am today,” he said. “Without her, I don’t know who I would be. I really don’t know.”

A year after his mother passed away, Jayce’s cousin participated in the Bike the US for MS program.

“Since then I knew I wanted to do it, but it was just a matter of time,” he said.

A cross-country trek

Bike the US for MS started in 2007 to raise funds for MS treatment and research, as well as to raise awareness about the disease. There are various pre-plotted courses cyclists can take; Jayce will be part of a team of bicyclists on the TransAmerica Route.

There are about 14 people in his team so far, and Jayce said they’ve been getting to know each other through online posts. Teammates live in nearby states, as well as other countries, such as Bill Slott, hailing from Kibbutz Ketura, Israel, and Bart and Mirjam Van Slageren, who come from Purmerend, Netherlands and will be making the trip on a tandem bike.

Participants are asked to raise at least $3,785, which is $1 for every mile they will be biking.

“Almost 50 percent of that is going to go directly toward MS research and other things that they deem worthy of getting some money,” Jayce said. “The other 50 percent is going to go toward us. It’s going to buy our uniforms, our meals, water along the way, some spare bike parts, gas for our van that carries all of our supplies.”

After departing on June 1, the cyclists can pretty much set their own pace, Jayce said, riding around 6-8 hours each day. As it’s not feasible to bike on the main routes, such as interstates, he said they will be taking a course that uses more backroads.

“It’s a lot of America that you don’t get to see.”

Along the 3,785 miles, he’ll bike through nine states, taking pictures and doing some sightseeing along the way. He’ll share his journey through Facebook and Instagram pages, where he’ll post photos frequently to update followers.

As the team makes stops for lunch or to camp at night, they’ll be wearing Bike the US for MS shirts, and traveling with a van emblazoned with the same message. Jayce said they’ll talk with people and media outlets along the way in an effort to raise awareness of MS. And that effort has started already.

“Even here in Fairmont, I’ve had a lot of people that have come up to me and talked to me about it since they knew that I was going to be doing this,” he said. “It’s been awesome to hear people’s stories like that too.”

Supportive efforts

While Jayce has been gearing up for his journey on stationary bikes at the Fairmont State campus, he doesn’t yet have a very necessary component: a bike.

“I’m gonna get one pretty soon,” he said, adding that he’s been looking at some online. A few friends have offered to lend him a bike, but he said being 6-foot, 2-inches makes finding a bike that works for his frame a difficult match.

Separate from the fundraising efforts through the Bike the US for MS site, Jayce is also raising funds for himself to buy his bike, as well as other necessary gear, such as a helmet and camping necessities. These donations are being collected at jars set up at the Fairmont and Bridgeport Hermosilla’s Deli Markets, where Jayce works.

While he’s on the trip, his family will be supporting him, as he said he anticipates they’ll be sending care packages and letters to him along the way. Jayce said they also plan to visit him in Blacksburg, Virginia and at a stop in Kentucky.

“They might not be there with me all the time, but they’ll be back at home sending me messages and videos and pictures.”

Reactions about the trip from friends have been varied, but Jayce said he thinks his mom would have thought it was crazy.

“After a week long of her not believing me, she would have got on board, she would have helped me,” he said. “She definitely would have supported me through anything that I would ever want to do, especially a bike ride across America.”

Donations can be made for Jayce at http://biketheusforms.org/cyclists/detail.asp?cid=1380.

To follow his journey, visit facebook.com/jaycebikestheus.

The Clarksburg WBOY-TV story about Jayce:

 

FSU student plans cross-country bike trip

By: Paige Hopkins  WBOY-TV

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FAIRMONT, W.Va. - A Fairmont State University student will soon embark on a cross-country, two-month bike trip.

Jayce Riley is participating in Bike the US for MS in honor of his mom who passed away from Multiple Sclerosis. 

Riley is working to raise 3,785 dollars for MS research and for his trip.
"So my mom had MS and eventually passed away because of it. And I wanted to honor her somehow. And then my cousin actually ended up doing this, she's actually done it 3 times now. So whenever she did it I was like 'I'll do it,' so it was only a matter of time," Riley said. 

Jean Metz Kubiet passes away



Jean and Leo Kubiet

Mary Jean Metz Kubiet, wife of Leo Lawrence Kubiet, Class of 1942, passed away Monday, March 19 in Florida. Jean was a 1945 Fairmont East graduate.

They were married in 1946 in St. Stanislaus Church in Monongah. Their children are Lawrence Michael Kubiet and Dr. Martin Alan Kubiet.

Leo’s parents were Joe Kubiet and Laura Agnes Bucy Kubiet. His siblings included the only other survivor, Marjorie Kubiet Whitehair, widow of Monongah High grad Cecil Whitehair, who lives in Dayton; and Francis Eugene “Sonny” Kubiet, who married Elma Teets Kubiet, William “Buddy” Kubiet and Joe Kubiet, Jr.

Leo retired as vice president at the St. Petersburg Times.

His college education included Fairmont State (Journalism and English), and universities of Virginia, Michigan, Wayne State (in Detroit) and the University of Detroit.

Leo’s long and impressive career:

Detroit News, 1950-1968; at the St. Petersburg Times, retail advertising manager, advertising manager, advertising director, corporation director, vice president advertising, senior vice president; and Florida Trend Magazines modern graphic arts director.

The Kubiets grew up on Willow Road, not far from where St. Barbara’s Nursing Home was built decades later. So did the Greco, Tony Domico, Lawrence Kasper, Walter and Helen Shipco families, the Joe and Laura Kubiet and Layne families, the Walter and Ivy Nichols family.

Grandma Ursula Shipco had six lots which she gave or sold to others. Her children were John, Joe, George, Walter, Blanche and Mrs. Lawrence Kasper, whose daughter, Evelyn Kasper Boggess, still lives in the Willow Road home of her childhood with husband Okey Boggess.

Evelyn’s brother, Bob Kasper, Class of 1950, has homes in South Lyon and Presque Isle (Grand Lake), Michigan. Bob and John Olesky, Class of 1950, have been best friends since they met in first grade at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School on Church Street in Monongah.

Jean’s obituary:

KUBIET, Mary (Metz) “Jean” 91, on March 19, 2018, succumbed quietly from this life and returned to God, her creator, following a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s disease in the Memory Care Unit.

She is survived by her husband, Leo L. Kubiet; son, Dr. Martin A. Kubiet and daughter-in-law, Dr. Leslee of Palm Coast, FL; daughter-in-law, Ann Mahone Kubiet of Zephyrhills, FL; and sister-in-law, Doris Layne Kubiet of Fairmont, WV.

Other surviving family members are grandsons, Kurt Kubiet of Elgin, IL; Christopher Kubiet of Dover, NH; Alexander and Nicholas Kubiet of Palm Coast, FL; great-grandson, Charlie of Dover, NH; nephew and niece, Bradley C. and Alyene Burnett of Suwanee, GA.

Her eldest son, Larry Kubiet, passed in 2009 at age 62.

Jean was born September 12, 1926 in Fairmont, WV, the youngest of three daughters, to Dr. Clifford H. and Mary Joanna Metz. Her two sisters, Wanda Metz Thompson and Juanita Metz Burnett, also preceded her in death.

Jean and Leo were married in 1946 at St. Stanislaus Church in Monongah, WV. Following graduation, they moved to the Detroit suburbs when Leo pursued graduate studies at University of Michigan.

A former resident of Roseville, MI, Jean moved to Tierra Verde in May of 1968, joining her husband who became an Advertising Executive with the St. Petersburg Times/Evening Independent.

In Detroit, she was employed by J. L. Hudson Department Store and Chrysler Corporation.

She graduated from East Fairmont High School in May of 1945 where her activities included the “Yellow Jackets” championship basketball team and being a member of the well-noted Marching Band. She attended Fairmont State University where she was one of very few women in the Engineering program.

After moving to Florida, she was a Tax Consultant at H & R Block and later, a Sales Agent at Jack Tourtelot Real Estate on St. Pete Beach.

With her husband, Jean enjoyed traveling, often serving as tour guides for numerous travel groups. Together, they toured all 48 contiguous US states as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Other destinations included Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, England, Ireland, and many other countries in Asia, Europe, and Scandinavia.

Residing at Bay Point Britany Condominiums in St. Petersburg, she was active in the Red Hat Society, Steering Committee, Women’s Club, and Rutland House Social Committee.

For more than 44 years, Jean was an active parishioner at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in St. Pete Beach and was also a member of several committees at the parish parochial school.

At St. Pete Country Club (formerly Lakewood), she was active with the Lakettes, which traveled to Mexico and numerous Caribbean Islands, including Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Nevis, and Kitts, for tennis vacations.

The Kubiets were members of St. Petersburg Yacht Club in St. Pete and Pass-A-Grille in St. Pete Beach for over 44 years.

Following a move to Pinecrest Place Independent Living in Largo, Jean was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church.

A Memorial Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s in Largo on a later date to be announced. Burial of cremains will take place at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Indianapolis sinking survivor Sam Lopez passes away

Sam Lopez, Sr., who survived four days in shark-infested water after the Japanese sank the USS Indianapolis, passed away Tuesday, March 20.

Sam Lopez, Sr.

Sam was among only 22 alive who endured the 1945 sinking. 900 men floated in the ocean for four days until they were discovered by accident when a Navy PBY search and rescue plane piloted by Hoosier Adrian Marks discovered them floating in the ocean.  

By then, only 317 men still were alive. 880 of the crew died.

The USS Indianapolis was returning from delivering components for the atomic bomb that later struck Hiroshima when it was torpedoed. Because it was a super-secret mission, no one knew where the ship was headed or that it sank.

Sam’s daughter is Monongah High Alumni Association president Linda Lopez Gandy. Linda’s brother,  Sam Lopez Jr., lives in Fairmont.

Sailor Sam

Linda posted this poignant tribute to her father:

“With a heavy heart I write this. My dad passed away this morning. He was 93; he lived a good life.

“He enjoyed his retirement years, going to WVU football and basketball games with his buddy Frank Pulice. He never missed a Navy reunion until the last few years when his health started failing.

“May he rest in peace.”

I second that emotion.

Sam's wife, Joanne Vandetta Lopez, daughter of Frank and Olga Grandoni Vandetta, passed away in 2012.

Sam’s obituary:

Sam Lopez

September 27, 1924 - March 20, 2018

Sam Lopez, 93, of Monongah, passed away March 20, 2018 at Fairmont Regional Medical Center. He was born September 27, 1924 in Shinnston, son of the late Pete and Maryl Oliverio Lopez.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joanne Vandetta Lopez on July 22, 2012.

Sam proudly served his country in the US Navy aboard the USS Indianapolis, one of the 317 survivors of one of the worst naval disasters. He is also a Purple Heart Recipient.

He attended Shinnston High School and retired from Consolidation Coal Company as a shift foreman. He was a member of the mine rescue team that went into the Farmington mine disaster.

 

Sam was a lifetime member of the VFW 629 and the Fairmont Knights of Columbus. He was also an avid fan of the Mountaineers and New York Yankees.

 

He is survived by a daughter, Linda and James Gandy of Monongah; a son, Sam, Jr. and Linda Lopez of Fairmont; grandchildren, James and Joyce Gandy of Morgantown, Brian and Amy Gandy of Fairmont, Shawn and Shannon Lopez of Shinnston, Shane Lopez of Shinnston; several great and great-great grandchildren; sisters, Marianne Secreto and Carolyn Roussin; a brother, Frank Lopez, all from Michigan; several nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law, Fannie Vandetta; and a close friend, Frank Pulice.

He is preceded in death by his brothers, Tony, Joe, Pete Jr., Dominic, Louis, and John; and sisters, Connie and Rose.

The family would like to give special thanks to Sheila Blake and Fazio’s Elder Care.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont on Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. with Father Vincent Joseph officiating. Interment will follow at Shinnston Memorial Cemetery where full military rights will be conducted by the Marion County Veterans’ Council. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .

Paul and Vivian Lambert

Paul Lambert injured in fall

Paul Eugene “Bucko” Lambert, Class of 1973, suffered a head injury when he lost consciousness and fell, reports wife Vivian Pierce Lambert, Class of 1978.

 

They live in Monongah and have been married for 36 years.

 

Vivian is a former Union Carbide inspector and Fairmont State graduate.

 

Vivian’s parents Betty Melinda Collins Pierce and James Pierce were married 55 years. They passed away within a year.

 

Other Lamberts who graduated from Monongah High:

Norma Lambert Preston, Class of 1966. 

Norma Lambert Preston, Class of 1968.

Richard Lambert, Class of 1975.

The late Brooks Lambert, Sr.’s widow is Pamela Phillips Lambert of Monongah.

Mary D. Fortney Lambert and Samuel Lambert were the parents of the late Robert Lee Fortney, whose widow, Fairmont East graduate Diane Mercer Fortney, lives in Monongah.

Jackie Olesky Straight, Susie Ballinger

ST. PATRICK’S DAY STORY

3 tales of long-time friendships

This is a tale to make even non-Irish eyes smiling on St. Patrick’s Day.

Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, and Susie Ballinger are best friends celebrating St. Patrick’s Day together.

But that’s not the half of this remarkable story of friendship and being there when it counts the most.

Let Jackie, who has a famous brother who also graduated from Monongah High, tell the story:

“Susie and I have been friends about 19 years.

“Susie and I met more than 19 years ago in our exercise class (at the Fairmont Fitness spa).  Dave had just passed away a few months before so I was still dealing with his passing. 

“We became friends and started visiting with each other.  I met her husband, Larry, and we got along great. 

“When I was in the hospital for a week, Susie came every day to visit and bring goodies.  She was still working as a LPN so her time was limited. 

“On my 75th birthday, she and Larry came over for three days and scraped and power-washed my three wooden garage doors.  I helped them and the third day we spent eight hours painting the doors.  They also paid for the paint.  That is real friendship! 

“Larry passed away two years later from cancer.  I visited them as much as possible through his illness and death.  I was there for Susie as she was for me.  I certainly cherish our friendship!”

This isn’t the first time the Olesky family has been involved in a reciprocal friendship/helping hand.

When Betty Lynn Wilson, a majorette at Monongah High, married Lions football coach Jim Feltz, she was a young bride. Jim and Betty lived in the former Domico house that once housed Junior Domico, the late founder of Fairmont’s Domico Funeral  Home. It was next door to Our Lady of Pompei Church.

So Lena Olesky, mother of Jackie and John Olesky, Jr., Class of 1950, would help Betty get through the early days of her marriage.

When Lena passed away, Betty would check in on our father, John W. Olesky, Sr. If  she didn’t see him, or things didn’t look right, Betty would call Jackie who would investigate to see if Dad was OK.

When Coach Feltz passed away, Jackie and I both were at the Fairmont funeral home to support Betty.

As regular readers of this blog know, Bob Kasper, Class of 1950, and John Olesky have been best friends since they were first graders at Sts. Peter and Paul School in Monongah even though we grew up 2 miles apart.

We went to classes together from first grade through 12^th grade at Monongah High and even our first year at Fairmont State, before I transferred to West Virginia University to finish my degree.

In 1955, Bob sent a Christmas card that referred to “old friends, old times.” I sent Bob (we called him Satch during his Monongah High days because he always wore a cap, like Huntz Hall’s “Satch” character in the “Bowery Boys” movie series) a card with similar sentiments.

We exchange those two cards every year, with the names of all the family members after the year. By now the card tells a story of marriages, births and deaths.

We cried together when our wives, Bob’s Pat and my Monnie, passed away. We had reunions on Florida vacations, in Michigan where Bob lives and in Ohio where I live. I got to Bob’s summer home on Grand Lake (Presque Isle) every summer to play golf. He comes to our Tallmadge home to play golf and go to Mountaineer Field with me for a WVU game.

Friendships are import to the Olesky family.

And it’s not unique to the Oleskys. All over Monongah there are people who laugh, cry and mourn together throughout their lifetimes.

Sure and begorrah (it is St. Patrick’s Day), that’s just the way Monongah folks roll.