Lions 1973 state title coach Rickey Mazza passes away

Rickey Mazza, coach at Monongah High for the 1973 state football championship and a successful high school coach in North Carolina, passed away in Salisbury, North Carolina where he lived.

His parents were Jimmy Mazza, who passed away in 1973, and Ginny Retton Mazza.

His siblings are Fairmont East High graduate Linda Mazza Shelosky, widow of Bernie Shelosky, Class of 1965, who lived on Cottage Street in Monongah more than four decades; and Larry Mazza, who with Linda operated Mazza’s Restaurant in East Fairmont for more than a half-century.

Rickey is survived by his wife, Cheryl; three sons Rick, Shane and Chance; and grandsons Rickey, James and Zack.

When Linda married Bernie she added a ton of in-laws.

Such as Andrea Shelosky Matthews and husband Tim Matthews and Tom Shelosky and wife Phyllis, who all live in Monongah.

 

Tom Shelosky is a son of Julia Lazorick Shelosky and Stanley “Strob” Shelosky, Class of 1958, the late superb golfer at Green Hills.

 

Julia passed away in 2013, Strob in 1993. George Shelosky was Strob’s brother.

The Mazza and Shelosky families are spread throughout Monongah High history.

Theresa Mazza Slamick, Class of 1941, who married Jim Slamick.

Carmella Mazza Davis, Class of 1942.

Elvira Mazza Roth, Class of 1944.

John Mazza, Class of 1948, an excellent infielder for Monongah High.

Yanit Skarzinski Mazza, Class of 1951.

Barbara Shelosky, Class of 1968, who moved from Monongah to San Diego, California. So did Andrea Shelosky.

Tom’s sister, Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961, lives in Fairmont.

Bernie Shelosky’s aunt, the late Sophie Dudiak Shelosky, was a sister of Mary Dudiak Raymond, who was married to Angelo Raymond and the mother of the late Bobby Raymond, Class of 1951, and Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro, wife of Carman Pagliaro, who lives in Fairmont.

 

Bob’s widow, Susan Russell Raymond, lives in White Hall.  Bob and Susan’s children are Paula, married to Sam Adkins and living in Idamay; Robin Long of Colfax; Mary Harr of Pleasant Valley; and another Bob Raymond, married to Susie and living in Fairmont.