Ramona’s kin meet Senator Manchin

The grandson and great-granddaughter of Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, who lives in Monongah, were at the WVU-Georgetown NIT game that the Mountaineers lost in Washington, D.C., and had their photo taken with United States Senator James Manchin III of the Farmington Manchin family.

RAMONA’S EMAIL 

John,

Was able to view your vacation pics with the info you sent.   Thanks,    very nice.

I also went to your Gallery to see  the MHS yearbooks.   John, what a great Gallery you have created.   So much work and so many people  who enjoy it. Thanks for all your dedication, time and effort. Appreciate it.  

Sending a pic of my grandson, Steve Michalski, and my newest great-grandchild, Ava, with Sen. Joe Manchin III at the WVU/Georgetown game.  Georgetown - 77 / WVU - 65.         

Steve is a graduate of Georgetown University.  Been on the Georgetown campus many times. We used to take Steve back to campus and then go on to Atlantic City... We called it our  AC/DC trip.

Take care,

Ramona

BACKGROUND ON RAMONA 

Ramona was married to the late Frank Michalski, who was in the Class of 1949, and played football for Monongah High School. He was my playground protector at Sts. Peter & Paul School is anyone made fun of my speech because I have a cleft palate. No one did it more than once after Frank confronted them. It made my life a lot easier.

Ramona and her daughter recently returned from Orlando, where they briefly escaped West Virginia’s brutal winter, the worst in 20 years. It is normal for Ramona to have 21 gathered around for the family dinner at her home off Bridge Street Extension just outside the Monongah corporation limits (up the hill from where Joe and Ann DeMary Eates live).

Daughter Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, married to Dave Westfall, Class of 1978, reminds me so much of Frank.

Another daughter, Mary Frances Michalski Gapen, Class of 1968, married to Rick Gapen, passed away in 2012. She taught at Barrackville Middle School and Monongah Elementary.

Son Frank Michalski lives next door to Ramona.

Lionel Nichols, Class of 1942, is Ramona’s uncle.

Another Ramona grandson, Tony Michalski, is Marion County Parks and Recreation Comission executive director.

Ramona is related to Shirley Fullen, Class of 1954. Ramona's grandfather was the half-brother of Shirley's father.

If you have memories of the Michalski family, email me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll relay them in another Monongah High Alumni newsletter.

Thank you.

JOHN OLESKY, CLASS OF 1950