RESERVATION FORM FOR 99TH ANNUAL MONONGAH HIGH ALUMNI BANQUET

 

CATCHING UP WITH THE CLASS OF 1972 HONOR CLASS FOR THE 2022 MAY BANQUET

 

The Class of 1972 will be one of the honor classes at 99th Monongah High Alumni Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28.

Since North Marion, Fairmont West and Fairmont East will have their graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 27, grandparents can take in their grandchildren’s high school ceremony on Friday and stay for their MHS Alumni Reunion the next day.

Two for the price of one trip.

As for Catching Up With the Class of 1972 members:

Kim Thompson is a Thompsons owner (former Worthington Farm Supply) and Marion County Rescue Squad emergency medical technician and Fairmont State graduate who lives in Bridgeport. His parents were Violet “Irene” Thompson, Class of 1943, and Junior Thompson, both deceased. Kim’s brother is R.D. “Donny” Thompson III, who married wife Brenda. Irene’s brother, Steven “Bucky” Satterfield, was in the teen gang that I ran around with in Marion County during my Monongah High days.

Terry Shilley was a civil engineer for 30 years with the Army Corps of Engineers and West Virginia Department of Transportation bridge engineer who worked at Pittsburgh’s Green International. He is a WVU civil engineering graduate from Worthington who lives today in Huntington with his wife for 45 years, Fran. Their children are Chrissy Shilley and Ryan Shilley.

Steve Garrett worked for Consol Energy, which we knew as Consolidation Coal Company in the 1940s and 1950s, and was a Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy. When Steve and wife Robin Harley Garrett’s grandson, Spencer Garrett of Idamay, was in third grade he won a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond from the Union Springs, Alabama-based Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program for growing a 14-pound cabbage. He competed against more than a million other third graders. Spencer’s parents are Thomas and Kristi Garrett of Idamay. Sharon Garrett Sokolosky, Class of 1967, is Spencer’s great-aunt.

Josephine Allen Popovich Stanley Jones, who goes by Joey Jones these days, once was a Tygart Center personal clothing laundry aide and worked at the Wishing Well. She still lives in Hutchinson, as she did during her Monongah High days. She married Sherwood Jones in 1955. They live in Hutchinson. Their children are Ron Jones, who also graduated from Monongah High, and Vanessa Jones Rodriguez, who graduated from North Marion. Joey and Sherwood have 4 grandchildren: Erik Jones, Kylie Jones and Cory Jones, all North Marion graduates, and Aubrey Rodriguez, a 5-year-old who is Vanessa’s daughter.

Terri Orsini Saye is a former University of North Carolina Law Library cataloger/documents librarian and 1978 Pitt graduate who lives in Durham, North Carolina. Terri Orsini Saye, Class of 1972, who lives in Durham, North Carolina, will be officially retired as of June 1 as Cataloging Librarian at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. Her parents are Tony Orsini, Class of 1946, and Mary Louise Baker Orsini, who began at Monongah High with the Class of 1948. Tony was one of the six athletic Monongah High Orsini brothers: Tom “Bum,”  Larry, Jimmy, Junior (Cocoa) and Bill. The Orsini family had a grocery store in Worthington run by mom Sylvia Orsini. Tom, Class of 1950, married Peggy Rauer Orsini, Class of 1959.

David Westfall lives in Monongah with his wife for 47 years Marcia Michalski Westfall. Dave worked for Fresa Construction in Bridgeport for 18 years, EIMCO for 1½ and West Virginia’s Division of Highways for 27 years. Dave’s mother, Lillie Marie Higginbotham Westfall, passed away in 2017. Dave’s father, Gilbert Junior Westfall, also is deceased. So is Dave’s brother, George Junior Westfall. Dave and Marcia, Class of 1974, often hop on their Harley ElectroGlide motorcycle for trip to California (Golden Gate Bridge), Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho) and Florida and anywhere else they take a notion to during the summer months when Marcia was teaching in Monongah and Marion County in any grade from kindergarten through 8^th grade for more than 30 years. Marcia’s parents are Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, and the late Frank Michalski, Class of 1950. Dave and Marcia were named Marion County Family of the Year in 2015. Their children and spouses are Brandie and Kiley Haney, Chad and Amy Westfall Raines and David and Nichelle Westfall. The grandchildren are, via Brandie, Caleb, Kiley and Aiden Haney; via Amy, Ally and Ethan Raines and Brevon Westfall; and by  Dave, Lucy and Forrest Westfall.

Patti DeMary Evans retired as a UHC registered nurse. She was at UHC from 1987 to 2006. Patti is a 1974 Fairmont State graduate who lives in Fairmont. She was married in 1974 to coal miner Brian Evans, whose 37 years included Consol’s Loveridge Mine. Her oldest granddaughter, Joshlynn Boone, will be graduating from Fairmont West on Memorial Day Weekend, too. Patti’s father, Frankie DeMary, Class of 1947, did father-daughter speeches at Monongah High’s 1972 graduation day for Patti. Patti’s parents were Tina Virginia “Peaches” Aldridge DeMary, Class of 1945, and Frank DeMary, Jr., Class of 1947, who owned and ran a grocery story at the end of Bridge Street in Monongah before they moved to Rivesville. Earlier, Peaches and Frank owned a grocery story in Pennsylvania. 

Terry Freeman was fireboss or mine examiner during his coal mining days. He once lived in Farmington but today lives in Shinnston.

James “Jack” Fullen retired from Gassafy Wholesale and lives in Columbia City, Indiana.

Bruce Coleman worked at Harrison Power Station and married in 1977.

Pete Basagic worked at Davis Electric and still lives in Monongah and has been married for 47 years to MHS grad Kathy Martin Basagic. 1973 Farmington High graduate Cora Martin Fazio, married to my cousin David Fazio, is Kathy’s sister. Richard Basagic, Class of 1948, is Pete’s father. Pete and Cathy were wed in St. Stanislaus Church, where Pete once was an altar boy, as I once was. They live in Monongah.

The Basagic family ran the beer tavern just across from Consolidation Coal Company’s Champion grocery store, which once was the Frank Lowe Meat Market, and named it the 52/20 Club. For the youngsters among us, that referred to the GI Bill for World War II veterans that provided $20 a week for 52 weeks for unemployed veterans. It doesn’t sound like much today, but it was more than walking-around money in the late 1940s.

Hassan Basagic, Class of 1963, attended the 2013 Monongah High Alumni Reunion with Marlene Sandy. Hassan Basagic, Jr., Class of 1941, died in 1980. Julius Basagic is listed both as Class of 1943 and Class of 1945 in my Monongah High graduation lists but as Class of 1945 in the North Marion High alumni directory. Fairmont West grad Mark Basagic, son of Julie Basagic, Class of 1945, and Ann Vukovich Basagic, passed away in 2017.

Debra Williams Hockenberry attended Clay-Battelle High School before she graduated from Monongah High. She lives in Monongah with husband David Hockenberry, who worked for Consol’s Blacksville #2 Mine. Debra and Dave were married in 1988.

Brenda Starkey Pratt, now Brenda Martin Flanigan, studied math at Fairmont State and WVU and lives in Fairmont. She lived in Carolina during her Monongah High days. Brenda has been at 8 Grands Sew Shop since 2017.

Ruth Ann Mike O’Dell lived in Farmington before she passed away but lived in Four States during her Monongah High days. She married in 1973.

Beatrice Murphy Henderson still lives in Carolina, as she did when she attended Monongah High.

William Sailor, who preferred Billy Sailor, was a military retiree living in Colorado Springs, Colorado when he passed away in 2019. He lived in Hutchinson while attending Monongah High. Billy’s brother, Roy Sailor, Class of 1967, also is deceased. Another brother, Charles “Chuck” Sailor, Class of 1975, lives in Lumberport with wife Dinah Sailor. And brother John Sailor, Class of 1965, lives in the Bronx section of New York City with wife Jane Sailor. BHrother Jimmy Sailor lives in Fairmont with wife Debbie Sailor.

Pearl Greynolds Eddy is a Fairmont State graduate living in Grant Town.

Diane Pethel is a Fairmont State graduate who retired in 2020. She lived in Worthington while attending Monongah High.

I have been informed by others that Debra Rowand Swiger, Cheryl Esultante, Thea Beth Madden Pierce and Jo Ellen Stanley, who passed away in 2019, also are deceased. Jo Ellen's sister is Colette Stanley Melton.

 If you know otherwise or know of other Class of 1972 members who have passed away, email me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com or post it on the Facebook page for John Olesky. 

The Class of 1972 guys and gals, to quote musical playwright genius Damon Runyon, are June Ann Blair Megna, Rosemarie Chucci Buffkin, Debbie Conley Boliner, Diana Conner, Brenda Cunningham Moore, Patti DeMary Evans, Diane Dickens Pethel, Judy Duckworth Campbell, the late Cheryl Esultante, Pearl Greynolds Eddy, Marlene Hamilton Conner, Sharon Hines Link, Debra Holbrook Shumate, Marriet Hunter, Bertha Jones Wilson, the late Brenda Knight Stover, Thea Beth Madden Pierce, Beatrice Murphy Henderson, Ruth Mike O'Dell, Susan Mikulski Morgan, Linda Mills Levelle, Marsha Minnear Christopher, Jane Moore Alasky, Donna Morgan Snyder, Terri Orsini Saye, the late Debra Rowand Swiger, Nan Sabo Hansen, Greg Aldridge, Pete Basagic, Robert Batiste, Danny Bissett, Donald Chapman, James Colanero, Bruce Coleman, John Domico, John Efaw, James “Jack” Fullen, Terry Freeman, Steven Garrett (any relation to the late Richard Garrett in my Class of 1950?), Aaron Justice, Mark Kuhns, Steven Lantz, Kevin McCombs, Curtis Mayo, Thimothy Miller, Franklin Raddish, Roger Raines, Paul Riggs, Sidney Riggs, Billy Sailor, Rick Shaver (any connection to 40-year Monongah High secretary Ida Shaver?), Terry Shilley, John Starr, Kim Thompson, David Westfall and Paul Wood.

If you ARE in the Class of 1972 and I didn’t get information about you at the top of this article, email me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com or post a response on the Facebook page of John Olesky and I’ll add it to this article.

If you want to join the Class of 1972 and Class of 1962 honor classes and your former classmates at the 99^th Monongah High Alumni Banquet, which first began in 1922, 100 years ago, making it the longest-running high school reunion in West Virginia history, click on the Reservations form on this blog, enlarge it, fill it out and mail it in with your check for $30 per person.

Join the fun or stay at home and be bored.

CAROLYN PRAHL MIKULSKI HAS FIRST GREAT-GRANDCHILD

 

Carolyn Prahl Mikulski, Class of 1966, has her first great-grandson, Carter Ross Rawlings, courtesy of her granddaughter, Ashley, and Ashley’s husband, Chris Ross.

 

1988 North Marion High grad Cheri Mikukski Smith, also Carolyn’s daughter, is a WVU grad living in Morgantown. Carolyn’s son, Tom Mikulski, is a 1986 North Marion High grad who lives in Denver.

 

Marian “Mimi” Prahl Tennant, Class of 1969, is Carolyn’s sister.

DOREEN McVICKER KEENE PASSES AWAY

 

Doreen McVicker Keene passes away

Monongah High grad Doreen McVicker Keene passed away Saturday, April 23.

Her children are Robin Keene Baker of North Carolina and Dawn Keene Layfield of Fairmont.

Her husband, Eugene Keene, predeceased her.

Doreen’s siblings were James McVicker, Edward McVicker, Johnny McVicker, Mae McVicker and Mackie Rae McVicker Felton, all deceased.

Doreen’s obituary:

Doreen Keene

September 10, 1933 - April 23, 2022

 

Doreen Keene, 88, of Carolina, passed away on April 23, 2022 at St. Barbara’s Nursing Home. She was born in Carolina, a daughter of the late Floyd and Rose McVicker.

She was a graduate of Monongah High School. She was a former employee of Mary Cup Factory and Westinghouse. She became a mother and homemaker. She was owner of a local establishment where people loved her sub sandwiches. After raising her family, she became a volunteer at Fairmont General Hospital and provided in-home care for the elderly.

She is survived by two daughters, Robin Baker of North Carolina and Dawn Layfield and her husband Randy of Fairmont; grandchildren, Leslee and Doug Bentley, Kelsey Wall, Bailey Salisbury of North Carolina, Ashley and J.T. Dettwiller, Isaac Layfield and Adrienne; great grandchildren, Finley, Jax, Archer, Isla, Kayli, Lily, Jase, Bailey, Vivi, Preston, and Phoebe; and one great great grandchild.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene; grandson, Jason Salisbury; brothers, James, Edward, and Johnny; and sisters, Mae and Mackie.

Doreen was a loving mother and grandma. She loved her cat, Snickers. The family gives special thanks to everyone at St. Barbara’s for all of their love and care.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Saturday, May 7, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. A private interment will follow at a later date at Shinnston Memorial Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com.  

To send a flower arrangement to the family of Doreen Keene, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

SERVICES

Visitation

Saturday, May 7, 2022
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Domico Funeral Home
414 Gaston Ave.
Fairmont, West Virginia 26554

GERALD SMITH OF SWISHER HILL PASSES AWAY

 .

Gerald Smith passes away

Gerald Smith of Swisher Hill passed away Saturday, April 23.

His widow is Linda Sturm Smith. Brenda Sturm Vandetta, Frank’s wife, is his sister-in-law. Frankie Vandetta is his nephew. There are FIVE Frank Vandettas so it’s easily to get them mixed up.

Gerry was a Marion County teacher and later a Veteran Representative for Marion County Job Service. Gerry earned a Silver Star and Purple Heart during his two tours of the Vietnam War.

His parents were Dr. G. Wayne Smith and Mary McGuire Smith, whose other children were Leslie Smith James, married to Dr. James Smith; Margaret Smith Bracket; Judy Smith Fragoso, living in Florida with husband Ralph Fragoso; Don Smith, living in Pennsylvania with wife Susan; and Larry Smith, living in Fairmont.

Gerry’s obituary:

Gerald W. Smith, 81, of Fairmont (Swisher Hill) passed away early Saturday morning April 23, 2022 at his residence after a short illness. He was born in Clarksburg on March 6, 1941 son of the late Dr. G. Wayne and Mary McGuire Smith.

He retired from Marion County Job Service as a Veteran Representative. He formerly worked for the Marion County Board of Education as a teacher.

He was a member of the V.F.W. 629 and served two tours in Vietnam and received the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

He is survived by his wife Linda K. Sturm Smith. He is also survived by three sisters Leslie (Dr. James) Frank & Family, Margaret (Jeff) Bracket & Family, Judy (Ralph) Fragoso & Family of Florida and two brothers Don (Susan) Smith & Family of Pennsylvania and Larry Smith & Family of Fairmont.

He is also survived by his mother-in-law Helen Jean Sturm of Swisher Hill, sister-in-law Brenda (Frank) Vandetta of Monongah, brother-in-law Bill (Susan) Sturm of Florida, and nephew Frankie (Stephanie) Vandetta of Monongah. He is also survived by his beloved dog Zoey.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his step-son Bruce Johnstone, father-in-law William Sturm, niece Laura Marlowe and sisters-in-law Linda Smith and Suzanne Smith.

Friends may call at Ross Funeral Home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont on Wednesday from 12-2:00 P.M. In keeping with Gerald’s wishes he will be cremated after the visitation. Immediately following the visitation family and friends are invited to a dinner at the Everson Baptist Church.  Inurnment will take place at the West Virginia National Cemetery at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Everson Baptist Church C/O Tamara Holt 1384 Rock Union Road Fairmont, WV 26554.

The family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice and his sister-in-law Brenda Vandetta for all the care given during his illness.

Condolences may be sent to www.rossfh.com.

WANT A FREE PHOTO IF YOU ARE MONONGAH HIGH ALUMNI?

 

Want a FREE photo with YOU in it?

Send in your reservation for the

99^th Monongah High Alumni Banquet

AFTER you send in your reservation to Donna Davis, notify me that you have. 

When I phone Donna and she confirms that she has your reservation then I will go through my THOUSANDS of photos of Monongah High Alumni.

 If you are in a photo during your Monongah High days or later in life, including previous MHS reunions, I will print up a photo and have it at my table to give you when you show up at the longest-running high school reunion in West Virginia history.

Whether I have a photo of you or not, if you show up at my table I will have my family member take a photo of the two of us that will appear in the Monongah High Alumni blog article I will write after the reunion. 

If you give me your name, mailing address and graduation year I will mail you an 8 x 10 photo of the two of us at the 2022 MHS Reunion.

NO photos will be handed out UNLESS you attend the 99^th Monongah High Alumni Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28 at the Knights of Columbus, 1529 Mary Lou Retton Drive in Fairmont. 

No exceptions.

See you there!

John Olesky, Class of 1950

JANICE CAROL BICE THOMPSON MITTON PASSES AWAY

 

Carol Bice Thompson Mitton passes away

Janice Carol Bice Thompson Mitton, Class of 1960, passed away Wednesday, April 20. Carol was the widow of Jack Thompson and Don Mitton. Her parents were Gerald and Helen Bice.

Jerry Sowers, Class of 1957, has been married to Carol’s sister, Sara Sue Bice Sowers, Class of 1958, for more than 60 years. Janet Sowers Rinehart, Class of 1964, is Jerry’s sister. Jerry served his country in the Army.

Carol was a long-time waitress in Marion County.

Her calling hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, April 25. She will be buried in Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens.

Carol’s obituary:

Janice Carol Mitton

March 17, 1942 - April 20, 2022

Janice Carol Thompson Mitton died peacefully on April 20, 2022. She was born March 17, 1942, to the late Gerald and Helen Bice.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Dawn Thompson Luzadder and her husband Paul; grandsons, Justin Luzadder and his partner Kim Weekly, Jeremy Luzadder and his fiancé Briana Robinson; step grandson, Gary Macaulay; great grandchildren, Caleb, Callie, Elijah, and Cailynn Luzadder; step great grandchildren, Marissa and Christian Macaulay; her sister, Sue Sowers and her husband Jerry; niece, Sareen Hebb and husband Kevin; great nephew, Adam and great niece, Rachel Hebb; and her personal care aide, Serena Cox.

Carol was preceded in death by her beloved son, Doug Thompson; husbands, Jack Thompson and Don Mitton; and partner of many years, Paul K. Eddy.

Carol’s childhood was spent in Monongah, where she graduated from Monongah High School. Bellview was her home for many years, where she was known as Mom to her children’s friends. Most recently, the Fairmont Arbors was where she called home and enjoyed the company of many friends. She worked as a waitress most of her life and also operated the ‘Bout New General Store. Carol enjoyed her family, dirt track racing with her son, quad and cycle racing with her grandsons and great grandson, and WVU Basketball and Football by faithfully cheering for “her” Mountaineers.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Monday, April 25, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .

DON'T DELAY. SEND YOUR 99TH MONONGAH HIGH BANQUET RESERVATION IN NOW!!!

 

After all, this is the longest running high school reunion in West Virginia history.

Don't you want to be a part of history.

I will bringing my 14 x 11 NetFlix frame that has TWO THOUSAND revolving photos of Monongah High alumni and teachers from 1939 through 2022, including photos of MHS Banquets in the past decade.

Be there or be square!

Click on and print up this Banquet Reservation form, fill it out, include a check for $30 for each person and mail it to Donna Davis. Mailing address and other details are on the form.

See you there! Look me up because I'll be there displaying the faces of thousands of Monongah High alumni and teachers for all to see. 

You may see yourself or your former classmates on the NetFlix rotating photos.

John Olesky, Class of 1950 

TO THINK THAT THIS GETS ANYONE BANNED FROM FACEBOOK

 Facebook Jailbait?

I was put in Facebook Jail for 3 days for posting this:

Ukraine should bomb Russian tanks as they cross the border to invade Ukraine.

Facebook ruled it was “hate speech” and “violated community standards.”

Putin approved Facebook’s message.

Is THIS what we have come to in America . . . at least on Facebook?

What’s next, banning quotes from the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and Alice In Wonderland?

Ukraine should send this section of the U.S. Constitution to Putin with a carbon copy to the United Nations:

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

JULIE ANGELUCCI, HERO OF 1952 STATE FOOTBALL TITLE, PASSES AWAY

 

Julie Angelucci, Class of 1953, passed away Monday, April 11. He was buried today in Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

Angelucci is Italian for “Light of the Angels,” which Julie is now.

It was Julie’s pass to Dennis Jones, who lateraled to Larry Rankin, that brought Monongah High the first of its FIVE West Virginia high school state championships in 1952. Winfield High was the 20-14 losing team.

Julie once explained to me how the game-winning play came about. Julie, not Coach Jim Feltz, called it, in the huddle.

 

 “Coach (Earl) Keener used it against us and almost beat us that year when he was coaching Rivesville. I remembered it and made up that hook and lateral play in the huddle.”

When Julie got to the sidelines after the play, Coach Jim Feltz said, “Where did you get that?”

Julie pointed to Keener, Coach Feltz’ friend since their Fairmont State football-playing days together, who was on the sidelines. “I went over to the sidelines and thanked him for that play.”

“Coach Feltz replied, ‘Nice job.’

“Me, Coach Feltz and Coach Keener are the only ones who knew how the play was created.”

Before the final game-winning play Julie scored a Lions touchdown on a quarterback-sneak play.

That 1952 Lions team out-scored its opponents by ALMOST TWO HUNDRED POINTS! Astounding!

Julie didn’t return my phone call for a while because he spent 10 days cruising down the Mississippi River like Mark Twain, but in a much larger paddleboat. A trip that I hope to take when covid is no longer a problem, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in my case.

Julie won TWELVE M letters for his sports activities at Monongah High in football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball for Fairmont State. He was a small QB, which works better in high school as a brainy QB than in college where you can’t see over the offensive and defensive linemen.

When I posted Julie’s account on this Monongah High Alumni blog and sent a copy of my friends, the late Fairmont Times editor John Veasey, he reprinted the information in his famous column in the Fairmont newspaper.

Julie was more than just a multi-sport athlete at Monongah High. He was student body president and in both the junior class and senior class plays.

Feltz also won the 1955 state title. Keener came to Monongah and won the 1968 and 1969 championships. Feltz’ son, Jay Feltz, quarterbacked the 1973 team to the fifth state title for the Lions.

His wife of 32 years is Stella Kootsikas Angelucci, a widow from Mitchell, South Dakota — famous for its Corn Palace — that he met in Baltimore. They had 6 children, 20 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.

They have 180 minature houses in their Severna Park, Maryland home. I used to put my dozen or so out for Christmastime with bulbs inside each to light them up for the holidays.

Nick Saban, Sr., the father of Alabama’s legendary football coach Nick “Brother” Saban, who has won more national college championships (7) than anyone in history, paid Julie to wash cars at Papa Saban’s garage. Brother’s dad, who bought an old school bus that he used to transport his Pop Warner youth football league players and his baseball teams, had Julie as one of his players when Brother was a batboy for the team.

Julius taught industrial arts and driver’s education for 37 years at Maryland’s Brooklyn Park High School, Andover High School in Linthicum and at Crofton Middle School. He did extensive woodworking at his favorite hobby.

 

He wasn’t shy about giving his opinions, either. He frequently had his letters to the editor published in local Maryland newspapers.

Julie’s obituary:

Julius “Julie” Gregory Angelucci, 86, of Severna Park, Maryland passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022.

 

Julius was born July 13, 1935 in Carolina, West Virginia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgilio and Antonia Angelucci, Italian immigrants from Trisungo, Ascoli Piceno, Italy and his siblings, Veronica Angelucci Allowatt, Joseph Angelucci and Frances Angelucci Fontana.

 

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Stella Kootsikas Angelucci, their six children, Jay (Kathy), Rocky (Laura), Nick, Toni (Jim), Georgia and Tom (Lauren), their 20 grandchildren, Tony, (Abby), Cera, Laura, Sophia, Mazie, Chelsea, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Steven, Chance, Zane, Nicholas, Andrew, Michael, Conor, Ryan, Liam, Stella, Alexandra, and George; and one great-grandson, Mason.

 

In his youth, Julius was quite the athlete, lettering twelve times collectively in baseball, basketball and football. As quarterback for the Monongah High School Lions, he threw the winning touchdown pass for their first state football title in 1952.

 

He continued to play baseball at Fairmont State College, earning his Bachelors there and then his masters at West Virginia University. He was a member of the Tau Beta Iota fraternity, maintaining close ties with his fraternity brothers over the years.

 

Julie was a longtime fan of the Detroit Tigers and West Virginia Mountaineers, but had a soft spot for the Crimson Tide, as Nick Saban was a friend of the family. Nick Saban Sr. gave Julie a job and sponsored a farm league baseball team that Julie played on, while Nick Saban Jr. served as bat boy.

 

Julius taught industrial arts and driver’s education for 37 years; first at Brooklyn Park High School, Brooklyn Park, MD, then at Andover High School in Linthicum, MD where he was a beloved member of the faculty, known to all as “Mr. A.,” and finally at Crofton Middle School, Crofton, MD.

 

Julie was a member of the Masonic Lodge #213 in Glen Burnie.

 

Julius, with his wife Stella were long standing members of and very active in their community of Fair Oaks on the Magothy, Severna Park. They were involved with the Annapolis Villagers who collect Department 56 miniatures where they met and made many friends who shared their interests.

 

His Letters to the Editor of local newspapers were famous, expressing his strongly held opinions with its readers.

 

Julius enjoyed woodworking and was a master craftsman, able to build or fix most anything; abilities he passed on to his sons. He was well loved, much respected, and enjoyed a rich and extraordinary life. He will be missed by his family and many, many friends.

 

Family and friends may visit on Thursday, April 14, 2022 from 2:00-4:00pm and Friday, April 15, 2022 from 10:00-11:00am at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care, P.A., 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD, 21146.  A Funeral Service will be held on Friday at 11:00am at the Funeral Home. Internment services will immediately follow at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cemetery, 2457 Riva Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401.

 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Since 9/11, Tunnel to Towers Foundation help America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and are committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and aiding the victims of major U.S. disasters.

PRIDE OF LIONS -- GRANDPARENTS & THEIR GRANDCHILDREN

 

Shelly Yankie is the Lion grandparent with the most, 11! Shelly’s grandchildren are Arhylah, Dolvrielie, Zaira, Tristen, Aunavyn, Demarus, Safarah, Ottilie, Adelaide, Euridice and Kira. It’s a test of memory to spell all their names correctly.

 

She started at Monongah High school but, after her freshman year, Monongah joined Mannington, Fairview, Farmington and Barrackville to form North Marion so she’s a 2002 North Marion graduate. But once a Lion, always a Lion.

Shelly heads the Monongah PACE project which does so much good work for those who need it. PACE vice president is Chuck Tice, Teresa Palmer is treasurer and Janet Bailey was secretary when she passed away.

Shelly also was vice president of Susan Staron Sanders’ amazing Monongah Christmas lights committee which got so many street lights up for the holidays that astronauts can see Monongah from Mars before Shelly stepped aside for Carolyn Tice while Shelly took her of her ill mother, Mary Myers Yankie, who later passed away.. Janet also was in that group before she passed away.

Shelly’s siblings are Chris Toothman, David Yankie, Sylvia Barr, Franklin Hammond,  1984 North Marion graduate Terry Yankie, 1987 North Marion graduate Barbie Yankie and 1989 North Marion graduate Kim Yankie Hawkins and the late Kenneth and Ronnie Yankie.

Shelly also helped organized my July 2021 J&J&Lions get-together in the Monongah Town Hall attended by 40 Lions, family, friends and former classmates. Along with Susan Staron Sanders, as usual, Jim Roy Foster and Sue Ahouse Schrader. J&J stood for John (me) and Jackie (my sister Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville.

Shelly held the bucket of raffle tickets while Susan drew out the winning names for all the Alabama memorabilia that Nick “Brother” Saban, Class of 1969, sent to me in a huge box when I told him about the event for Lions and their friends.

In a remarkable twist of fate my cousin Cora Fazio drew the ticket to get the football autographed by Brother and his wife, Miss Terry. Cora’s husband, Dave Fazio, my cousin because his mother Frances Olesky Fazio is a sister of my father, John W. Olesky, Sr., was treated to a visit with Brother and New York Yankee manager Joe Girari when Dave journeyed to Tuscaloosa.

 

Next in line by the number of grandchildren is Shelia Mobley McCutcheon, Class of 1974, widow of Dorsey McCutcheon, also Class of 1974, with 8. That would be Emily, Maren, Brianna, Mia, Brenden, Eli, Caleb and Miles.

Sons James with 3 and John with 5 provided all the grandchildren.

Shelia is recovering from a parking lot auto crash last week. A 20-year-old idiot speeding between parked cars T-boned her car. She spent two hours in the Emergency Room and doesn’t have transportation till her auto gets repaired.

Sheila lived in Worthington before residing in Morgantown for 41 years. Her son, John,  and his wife, Kimberly White McCutcheon,  bought the Morgantown home owned by Mike Oliverio, Class of 1954, after Mike and his wife passed away.

 

Also in the 8 brigade are Joyce Viney Ross, Class of 1968, and Marcia Michalski Westfall and Dave Westfall, both Class of 1974.

The grandchildren of Joyce and 1973 Fairmont West grad Dan Ross are Conner, Emma, Molly, Elizabeth, Kelsey, Cooper, Audrey and Ben.

Joyce, Dan, daughter Jennifer and son Michael all live in Columbia, South Carolina.

As for Marcia and Dave, their grandchildren are Ally, Brevon and Ethan, children of their daughter Amy Westfall Raines, Lucy, daughter of son David and wife Nichelle Lake Westfall, and Lucy’s brother, Forrest; and Caleb, Kiley and Aiden, children of Marcia and Dave’s daughter Brandie and her husband Kiley Haney.

The grandchildren include 2 Pierploint graduates, a Fairmont State graduate, a Morgantown Cosmetology School graduate, a Charleston Barber School student, an 8^th grader, a 2^nd grader and a kindergartener.

Two of Marcia and Dave’s children received Monongah High Alumni Association scholarships to attend college. Marcia grew up in Monongah and her father was the late Frank Michalski, my childhood protector on the Sts. Peter and Paul School playground. Dave grew up in Kilarm. They spent a lot of time touring America on their Harley motorcycle.

In 2015 they were the Fairmont Times-West Virginian Marion County Family of the Year. Marcia’s parents held that title in my heart about 70 years earlier. Marcia’s mom, Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, is the hostest with the mostest. EVERY Lions who visits Monongah, including me, includes a stop at Ramona’s home with the swimming pool.

Lucky 7 is me – John Olesky, Class of 1950 – born and reared in Monongah where the worst coal mining tragedy in American history struck in 1907. 362 men died, 1,000 children lost their fathers and the population was 3,000, never to be equaled (900+ today) when two adjacent mines exploded and caught fire. My 3 children – LaQuita, John Larry and Monnie Ann – gave My Mona Lisa and me the 7 grandchildren who produced, so far, 6 great-grandchildren.

Grandson Dylan slipped off to Wisconsin to be a pediatrician specializing in children’s allergies with my grandchildren Eliza (front half of my late wife’s middle name of Elizabeth) and Eloise. Granddaughter Monnie Lynn (Monnie was what I called my Cinderella girl from the Cinderella coal mining camp adjacent to Williamson, my first newspaper job after my graduation from WVU Journalism School) has found her love in Boston where they both work with a 2022 wedding planned in the Cleveland area.

Grandson John Richard (there are 5 Johns in our family, starting with my father, John W. Olesky, Sr., married to Italy native Lena Futten Olesky, with John Richard’s son, Brett John, what I call King John V, and his brother Bryce) live in Mogadore, Ohio. John Richard’s sister, Abby, lives with husband Matt in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, which borders Tallmadge, where I live.

Dylan’s brother, Devin, who oversees pharmacy marijuana dispensaries in several states, lives in Aurora, as does his mom and my daughter, LaQuita. Devin and wife Courtney’s children are Reyna and Dawson.

Monnie Lynn’s brother Raymond married Kathleen and lives in Fairview Park, a Cleveland suburb. Their sister, Beth, lives Seven Hills, another Cleveland suburb.

When I’m not visiting grandchildren and great-grandchildren I made trips to 56 countries (Thailand is my favorite), 44 states (West Virginia is my favorite) and spent more than 30 winters in Florida of as long as 4 months at a time. I told you I had more luck than a coal miner’s son deserves.

There’s a pair of 6’s in this grandchildren tale in Linda Nobel-Carr, Class of 1967, and John Melton, Class of 1975.

Linda is the widow of one-time Monongah Town Councilman and 1968 Fairmonot West graduate Sanford Austin Carr. They were married in 1969. Their grandchildren are Tyler, Teala, Peyton, Raquel, Patrick and Gabriel. They also have 3 great-grandchildren – Roselin, Jolynn and Kallen.

Their children are Tonia Poston, who works in the Monongah Water Department; and Bryan Carr, a Morgantown Power Plant engineer. Both live in Monongah.

Linda worked at Fairmont’s legendary Palace Restaurant before 22 years at Westinghouse till health issues forced her 1991 retirement.

They had a rocky start in married life. As Linda told me, “We had a bad car wreck, he was shipped off to Vietnam, and I stayed at home and worked. I met him in Hawaii 6 months later on his R&R. We visited many states in our 52 years of marriage.

“I have lots of good memories in Monongah High. I still live just 50 yards from the building and keep in touch with a lot of friends, on Facebook and phone – such as Belinda Sheppard and Sheila Haun and too many others to mention.”

Linda and Sanford, who passed away 2 years ago, “started dating at the age of 15. He is and will always be my only love!!”

John Melton, Barb Melton Earl’s brother, has all 6 of his grandchildren courtesy of son Eric Melton and Eric’s wife, Rebecca. John’s first great-grandchild is due to arrive in October.

Jay Holman, Class of 1971, has 4 grandchildren – Joycelin, Austin, Elijah and Ava.

Mark Aldridge, Class of 1973, and wife Donna have 2 grandchildren – granddaughters Taylor and Isabella – courtesy of daughter Amber. Taylor is stationed in Kansas with the Air Force. Everyone else lives in Monongah.

No wonder there’s such a pride among this Pride of Lions Grandparents!