Thursday, August 30, 2018



Jay Michalski, 1980 North Marion graduate, and Debby Mason Michalski celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary

Debby is a sales representative for the United Security Agency, a former agency assistant at Horace Mann and a graduate of Grafton High and Salem College. Her parents are Linda Mason Williams and John Mason of Folsom, the one near New Martinsville and not the prison that Johnny Cash sang about.

Jay works for a Fairmont recyling company.

His parents are Ramona Fullen Michalski, who lives off Bridge Street Extension just outside the Monongah city limits, and the late Frank Michalski, in the Class of 1950 and an outstanding Monongah High football player.

 

Jay’s siblings are Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, of Kilarm, married to Dave Westfall, Class of 1948; Mike Michalski, living in Monongah with wife Jan; Carol Michalski Drake, living in Shinnston with husband Bob; and Ramona Michalski, who lives with Ramona in Monongah.

 

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



Paula Rossi Wiley, Class of 1976, will retire as a Marion County schoolteacher September 14.

Paula posted:

“Well, it's official. I signed the papers at the board office. I retire September 14, 2018.
I can’t believe it.

“It will be hard at first but then I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I love being a teacher. You never retire from that feeling, especially when you see an old student and they hug and remember you fondly.”
Paula was a media specialist, Fairmont State education graduate with a WVU masters in communication studies.

She began in 1981 at Rivesville High, then to Barrackville Elementary, then to Blackshere Elementary and ended her career back at Barrackville.

That’s 37 years of teaching and 2 years of substituting.
She has been married to Farmington High grad Rick Wiley since 1993. They live in Fairmont.

Rick is district manager of Tire and Rubber, Inc. in Weston.

Paula’s parents are James and Virginia DeMary Rossi, Class of 1953, who was Tina Tartell’s life-long friend. Rick’s are Dale and Nancy Wiley.

Paula’s cousins include Patti DeMary Evans and Paula Muto Kurczak.

Jay Michalski and wife Debby of Monongah are godparents to one of Paula Rossi Wiley’s daughters. Jay’s parents are Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, of Monongah and the late Frank Michalski, who started with the Class of 1950.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018


Smoking studies researcher Karen Manzo Tennant among September birthday Lions

 

Karen Manzo Tennant, who made impressive use of her Public Health Services masters degree from WVU, also her alma mater, will be celebrating her birthday September 13.

Karen Manzo Tennant

 

Karen was among those who conducted a 2004 Society for Prevention Research study on the relationship between mental health and smoking cessation among rural youth in West Virginia and North Carolina. Participants were enrolled in the American Lung Association's 10-week Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) program.

 

The NOT group did better when it came to stopping smoking and females did better than males. Depression and anxiety often are tied to smoking.

 
Karen also has published articles about the attempts of teenage American Indians to stop their tobacco addiction and spoken on the subject at national smoking conferences.

She did a presentation on her paper about risk factors associated with attempted suicide among American Indian youth in Montana.

Karen received an American Legacy Foundation research grant of $115,773 in 2009 and a 2013 West Virginia University Dissertation Fellowship from the Office of Graduate Education & Life.
Karen Sue lives in Rivesville. Her father was Raymond Levar Manzo of Monongah, son of Emilio Manzo and Frances Raymond “Raimondi” Manzo of Monongah.

Her mother was Mary Ozie Manzo, a 1948 Shinnston graduate whose parents were Stella Vanet (Wanat in Poland) Ozie (Helen Manzo’s oldest sister) and Stanley Russell Ozie (Owdziej in Poland).

Karen’s brother is Jim R. Manzo.

The Lions with September birthdays:

If your name is not on this list, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com  with your full name, including maiden name, your birthday date, your graduation year and your current hometown.


 

September


 1 – Claude Domico, Jr., Class of 1959
3 – Debra June Knight, Class of 1973

6 – Dave Domico of Monongah, Fairmont West grad married to Andrea Justice Domico

7 – Phillis Tarley, North Marion grad from Idamay living in Fairmont

8 – Fred Moorehead, Class of 1964 

8 – Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955

13 – Karen Manzo Tennant, Class of 1974

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

23 – Sally Wood Tarley, Class of 1959

24 – Joe Fazio, Class of 1974

25 – Marylee Hertzog Gwinn, Class of 1948

25 – Jim Davis, Class of 1964

26 – Nathaleen Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948

27 -- Bonita Lavencheck Waybright, Class of 1968

29 – Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959

29 – Pamm Yanero Bragg, Class of 1969

October


 2 – Stanley H. Vance, Class of 1964

7 – Sherry McIntire, Class of 1975

8 – Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971

8 – Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973

11 – Jay Holman, Class of 1971

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

14 – John Prunty, Class of 1949

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

20 – Richard Edwards, Class of 1978

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

22 – Mike Uram, 1981 North Marion graduate

 
  
25 -- Rachel Vivian Stalnaker Sloan, Class of 1962.

26 – Lori Hawkins Ice, Fairmont East graduate living in Carolina

29 – Robert Boydoh, Class of 1956

31 – Patty Steele McCombs, Fairmont East graduate who lives in Monongah

31 – Helen McDougal Mudry, Monongah High grad

 
November

1 – Tom Dean, Class of 1949

4 – Roger Harbert, Class of 1960

5 – John Olesky, Class of 1950

8 – Diana Pishner Walker

10 – Tony Orsini, Class of 1946

10 – Anthony Pulice, Jr., Class of 1945

13 – Elwood Toll, Class of 1951

14 – Ann Marie Mascak Davis, Class of 1955

17 – John Todd Moats, North Marion Class of 1985

20—Hellen Snider Carpenter, Class of 1950               

20 – Kathryn Toothman Crim, Class of 1950

22 – Mike Ahouse, Class of 1968

23 -- Antheai Justice Turner, North Marion 1982

25 – Gerald Nelson Hartley, Class of 1955

27 – Roy Foster, Class of 1945

28 – Danny Fullen, Class of 1961

29 – Dave Westfall, Marcia Westfall Michalski’s son


December


2 – Adam Michna, 1980 North Marion graduate

2 -- Mareia Wilmouth McDougal, Class of 1964

3 – Goldie Mae Martin, Class of 1964

4 – Ronald Pearse, Class of 1961

4 – Jay Michalski, 1980 North Marion graduate

5 – Duane Harbert, Class of 1951

6 – Goldie Basagic Huffman, Class of 1974

8 – Brenda Urban, Class of 1971

10 – Richard Weaver, Class of 1957

11 – Paulette Colanero O’Connor, Class of 1966

13 – Otis “Sarge” Shaver, Class of 1948

14 – Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974

16 – Shelvy Maze Cunningham, Class of 1964

16 – Henry Moore, husband of Beth Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975

16 – Paula Rossi Wiley, Class of 1976

18 – Bill Cameon, Class of 1960

20 – Mike Hess, Class of 1975

22 – Frances Wimer Miller, Class of 1951

23 – Jim Fullen

25 – Chris Shamrock Henning

27 – John Yokay III, son of John Yokay, Class of 1953

29 --  Dolores Edwards, Class of 1955

30 – Deborah Prunty Poluck, Class of 1973
 

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

24 – Mark “Hooch” Aldridge, Class of 1973

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

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

15 – Clarence William “Bill” Woods, Class of 1952

18 – Nancy Carol Davidson Kantura, Class of 1955

22 – David Haines, Class of 1964

25 – Sandy Cook, Class of 1959

25 -- David Edwards, Class of 1976.

25 – Richard Fitzwater, Monongah graduate

28 – Josephine Popovich Jones, Class of 1952

 

April

4 – Charlotte Walker Cahill, Class of 1954

5 – Bernie Fullen, Class of 1963

9 – Paula “P.J.” Hickman, North Marion 1983

11 – Leo Kubiet, Class of 1942

12 – Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966

14 – Lyla Cosner Howell, Class of 1958

15 – Judy Stewart Monell Razook, Class of 1959

16 – Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961 

30 – Shirley Knight Ritterhouse, Class of 1954
 
May

4 – Freddie Jane Colosino Villers, Class of 1964

5 – Frank Franze, Class of 1950

5 – Louis Poluck, Class of 1973

6 – Jerry Loss, Class of 1956

12 – Arlene Kitchin, wife of Joe Martin, Class of 1957

14 – Donna Post Swiger, Class of 1953

14 – Mike Jurasko, Class of 1957

14 – Virginia Belle Littleton Curtis, Class of 1957

17 – Colette Stanley Melton, Class of 1970

17 – Lorraine Hulderman, Class of 1968

20 – Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955

21 – June Paxton Rogers, Class of 1948

27 – Ed Graffius, Class of 1971

28 – Terri Orsini Saye, Class of 1972

29 – John Woods, Class of 1957

30 – Dave Westfall, Class of 1948  

June


1 – Parma Kay Fetty, Class of 1973

3 – Jim Birdsell, North Marion grad from Monongah; married to Angela

5 – Ann “Peaches” DeMary

7 – Kenneth Kincaid, Class of 1968

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

13 – Rick Morrison, son of Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968 

14 – Pamela Morrison Bombardiere, Class of 1967

14 – Regina Levelle Humphrey, Class of 1973

14 – Regina McCoy Murphy, Class of 1973

17 – Delmas Gene Hartley, Class of 1979

20 – Shirley Ann Woods Merchant, Class of 1953

22 – Prudence Deane Tetrick Funk, Class of 1960.

23 – Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949

23 – Kathryn Manuel Marshall, Class of 1960

23 – Ron Manzo, Class of 1969

23 – Frankie Vandetta, North Marion grad

July


1 – Roger Fisher, Monongah High grad

3 – Susan Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971

5 – David Gowers, Class of 1971

5 – Bill Meredith, Class of 1957

7 – Alex Fazio Huff, North Marion 2005 grad

10 – Mary Fleming Toothman, Class of 1960

14 – Ted Nagel, Class of 1954

14 – Bentley Evans, Class of 1978

18 – Larry Zickefoose, Class of 1968

19 – Arlene Martha Edwards Costelac, Class of 1958

20 – Catherine Reckart Boyce, Class of 1973

21 – Robin Huffman Satterfield, Class of 1973  

16 – Jean Nagel Viglianco, Class of 1949

19 – Jane Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975

29 – Pete Basagic, Class of 1972

August


1 – Kim DeMary Clowers, Class of 1979

5 – Robert Tennant, Class of 1971

6 – Wauneda Evans, Patty DeMary Evans’ mother-in-law

7 – Dorie Mike Whetsell, Monongah graduate

8 – Sandra Ashcraft, Class of 1964

9 – Paula Kerns Fazio, Class of 1979

16 – Debby Morrison Harden, Class of 1966

17 – Twins Earnest Hayes & Chester Hayes, both Class of 1965

18 – Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960

18 – John Fazio, Class of 1970

19 – Greg Postlethwait, Class of 1964

19 – Barbra Eller-Hanning, Monongah grad

20 – Irene Fazio Preolitti, Class of 1966

20 – Connie Warash, Class of 1975

21 – Robert Howard Edwards, Class of 1959

24 – Sean Patrick Fazio, 2015 North Marion grad

29 -- Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950


30 – Beth Pritchard Brooks, Class of 1978

30 – David Harbert of Idamay, Farmington grad

Monday, August 27, 2018

1979 Monongah High yearbook then & now



The last class is first class

The size of Monongah High’s graduation classes are dwarfed by those from high schools around the state and the nation but Lions alumni have impressive lives and careers after leaving the building just off U.S. 19.

The Class of 1979, the last graduation class before the school consolidated into North Marion, is an excellent example.

The co-valedictorians were Michael Bruce Edmond, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Edmond, and Anthony Joseph Saverino, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Savereno.

Dr. Michael Bruce Edmond is a world-famous pioneer in the treatment of C.Diff (Clostridium difficile), an infectious disease that is dangerous and sometimes fatal to hospital patients. He came up with a unique and successful way to treat the illness: Using feces of a close relative to battle and usually cure C.Diff. It works 90% of the time.

The lifesaver is being used around the world. Dr. Edmond’s book is titled “The Power of Poop.”

Dr. Edmond is a West Virginia University graduate who lives in Iowa City, Iowa where he is chief quality officer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He has been married to Laurie Jean Lyckholm since 1994.

Previously, Dr. Edmond was professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Virginia Commonwealth University.  


The 1979 class’ other co-valedictorian, T.J. (as in Tony Joseph) Savereno, is a wildlife biology guru
as a Natural Resources Extension Agent at Clemson University in South Carolina. He lives in Timmonsville, South Carolina with wife Lynette Abercrombie Savereno, a 1984 Irmo (South Carolina) High grad.

They have a daughter, Hannah, who is Clemson student and a son, Isaac, is a sophomore at West Florence High School.

T.J. and Lynette travel regularly throughout South Carolina and the Southeast. Their travels also have taken them to Maine, Florida, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Tennessee, Kentucky, Canada and, on a church mission, to Belize.

The 1979 class’ valedictorian was Brenda Lee Graffius, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Graffius. Brenda lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband. Her siblings are David Graffius and Ed Graffius.

Michael Delligatti, Evelyn Prahl Kurtock, Pam Prahl Johnson and Eleanor Slavik Varga are her cousins. Jennifer Linn-Foster is her niece.

Kim Zickefoose came from North Carolina as an experienced beauty contest entrant and, by the time she was a student at West Virginia Wesleyan, won the West Virginia Miss Teenager Pageant. Kim was among the 12 semifinalists at the All-American Teen Pageant in Florida.

Ron Eagle served his country in the Army, with combat duty in the Afghanistan-Iraq area. He is a Fairmont State graduate who lives in Bridgeport.

Bob Tinnell, after Fairmont State and Columbia College Hollywood and Point Park University, is bigtime into thrilling audiences with his music and has close ties to the Marshall Lowry Band.

Bob also is author of Kids of the Round Table” and “Feast of the Seven Fishes” comics. He is married to Shannon Colaianni Tinnell and they once owned a home house in the Sangre de Cristos in Colorado.

Kathy Lewis Noble lives in Fairmont. She has been married since 1982 to Mark Noble. Kathy is a teacher at West Taylor Elementary who went to Charleston to support the legendary West Virginia walkout that started a trend among teachers around the country.

David Martin lives in Millwood with wife Mandy Martin and is deeply involved in union activities, including president at Mason Jackson Roane Central Labor Council and United Steel Workers Local 5568. He works at Constellium.

Dave studied electronics at Fairmont State. Dave and Mandy’s sons are Landon and Andrew Martin.

Mary Jo Hall Comley lives in Fairmont with husband Dave Comley. They were married in 2002. Their children are Mindy Efaw and Eric Hinebaugh, who have produced three grandchildren: Gavin Efaw, 11, and Aubrey Efraw, 8, and Madison Hinebaugh, 10.

Mary Jo graduated from Fairmont State University with a degree in business administration. She works for Mountain State Auto Auction as Director of Marketing and Sales Mary Jo and Dave attend South Ridge Church on Fairmont Avenue between 16th and 17th streets.

BettyAnne DeMary has been a medical secretary for Dr. Peter L. Ang since 2000. She’s a Fairmont State graduate.

BettyAnne’s parents are Tina Ann “Peaches” Aldridge DeMary, Class of 1945, who lives with husband Frank DeMary, Jr., Class of 1947, in Monongah. Peaches and Frank owned DeMary Grocery in Monongah at the end of the Brookdale Bridge. Previously, they owned a grocery store in Pennsylvania.

BettyAnne’s sister is retired nurse Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972, married to retired coal miner Brian L. Evans, Class of 1969, for more than 40 years. Patti is a Fairmont State graduate. 

Doug Efaw is a staff nurse at Hospice Care who lives in Dunbar, Pennsylvania. He has been married to Cindy Vall Efaw since 2011.

Cindy Lynn Freeland Nosack lived in Four States while going to Monongah High. She married in 2007 and is living in Shinnston.

Gene Hartley, a Carolina boy during his Monongah High boys, lives in Fairmont with his wife, Julie Hartley. Gene worked at Federal No. 2 Mines.

Sandy McIntire is materials manager at Upper Occoquan Service Authority (1990-present) and is from Worthington.

Sandy Smith Ritter worked at Criminal Case and lives in Grafton.

Debbie Weaver Hurley has been married to Milton Hurley since 1983. She’s a Fairmont State business/accounting graduate who lives in Monongah. They also are big Pittsburgh Penguins hockey fans.