REPORT ON MONONGAH HIGH ALUMNI DURING THE PANDEMIC

 

I asked Monongah High Alumni to tell me about their COVID experiences. I am pleased with the prompt responses.

Lions helping Lions has been my experience since my 1950 graduation from that school a block from my Church Street home.

Sadly, Vivian Pierce Lambert, Class of 1978, passed away from COVID damage. Inspiringly, even though her husband, Paul Eugene “Bucko” Lambert, Class of 1973, was hospitalized in critical condition with COVID, he was able to move to rehab and, I’m told, “is fine” at home with his recovery.

Paul Stanley Deahl, Class of 1979, also is recovering from his COVID incident early in 2020 even though he has end-stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which put him in double jeopardy.

Paul’s been a battler much of his life. He had spinal fusion surgery in 2018. He fractured back vertebraes playing football for Monongah High. Quick thinking by teammate Ron Manzo, who immobilized Paul’s neck, probably prevented even worse damage.

 

He also survived being struck by an automobile.

 

Paul was fullback on the 1968 Monongah High state championship football team with quarterback Nick “Brother” Saban, Alabama’s famous football coach. He is married to Billie Deahl.

Debbie Bearden Hines, Class of 1973, contracted the coronavirus in January. She says she’s “doing well” now after sleeping for 2 weeks when COVID hit her.

 

 

16 other Lions responded to me that they have gotten their vaccine shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN MEMORIAM

Vivian Pierce Lambert, Class of 1978

Vivian Lambert died from it on January 10, 2021.

 

RECOVERING

 

Paul Eugene “Bucko” Lambert, Class of 1973

Vivian Lambert’s husband was hospitalized in critical condition but Melinda Herron informs me that “He is home and doing fine” after a stint in rehab.

Paul Stanley Deahl, Class of 1969

Recovering from COVID-19.

 

Debbie Bearden Hines, Class of 1973

 

I had coronavirus January 5. Had flu systems for 24 hours and slept a lot the first 2 weeks but doing well.

 

 

GOT VACCINE

Tony Orsini, Class of 1946

 

Tony Orsini, Moderna vaccine, 2nd shot made his arm a little sore. 

 

Tom Dean, Class of 1949

I received the 1st Moderna shot on Feb 9th. No side effects. Scheduled for 2nd shot on March  9th.

 

Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949

Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, got her first shot and will get her second shot any day now.

 

John Olesky, Class of 1950

Got 2 Pfizer shots by rolling down car window to get injections into his arm. Didn’t feel the needle. No soreness either time. Just bruise size of quarter on arm for week or two.

 

 

Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959

 

My arm was a little sore but no more than my flu shot. Second shot 2/25/21and not sore at all yet. Dietta lives on Cottage Avenue with husband Paul Goush, Class of 1954.

 

Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960

I got the second shot at Del Tech in Dover, Delaware. No lines, was out of there in 20 minutes. My arm is sore from this one. First one no reaction at all. Glad it is over.

 

Cheryl Boydoh Fordyce, Class of 1963

Cheryl Fordyce first shot 2/25/21

Two family members have had COVID. Both are fine. Two of my daughters have had the vaccine with no side effects.

 

Lillie Boydoh Fast was Class of 1928. Louise McNece Boydoh is Class of 1933. Other Boydohs that I’m aware of is Robert Boydoh, Class of 1956, who lives in Hebron, Ohio.

 

Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960, remembers Bob and Cheryl Boydoh during his Monongah High Days.

 

Jim Gandy, Class of 1964

Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965

 

Linda and I got our second Moderna shots 2/25/21. I had no side effects but Linda was feeling tough 2/26/21.

 

Linda added: John, I was sick, felt terrible,  stayed in bed all day.

 

Jim and Linda, on the Monongah High Alumni Association board, moved to Florida last year.

Joyce Winston, Class of 1966

I have received both of the Moderna vaccine shots without complications! Joyce lives in Cornelia, Georgia, which is 77 miles north of Atlanta. She once was a receptionist at WVU where she studied accounting and data processing.   

Jerome “Red” Hines, Class of 1968

 

Red (Jerome) got his first vaccination...scheduled for his 2^nd by now.

 

Saundra Joyce Viney Ross, Class of 1968

Had my 2nd Covid shot yesterday (2/26/21). Arm a little sore but no side effects! 

Married to Dan Ross, Fairmont West grad. They live in Columbia, South Carolina. 

Aaron Justice, Class of 1972

 

First shot.  Second one March 12. Arm sore. Aaron lives on Walnut Street, where I was born in my grandparents’ second floor bedroom in 1932.

 

Terri Orsini Saye, Class of 1972

 

Tony Orsini’s daughter. Pfizer vaccine, no reaction to 1st, 2nd shot on Feb 27

 

 

Charles Sailor, Class of 1975

 

Received my first Moderna Injection on February 13. Chuck lives in Lumberport with wife Dinah Sailor.

 

Brenda L. White VanGilder, Class of 1979

I have had my first and second shots and am doing fine.

Phyllis Parrish of Columbus

 

Widow of Earl “Buck” Parrish, Class of 1955. I have received both shots. My arm was a little sore but by morning it was OK. Can't wait to start hugging and given kisses to my family Thank You, God

 

Buck died in an auto accident in 2009.

So, if you want included in this Lions vs. COVID article, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com or post on the John Olesky Facebook page or call me at (330) 388-4466.

I’ll be glad to let other Lions know how you are doing during this pandemic that has lasted almost 1½ years.

Stay well!

PAUL LAMBERT RECOVING FROM COVID

 

Paul Lambert ‘OK’

Great news about Paul Eugene “Bucko” Lambert, Class of 1973, who had been hospitalized in critical condition with COVID virus:

“He is home and doing OK.”

Melinda Herron replied to my request for an update on Paul’s health.

Paul’s wife, Vivian Pierce Lambert, Class of 1978, passed away from COVID complications in January.

CATCHING UP WITH JOYCE VINEY ROSS

 

Saunda Joyce Viney Ross, Class of 1968, who goes by Joyce Ross these days, is retired in Columbia, South Carolina.

She got her first Pfizer COVID vaccine and will get her 2^nd Friday. She had no reaction to the first shot.

At my request, she provided the following information:

“I am married to Dan Ross who went to FSH (Fairmont Senior High, which we called Fairmont West when was attending Monongah High).

 

“We will be married 46 years on 3/1.

 

“We are both retired, me from Fairmont State and Dan from Fairmont General Hospital. After we both retired we moved to Columbia, SC.

 

“Our son, Michael, graduated from FSH (again, aka Fairmont West) and Fairmont State University. Our daughter, Jennifer, graduated from FSH (aka Fairmont West) and Newberry College in Newberry, SC.

 

“After she graduated she got a job in Columbia, SC, met her husband and stayed in Columbia.

 

“Now we all live in Columbia, SC. I have 8 grandchildren!

 

“My birthday is 12/8/1950.

 

“Have a great Thursday!

 

“Joyce Viney Ross”

If you want to contact Joyce, go to the

Saundra Ross

Facebook page.

If any other Lions want to tell me about their lives since Monongah High, including their COVID experiences, email me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com

Answer these question when you do:

 

1. Have you or anyone in your family gotten COVID? Full names, cities of residence. How did it turn out?

2. Have you had your vaccine shots? 1 or 2? Pfizer or Moderna. Any reactions. I’ve had 2 Pfizer shots and a bruised arm for 2 weeks is my only reaction.

3. Do you know of any Monongah High alumni who have died from COVID? Full names, cities of residence, month and year of their deaths?

Hopefully your good experiences with the vaccine shots might encourage other Lions to get them if they are reluctant or waiting to see what happens to the early vaccine recipients before deciding to get their shots.

If you don’t want to post it publicly you are welcome to call me at (330) 388-4466 to chat about your COVID or vaccine experiences.

If you want to U.S. Mail me the information:

 

John Olesky

217 N Thomas Road

Tallmadge, OH 44278-1776

 

Thank you.

 

John Olesky, Class of 1950

CATCHING UP WITH BOB COTTRILL

 

Bob Cottrill on right with Duane Harbert & Arlene Marteney Edgell 

Phone chat with Bob Cottrill February 22 in 2021

 

Bob Cottrill, Class of 1951, got his first Moderna CODVID vaccine and will get his 2^nd shot March 15.

 

Bob worked with his father in the coal mines while attending Monongah High School.

 

And he was the toughest player on the Lions’ football team, knocking out more than one tackler who tried to stop him.

 

Bob also drove a Marion County school bus to help pay for his Fairmont State education. He remembers taking the Monongah High band to the Buckwheat Festival in Buchannon. He helped Bucky Satterfield, part of the faceitiously named Gang That Terorized Marion County that I ran around with as a teenager, get a job as a Marion County school bus driver, too. Bob attended college on the GI Bill after he left the Navy in 1956.

 

Bob’s eyesight isn’t what it used to be so he lets his second wife, Thelma do the driving when they go somewhere.

 

He’s recovering from the thigh he broke after a fall while dancing the jitterbug! He tried to slide, but his shoes didn’t slide with him. He has a metal strip and screws to hold the contraption in his body.

Being the tough guy that he’s always been, Bob walks a half-mile daily to help his recovery. Not bad for a guy who will be 90 on April 3.

 

Just to be sure, he keeps a cane in hand and uses a walker around the house.

 

Otherwise, Bob said, he’s “feeling well.”

 

The thigh problem ended his golfing days, though.

 

Bob still communicates by phone with Arlene Marteney Edgell, Class of 1951, who is married to Okey Edgell, Class of 1944, and with Duane Harbert, also Class of 1951.

 

Duane lives in Marlinton, New Jersey. Duane’s mother, Goldie, taught at Worthington Grade School. Duane’s father, Frank Harbert, was principal of Thoburn Elementary in Monongah. Duane’s brother, John Harbert, Class of 1955, and his wife, Karen Colvin Harbert, also class of 1955, are deceased.

 

Bob graduated from Fairmont State in three years, began a teaching career in biology and general science and coaching at Ohio's Wapakoneta High School – astronaut Neil Armstrong’s hometown.

 

Bob also talked about chauffeuring Clyde Wells to Moorefield for some fishing and moonshine.

 

Bob credits Kathleen Snoderly, a social studies teacher at Monongah High, for instilling in him the importance of discipline if you want to be a good teacher. Bob wound up being an educator administrator in Northfield School District in Summit County, Ohio, about 15 miles from where I live in Tallmadge. He became an expert on school financing and integration.

 

It was one of the most enjoyable 54 minutes of my life talking to Bob, who lives in Florida.  I love talking to other Lions. It makes my heart roar with joy!

A SALUTE TO JIM McDANIEL ONE OF MANY HEROES

Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960, was in the Air Force serving his country for 23 years.

He met two Monongah High graduates during those 23 years, Sam Bearden and Larney Cain, both from Carolina. Jim grew up in Worthington at 103 Maple Avenue. He was there in the 1940s and 1950s. He left Worthington in 1960 to begin his Air Force career.

Ronald Larry Cain was Class of 1961 and later lived in Monongah. Dennis Cain was Class of 1963. Larney Cain was Class of 1958.

o    Jim’s son, also named Jim McDaniel, of course, just as I am the 2^nd of 5 John Oleskys in my family.  Jimmy was in the Air Force for 21 years but was never stationed outside America. Jimmy was born in Nurenburg, Germany in 1964.

Papa Jim lives in Behoboth Beach, Delaware in Sussex County with 1,400 other people. The temporary population swells to 25,000 when the summit tourists including Senators and members of the House in Congress from Washington, D.C. show up. The first Europeans arrived in that area in the 17^th century and drove out the Delaware tribe. Behoboth Beach was founded in 1873 as a site for Methodist camp meetings and incorporated in 1891.  

Jim is the last survivor of the McDaniel generation that lived in Worthington. He has 10 great-grandchildren, the oldest named after Jim and a string of James McDaniels who lives in Charleston where Jim’s grandson is a lawyer.

Jim was best friends with John Moore, Class of 1956, for more than 70 years till John passed away after his 5^th battle with cancer. And Jim Nottingham, Class of 1961, who passed away in 2018.

Jim Nottingham met monthly in Worthington with Edward Burley, Class of 1962, widower of Katherine Ely Burley; Roy “Jaybird” Murphy, Class of 1966; Joe McCullough, Class of 1962; David  Willis, Class of 1961; Clifford Morgan, Class of 1961; Harold Maze, Class of 1961; Wilbur Smith, Class of 1960; and Howard Shuttlesworth Jr., Class of 1972.

Jim Nottingham was a lifelong friend of the late Nelson Jay Starcher, Class of 1960, who married Karen Cool Starcher. Jim Nottingham, Robert Harbert and Harold Maze once went together to Rehoboth Beach to have a reunion with Jim McDaniel. Harold Kniceley also visited Jim McDaniel at Behoboth Beach.

Jim McDaniel and Jim Nottingham were Worthington Grade School patrol patrol boys together who made a 3-day trip to Washington, D.C. as their reward. Jim Nottingham missed a year of school at Monongah High after being shot in a hunting accident near Harter Hill.

Linda Nottingham Willis, Class of 1964, a majorette and class officer at Monongah High, and John T. “Tommy” Nottingham, Class of 1968, married to Victoria Blocker Nottingham, Class of 1969, are related to Jim.

 

The late Virginia was a daughter of Richard Blocker and Lucille Loss Blocker, who was a daughter of J.B. Loss, father of Arnold Loss, who married Suzanne Barr Loss, and Josephine Dieling Loss.

At my request, Jim provided me with a list of his Air Force stations:

2 Times in Hof, Germany. 5 kilometers from the Czech Border.

Berlin, Germany 3 years.

Shemy Alaka in the Aleutians, hell on earth. 1,250 miles from the mainland. 2 miles by 4 miles.

 Wakkanai, Japan, as far north as you can go. Soviets right across the water.

Osan, AB, Korea for 1 year.

A little time in Thailand.

Time in the states at the National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, Maryland.

Had lots of adventures and many many guys from other states. Was in the USAF Security Security..

Only met 2 guys from Monongah High in my travels, Sam Bearden and Larney Cain both from Carolina Both now deceased. 

WANT TO CONTACT JEANNETTE BACZUK BARR?

 

Jeannette Barr Baczuk, Class of 1940, turned 98 years old on January 6, while evil idiots were storming the Capitol, and still is alive in Ashland, Ohio.

Her birthday “was just a quiet day due to the pandemic,” Jannette tells me.

She added:

“I am getting along well, but am pretty bored.  I cannot go to my volunteer jobs at the hospital and nursing home now, so don’t go out much.  Am doing a lot of reading. 

“I have had both (vaccine) shots now, so am thinking I will be able to do a little more.”

When I prodded her for my information Jeannette told me:

“I am still living alone in Ashland in a condo.  I have a cleaning lady come in every other week to clean, but other than that I pretty much take care of myself.

“I had volunteer jobs at the hospital, nursing home and Senior Center; but, unfortunately, I cannot go to any of them now.  It is really boring, as I have to be extra careful at my advanced age.  I have had my vaccine, second one last Friday, so I think I will be able to lighten up a little, plus which the weather is supposed to get a little warmer.  We had had bitterly cold weather and a good amount of snow this year, unusual for us.

 “I have four children:  Lynne (Randall) Beecham, of Bellville, Ohio; Jim Baczuk (Rachelle) of Thomas, West Virginia (which is near the entrance to Blackwater Falls State Park); Maribeth Moore (widowed) Ashland, Ohio; and Jan (Rodney) Penrose of Mansfield, Ohio.

“There are five grandchildren:  Brian Moore of Atlanta, Stephen Moore of Columbus, Ohio, Jessica Baczuk of Thomas, and Rachel and Adam Penrose of Mansfield.

“Surprsingly, there are no great-grandchildren, nor do I expect any.  Possibly Rachel and Adam may have some, but they are ages 19 and 16, so I won’t be around to see it.”

 

Jeanette’s father was the legendary Dr. James Monroe Barr, who delivered nearly the entire population of Worthington. They are known as the Barr Babies.

 

Jeannette’s siblings:

 

Suzanne Barr Loss, Class of 1948, who married Arnold “J.B.” Loss, Class of 1947. Both are deceased.

 

Harrelson Barr, Class of 1939, whose daughter, Marcie Barr Marsh, is Class of 1966.

 

After Monongah High, Jeanette graduated from Bowling Green University and married Frank Baczuk.

 

 

Jeannette is on the board of the Ashland Senior Center and a volunteer in the thrift shop.