BETTER LATE THAN NEVER . . . I GUESS . . . MY APOLOGIES TO VIRGINIA'S FAMILY

 

Mayor Johnboy Palmer’s grandmother Virginia Jacobin passed away . . . last month!

 

I can’t believe I let this one slip past me.

Monongah Mayor Johnboy Palmer’s grandmother, Virginia “Red” Alice Jacobin, 94, of Monongah passed away a month ago!

I don’t get the Fairmont Times, living in Ohio, but I usually check Marion County funeral home websites for possible Monongah High obituaries. But unless someone informs me I don’t always find out to report it. Obviously in this case.

I posted an article on this blog about her 88^th birthday in 2015.

When I contacted Mayor Johnboy Palmer to apologize for not publishing an article about her passing, he replied:

“It’s definitely been hard without her. Miss her horribly. She was my best friend.”

In the 2015 article I had these facts, which may or may not be true today:

Virginia’s son Joe Jacobin lives with wife Juanita Jacobin in South Carolina.

 

Leo Jacobin, Class of 1959, lives in Lakewood, Colorado, with wife Roberta and works in Denver. Leo is the son of Christine Tropea Jacobin, Class of 1935, and Leo Jacobin, Class of 1933, who died in 1998. They lived on Bridge Street in Brookdale near the Meredith family.

Other Jacobins from my search of articles in this blog:

Stella Jacobin Haley, Class of 1940.

 

Anne Minnie Jacobin Novelle, Class of 1943.

 

Joseph Jacobine, Class of 1969.

 

Lisa Jacobin Manzo, North Marion Class of 1986.

 

Virginia’s son Joseph Anthony Jacobin lives in Winchester, Virginia.

 

Lisa Neutzel Jacobin lives in Monkton, Maryland.

Sorry, Virginia. But I wanted to post this article for the record so that, if anyone Googles her name, then this information will show up to help with in their search for details about Virginia.

Virgina’s overdue obituary:

Virginia “Red” Alice Jacobin, 94, of Monongah, passed away December 30, 2021. She was born in Monongah on December 3, 1927, the daughter of the late Dominick Forte and Teresa Galio Forte.

 

Virginia was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking for her family, and being a caregiver for her grandchildren. She was active in the 4H Club and the Right Hand Star Square Dancing.

She and her husband operated T & R Stained Glass and taught stained glass at VOTECH.

 

Virginia is survived by her children, Joseph Anthony Jacobin and Juanita Jacobin, Teresa Ann Palmer and John Palmer, and John Fitzgerald Jacobin and Jesus Cudemus; grandchildren, Joseph Anthony Jacobin, Jr and Christie Jacobin, Jayme Allison Lauri and Neil Lauri, June Nicole Palmer, Jonetta Angelina Collins, and John Boy Palmer; great grandchildren, Austin Jacobin, Meagan Allison Jacobin, Angelina Collins, Jacob Lauri, Makayla Lauri, and Lydia Collins; nephews, Ricky Sypult and Michael Sypult; niece, Sandy Davis; and several great nieces and great nephews.

In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Nick Jacobin; brothers, Frank Forte and Tony Forte; and sisters, Geniveve Sypult and Rosey Waydovics.

 

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Sunday, January 2, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Vigil rites will be held on January 2, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. The Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Monday, January 3, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Vincent Joseph as celebrant. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .

 

RAYMOND DEBALSKI PASSES AWAY. WIDOW IS BONNIE LOUISE EFAW DEBALSKI

 

Raymond Joseph Debalski, Class of 1961, passed away Friday, January 28. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Louise Efaw Debalski, Class of 1964.

His parents were Walter Debalski, Sr. and Anna Koloskie Debalski.

Raymond and Bonnie lived on Shenasky Drive in Monongah. The most famous resident on Shenasky Drive is Amelia Shenasky Zentz, 101-year-old daughter of long-ago Shenasky Grocery owners Pete and Nell Shenasky and widow of Bruce Zentz. 

Raymond’s father regularly walked on the sidewalk next to Camden Avenue (U.S. 19) and past the Olesky home on Church Street and stopped and chatted with my parents.

Dan Ross, a Fairmont State graduate in civil engineering, recalls: 

“When I first started in the mines at Loveridge, I worked with Raymond in the engineering department. He was easy to work with and had Studied Civil Engineering at Fairmont State University.

“Such a great work ethic. Rest easy, my friend.”

Dan is married to Joyce and lives in Columbia, South Carolina. They left Fairmont in 2016 for warmer weather.

He has a mountain bike . . . for the beaches of South Carolina? Well, he did use it a lot when he was in Fairmont with his biker buddies. Dan also plays a mean guitar. And has owned 9 Subaru autos.

Mike Ross and Jennifer Ross Wiggins are his children. Kenny Ross was Dan’s father. Beverly and Sandy are his sisters. 

Siblings Walter Debalski Jr., Class of 1945, Robert Debalski, Edward Debalski, Class of 1948 who played football for Monongah High, was a Marine war hero and passed away in 2021, and Rose Debalski, his  daughter Jennifer Stottlemire and his grandson Andrew Birdsell all predeceased Raymond.

In 2021 Barrackville High grad Helen Kaznoski Debalski, the “Nutroll Lady,” passed away. Her husband, Walter Debalski, Jr., Class of 1945, passed away before Helen did.

Raymond was in the Projectors Club, which handled the images and videos on the screen at Monongah High auditorium events.

Beverly Debalski Craig, Class of 1971, Patricia Batiste Debalski, Class of 1958, and Helen “Boots” Debalski, sister of Martha Jean Kaznoski Shipco, a 1945 Barrackville High grad who married Raymond Shipco, are not listed in the obituary so they might be related to Raymond Debalski by blood or marriage.

 

Raymond’s obituary:

Raymond Joseph Debalski, passed away Friday, January 28, 2022.  He was born May 15, 1943 to the late Walter Debalski Sr. and Anna Koloskie.

Raymond was a lifelong resident of Monongah, WV.  He loved hunting, fishing and farming.  He loved raising cattle and horses, and especially loved breeding horses. Raymond loved to travel his beloved West Virginia mountains.   

 

Raymond served in United States Marine Corp, achieving the rank of Sargent and was a decorated Vietnam Veteran. Raymond was a rifle and pistol expert; he was awarded 2 bronze stars for his service in Vietnam and received many other military medals and commendations.  Raymond was a member of the Marion Country Veterans Council, Marion County Honor Guard and Marine Corp League.

 

In addition to his parents, Raymond is preceded in death by his brothers, Walter Debalski Jr., Robert Debalski, and Edward Debalski and his sister, Rose Debalski, a daughter Jennifer Stottlemire, and a grandson Andrew Birdsell. 

 

Raymond is survived by wife, Bonnie Debalski, children, Tina Kincel, Jeffrey Debalski, Valeri Stottlemire and Mark Stottlemire & wife Tracy, and his grandson, Nicholas Rayburn and granddaughter, Brianna Debalski.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 10:30 am with funeral services at 11:30 am with Father Vincent Joseph officiating and interment will follow at the West Virginia National Cemetery at Grafton at 1:00 pm.

MARY CATANIA HEYWOOD PASSES AWAY

 

Mary Catania Heywood, Class of 1945, passed away in Covina, California. She was 94. 

Mary was the last surviving Catania sibling. They grew up on Thomas Street, next door to the Frank Mangino family that moved to Philadelphia in the 1950s and 2 doors from the Olesky family rental, our last home before Church Street began (where my parents later bought a Consolidation Coal Company House).

Queen of the Heaven funeral home in Rowland Heights, 22 miles from Covina, will handle Mary’s Monday, January 31 services.

Paula Catania, daughter of the late Angelo Catania, Class of 1943, gave me the sad news. Paula retired from Covina’s Martin Brinkerhoff Associates, where she was vice president. 

Covina is 22 miles from Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley. 

Mary met Arthur B. Heywood, Jr. when she worked at Southwest Products. They married in 1972.  Arthur passed away in 2015. 

While living in Monongah, Mary worked at Westinghouse.

Angelo Joseph Catania convinced his 3 siblings and parents Joseph Catania and Teresa Cassucio Catania to move from Thomas Street to Covina, which Angelo fell in love with during his Army Coast Artillery training days of World War II.

Mary; Alex Catania, Class of 1944; and Josephine Catania, Class of 1952, moved to Covina. Carmella wound up in San Antonio because her husband, Omer, still was in the Air Force at the time in the Alamo City. 

Angelo, who passed away in 2016, married Pauline Layne Catania of Monongah, who passed away in 2001. Alex died in 2007, Josephine in 2009 and Carmella in 2017.  

Till they settled in Covina the Catania family stayed with Sam and Mary Pulice, another Monongah family that had moved to Covina.

Angelo and Alex paved over the “ballfield” we used on U.S. 19 across from where Dairy Kone is today to build a Sinclair station when they got out of the military. The station bordered the home of Lawrence and Regina Boone Godby and their children, Lawrence “Sonny” Godby and Jackie Godby.

Alex Catania sponsored the Confirmation of Frank Franze, Class of 1950, who lives in Slidell, Louisiana.

Mary’s obituary, provided to me by Paula Catania: 

MARY CATANIA HEYWOOD, 94, passed away on January 5, 2022, in Pomona, California. Mary was born in Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania but moved, at age 3, to Monongah, West Virginia.

Along with her father, Joseph Catania, mother Teresa Cascuccio Catania and four siblings (Angelo, Alex, Carmella, and Josephine) Mary resided on Thomas Street. She graduated from Monongah High School and worked at Westinghouse and in the family-owned businesses.

In 1955, Mary, her father, mother and sister Josephine followed brother Angelo and his wife, Pauline Layne Catania, to California. Until they got settled, they stayed with Sam and Mary Pulice, also from Monongah. The family took up residence in Covina, California and brother Alex and his wife, Mary Mae Dancer Catania, joined the family the following year.

In California, Mary worked at Southwest Products and it’s there she met her husband, Arthur B. Heywood, Jr. They married in 1972 and settled into a home in Covina.

Mary was a constant caretaker for her family and a devoted member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mary is the last of her immediate family and was preceded in death by her parents, husband and all of her siblings. Her service will be January 31, 2022 at Queen of the Heaven Mortuary and Cemetery in Rowland Heights, CA.

 

JOHN YOKAY, JR., CLASS OF 1953, PASSES AWAY

 

John Yokay, Class of 1953, brother of Leatrice Yokay Greaser, Class of 1950, passed away Wednesday January 12 in Maryland.

Leatrice, who lives in Fairmont, phoned to give me the sad news. John was 86.

As in the Olesky family, there are more Johns than a street of portapotties.

There’s podiatrist and Barrackville High and WVU grad John Yokay III, the now-late John Yokay, Jr.’s son, and Leatrice, John and the late Patty Yokay Maddox, Class of 1948, all three the children of the original John Yokay of Carolina.

John played for the 1952 state champ Monongah High football team and once worked at St. John’s School of Boys in Deep River, Connecticut and lived in Mount Airy, Maryland. 

Leatrice told me that her brother John “called me 3 or 4 times a day.” And sometimes sang to her in Hungarian, their ethnic background.

John’s son, Steven, a senior paralegal at Astra Zeneca in Gaithersburg, Maryland who sold his house to live near his father John in Mount Airy, dialed up Leatrice in Fairmont and put the phone to the ailing John’s ear in Maryland.

Leatrice said, “John, I miss you calling me every night.” Lea added, “He opened his eyes and pulled on his covers because he thought I was coming to visit him.”

Two days later, Lea’s brother, John, passed away and will be buried in Maryland, where he has lived for 50 years minus 2 days.

Lea said, “I cried and cried till I can’t cry anymore.” I understand. I did the same thing when My Mona Lisa, my wife of 48 years, passed away in 2004. And curled up in a ball of pain for seven months till Paula came back into my life for 17 years.

Lea’s husband, Bob Greaser, passed away in 2013.

Steven has won world national and state wrestling titles in America and in Japan,  including the North American
Grappling Association crown for his weight.

Lea also phoned Betty Wilson Feltz about the sad news. Betty, who married Coach Jim Feltz just after she graduated from Monongah High, lives with her son, Jon Pat Feltz. Another son, Jay Feltz, quarterback of the 1973 Monongah High state championship team, lives in the Carolinas after a successful football time as South Carolina’s best punter.

The Feltz and Olesky families were close and helpful to each other for decades. My mother, Lena Futten Olesky, helped newlywed teenager Betty deal with married life because Betty and Jim lived in the former Domico home by Our Lady of Pompeii Church, which was razed decades ago. After my mom passed away, my sister Jackie Olesky Straight gave Betty a key to the Olesky home on Church Street and she would check in regularly with my dad. If there was a problem, Betty would call Jackie to come to Monongah to check on Dad.

Leatrice also chats by phone with Patricia Urban Utz, Class of 1959, who lives in Springfield, Virginia.

John III taught in Sacramento Unified School District and married Angelina Yokay. John III’s daughter, Petrina, an outstanding gymnast on the parallel bars, balance beam and all-around during her University of Auburn days, also is a podiatrist. John III and Petrian zip-lined together once in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and did a bit of cave exploration, too. John III also is a pretty darn good golfer.

John and wife Angie have a son, Johan (John IV), who has played rugby in Poland.

I call Leatrice the Kathryn Grayson of Monongah High because of her great singing voice during my MHS days. Lea’s teacher was music guru was the fabulous Beatrice Mangino, whose father was Phil Mangino, whose trucks delivered coal to Monongah homes and Monongah High athletes to sports events. Leatrice and Beatrice – that sounds like a name for singing sisters – remained in touch even after Beatrice moved to Lansing, Michigan.

For those too young to remember, Kathryn Grayson was born Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was an opera singer who acted in movies with Mario Lanza, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Mickey Rooney and was in “Show Boat” (1951) and “Kiss Me, Kate” (1953). 

Last time I posted on this blog about Leatrice, after reading the article, Sharon Kniceley Hawkins responded:

 

“Leatrice and her family were neighbors of ours when we lived on 5th Street in Carolina. Oh the memories…too many to share on here.”

The Frederick News-Post, published near Mount Airy, lists John J. Yokay’s passing but doesn’t provide any additional details yet.

Leatrice’s advice to her family: “When I die, don’t you dare throw my Monongah High yearbooks away.”  We both check them regularly for glorious trips down memory lane. When I see Lea’s photo I can hear her Kathryn Grayson voice.

If you want to hear Leatrice’s still-melodious voice, her phone number is (304) 363-4858. I nagged her till she sang “Oh, Johnny” to me when she phoned last November 5 to wish me a happy 89^th birthday. I thought I was in the Monongah High auditorium again with now-Dr. Bill Lawson going wild on the drums and Mary Jo Forte, as she did when Leatrice and Mary Jo had their music show on a Fairmont radio station, making the piano sing, too.

I will close with words from the Hungarian Funeral Prayer:

Glorify our Lord's grace for this soul. To give mercy for him. And give him grace, and forgive all crimes of him.

And glorify the Saint Lady, Mary. And the Blessed Michael archangel. And all the angels. To pray for him.

Let the Lord place him with his grace into the slay of Abraham, Isac and Jacob, to on the day of judgment, with his relatives, resurrect him.

KAREN MANZO, CLASS OF 1974, PASSES AWAY

 

Karen Sue Manzo, Class of 1974 and a WVU graduate and epidemiologist who made superb use of her Public Health Services master’s degree, also from WVU, passed away Tuesday, January 4.

 

Karen Sue lived in Monongah. Fairmont State graduate Matthew Tennant is her son by her marriage to Robert Tennant.

Her father was Raymond Lavar 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, who is married to Marie Manzo.

Karen was a Monongah High majorette and an epidemiologist at WVU.

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.

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

Karen Manzo was involved in these studies and books:

Reservation-Urban Comparison of Suicidal Ideation/Planning and Attempts in American Indian Youth.

 

A comparison of risk factors associated with suicide ideation/attempts in American Indian and White youth in Montana.

 

Who wants to quit? Characteristics of American Indian youth who seek smoking cessation intervention.

 

Quit and reduction rates for a pilot study of the American Indian Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) program.

 

Enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with heart failure: a multicenter feasibility study.

 

Effects of enhanced external counterpulsation on stress radionuclide coronary perfusion and exercise capacity in chronic stable angina pectoris.

 

Detecting and differentiating white from red coronary thrombus by angiography in angina pectoris and in acute myocardial infarction.

 

Angioscopy of culprit coronary lesions in unstable angina pectoris and correlation of clinical presentation with plaque morphology.

 

Angioscopic predictors of early adverse outcome after coronary angioplasty in patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction.

 

Sequential combination thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: results of the Pro-Urokinase and t-PA Enhancement of Thrombolysis (PATENT) Trial.

 

Karen was a busy woman in research in many areas.

There has been a Manzo at Monongah High from 1935 through 1950 and 1969 through 1978 (the year before the final 1979 MHS graduation class that preceded the consolidation into North Marion High).

 

That included:

 

Phyllis Manzo Berardo, Class of 1935.

 

Genevieve Manzo Lopez, Class of 1937.

 

Mike Manzo, Class of 1941, on the 1948 world champ coal-loading crew at Monongah Mine No. 63 which loaded 1,536 tons on one shift on June 14.

 

Patsy Manzo, Class of 1942.

 

Helen Manzo Raspa, Class of 1945.

 

John Manzo, Class of 1945.

 

Raymond “Pigeon” Manzo, Class of 1947.

 

Mary Manzo Tiburzi, Class of 1949.

 

Ronald Manzo, Class of 1969, of Morgantown, son of Helen Cecelia Manzo and Phil Manzo; brother of Monongah’s former First Lady, Debbie Manzo Vandetta; nephew of Ernie “Frog”, Joe, Duke and Raymond “Pigeon” Manzo.

 

Nancy Manzo Bolyard, Class of 1970.

 

Pat Manzo, Class of 1973.

 

Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973, married to former Monongah Mayor Carl Vandetta.

 

Lisa Myers Manzo, Class of 1977.

 

Tina Manzo Prodanovich, Class of 1977.

 

Jim Manzo, Class of 1978.

 

Kim Sapp Manzo, North Marion 1980.

Karen’s obituary:

Karen Sue Manzo, 65, of Monongah, passed away Tuesday, January 4, 2022. She was born September 13, 1956 in Clarksburg, the daughter of the late Raymond Lavar Manzo and Mary Ozie Manzo.

Karen earned her Ph.D. from West Virginia University. She was employed as an Epidemiologist at West Virginia University. She enjoyed playing piano, gardening, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Karen is survived by her son, Matthew Tennant and his wife Margaret; grandchildren, Raymond and Quinn Tennant; and brother, Jim Manzo and his wife Marie; stepson, Jason Tennant and his wife Nikki and his children, Keegun and Kaden.

Arrangements, which are incomplete at this time, are under the care of Domico Funeral Home in Fairmont. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com. 

PATRICIA EFAW STOTTLEMIRE, CLASS OF 1961, PASSES AWAY

 

Patricia Efaw Stottlemire, Class of 1961, passed away Tuesday, January 4.

She was the widow of Don Stottlemire.

Their children are Michael Alan Efaw, Chris Stottlemire and Heather Lea Spitznogle, who is deeply involved in the Rockettes dancing school in Marion County. 

Patricia’s siblings were Linda Efaw Bonfantino, Class of 1962, who married Lenny Bonfantino, Bonnie Efaw Debalski, Class of 1964, Donna Efaw Stottlemire, Class of 1966, John Efaw, Class of 1972, and Tim Efaw, Class of 1975. Patricia attended the 2021 annual Monongah High Alumni Banquet last September.

Bernie Fullen, Class of 1963, married to Donna McGinnis Suppa-Fullen, also Class of 1963,  posted:

 

“Patty was my cousin, we stayed in contact with each other via FB. I love listening to her sing karaoke.”

 

Patricia’s obituary:

Patricia Sharon Efaw Stottlemire

November 8, 1942 - January 4, 2022

Patricia Sharon Efaw Stottlemire, 79, of Fairmont, passed away Tuesday, January 4, 2022. She was born in Monongah on November 8, 1942, a daughter of the late Foster Adam Efaw and Betty Eunice Naomi Manning Efaw.

 

Patricia was a member of the Eagles in Clarksburg. She enjoyed karaoke, quilting, flowers, gardening, watching the hummingbirds, and spending time with her family.

 

Patricia is survived by her children, Michael Alan Efaw and his wife Jo Aaron, Heather Spitznogle, and Chris Stottlemire; grandchildren, Brandon Sole, Adrianna Efaw, Danielle Efaw, Kandyce Spitznogle, Hailey Efaw, James Paul Spitznogle, Shane Plum, and Tressa Plum; siblings, Linda Bonfantino and her husband Lenny, Bonnie Debalski and her husband Raymond, Donna Stottlemire and her husband Gary, John Efaw and his wife Theresa, and Tim Efaw and his wife Lisa; several nieces and nephews; and her karaoke family.

 

In addition to her parents, Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Stottlemire; and an infant daughter, Candace Ann Sole.

 

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Friday, January 7, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The funeral will be at the funeral home on Friday at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .