Pope Francis is the guy between Cora and Dave Fazio

Mama mia! It’s Big Papa!

Cora Fazio, a 1973 Farmington High graduate, and husband Dave Fazio, Class of 1968, walked into this Italian grocery and --  Mama Mia! – there was Pope Francis, the most talked-about person in the world these days.

Contrary to all the reports about Big Papa being warm and human, the Pope seemed rather stiff. As in a cardboard cutout.

Cora runs Fazio ElderCare in Stoneylonesome, which grew from 3 residents in 1995 to close to a score nowadays. Cora has extra qualifications to run a residence for senior citizens: She’s a 1995 Nursing School graduate. Cora’s sister is Cathy Basagic.

Dave is a 1998 Fairmont State graduate.

They celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary this year with a February cruise to Cozumel, Mexico; Belize, Honduras; and Grand Cayman.

Their children are C.J. and Mary Beth and the late Tony Fazio.

Dave’s siblings are Irene Fazio Preolitti, Class of 1966, who lives in Traction Park, Monongah, with husband Mike Preolitti, Class of 1962; Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, Class of 1969, married to Tom Ramsey and living on Pike Street in Monongah in the home once owned by Helen and Steve Kerekes; and Steve Fazio, Class of 1975, whose wife, Nancy, is deceased.

They are the children of the late Frances and Renzy Fazio, both Class of 1937, who owned Fazio Grocery at the bottom of Jackson Street hill at the Thomas Street intersection.

Frances was the sister of John W. Olesky Sr., who was the father of John Olesky, Jr., Class of 1950, who publishes this Monongah High Alumni blog. Helen was Frances and John’s sister.

Vince Fazio, a 2009 North Marion High grad whose grandfather, Renzy Fazio, is my uncle through his marriage to Frances Olesky Fazio, has taken over Chancey’s Grill, 1602 Locust Avenue, Fairmont.

As Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs posted: “Vince Fazio from Monongah recently took over Chancey's so let’s all support him in his new endeavor.”

Vince’s parents are Steve Fazio and Nancy Fazio, who passed away in 2005. That makes Renzy and Frances, my uncle and aunt, his grandparents because Steve is Renzy and Frances' son.

Which makes Vince my first cousin, once removed, Paula tells me (I can’t figure those things out).

So, happy restaurateuring, Vince!

When I told Vince it would take some doing to lure me away from Pokey-Dot’s ribeye steaks, where my father, John W. Olesky, Sr., indoctrinated me into the fine, juicy taste of well-marbled ribeye (OK, fat), and created a habit that I’ve kept the rest of my life, Vince responded:

“Our ribeye steaks are hand-cut then seasoned & cooked to perfection!! Best in town!”

Being a fair-minded man and partial to family, I promised to take Vince up on his ribeye steaks the next time Paula and I are in Fairmont.

I added my own warning to Vince:

“Vince, I like my ribeye steak with marbling (fat) and not stringy. None of that cutting off the fat and making it lean for me. I'm 82 and I want to enjoy the flavor.

“Next time I'm in Marion County I'll make it a point to introduce myself to my long-lost cousin (once removed) and you can cook me up one.

“And we'll talk about how Renzy (my uncle, not his granddaughter who is quite a looker) whipped my butt on White Day golf course. 30! Who shoots 30? Only Uncle Renzy, to put me in my place.

“The nicest guy my Aunt Frances possibly could have found, no matter how hard she looked around for one in Monongah. Love the guy!”

The day I got demolished on the White Day golf course was one of the favorite times of my life. Instead of telling Aunt Frances how bad he beat me (even though I shot one of my best scores at White Day), he merely said:

“Oh, he’s not such a bad golfer either.” Thanks for lying to make me not look so bad, Uncle Renzy.

So, if you dine at Chancey’s Grill and have a hankering for a juicy steak, tell Vince you want it “Cousin John Olesky style.”

He’ll know what you mean.