Bad news about Sanford Carr

Former Monongah Town Councilman Sanford Carr came back home after another stay in in Veterans Administration Hospital. But the good news didn't last long.  Darn it.

Linda Knobel-Carr, Class of 1967, his wife for 48 years, at first reported:

“I want to take a minute and thank each and every one of you for the thoughts and prayers for Sanford.

“Just an update. He is home from the hospital. He has to take nitro every day for the rest of his life. Tonight, feeling better. Thank God, and all the prayers.”

Sanford was in the VA Hospital with chest pains, headaches and dizziness.

The  next day, though, Linda reported:

"I have him back at the hospital right now, John. He passed out on the kitchen floor. I didn't hear him and he laid there for hours. May God help him."

Amen to that, Linda.

Delight Donna on her birthday

Donna Colbert Davis, Class of 1961, who as Monongah High Alumni Association treasurer handles the Alumni Reunion dinner-dance reservations, is among the Lions Marching into  birthdays.

Donna is married to Bill Davis, Class of 1958. They live in Monongah not far from Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Donna Colvert Davis

Why not mail a birthday card to Donna. Send it to:

DONNA L. DAVIS

858 PARK AVENUE

MONONGAH, WV 26554-1143

If you want to make Donna extra happy, print the 2017 MHS dinner-dance reservation form in this blog, fill it out and include it in the envelope along with your check for the May 27 gathering in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fairmont.

I already mailed in my reservation and check. And I’m trying to get as many of my fellow Class of 1950 members to join me as possible, even though we’re 84 years old, give or take a year.

Other March birthdays for MHS alumni:

If your name isn’t on the MHS alumni birthdays list, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com with the birthday date, your graduation year and your current hometown and I’ll add you to the list.

March

5 – Phil Colanero, Jr., Class of 1963
5 -- Doris Carpenter Rogers, Class of 1971
6 – Karen Fitzwater Pausch, Class of 1961
9 – Richie Basagic, Class of 1975 
9 – Brian Evans, Monongah graduate married to Patty DeMary Evans
15 – Donna Colvert Davis, Class of 1961, married to Bill Davis, Class of 1958
15 – Clarence William “Bill” Woods, Class of 1952
18 – Nancy Davidson Kantura, Class of 1955
22 – David Haines, Class of 1964
25 – Sandy Weils Cook, Class of 1959
25 – Richard Fitzwater, Monongah graduate
28 – Josephine Popovich Jones, Class of 1952

 April

4 – Charlotte Walker Cahill, Class of 1954
5 – Bernie Fullen, Class of 1963
9 – Paula “P.J.” Hickman, North Marion 1983
11 – Leo Kubiet, Class of 1942
12 – Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966
14 – Lyla Cosner Howell, Class of 1958
16 – Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961 
30 – Shirley Knight Ritterhouse, Class of 1954

 May

4 – Freddie Jane Colosino Villers, Class of 1964
5 – Frank Franze, Class of 1950
6 – Jerry Loss, Class of 1956
12 – Arlene Kitchin, main squeeze of Joe Martin, Class of 1957
14 – Donna Post Swiger, Class of 1955
14 – Mike Jurasko, Class of 1957
14 – Virginia Belle Littleton Curtis, Class of 1957
17 – Colette Stanley Melton, Class of 1970
20 – Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955
21 – June Paxton Rogers, Class of 1948
27 – Ed Graffius, Class of 1971
28 – Terri Orsini Saye, Class of 1972
29 – John Woods, Class of 1957
30 – Dave Westfall, Class of 1948 

 

June
1 – Parma Kay Fetty, Class of 1973
3 – Jim Birdsell, North Marion grad from Monongah; married to Angela
5 – Ann “Peaches” DeMary
7 – Kenneth Kincaid, Class of 1968
8 – John Koloskie, Jr., Class of 1944
8 – Pat Slovekosky Morris, Class of 1970
13 – C.L. “Roy” Parker II, North Marion Class of 1982
13 – Rick Morrison, son of Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968 
14 – Pamela Morrison Bombardiere, Class of 1967
14 – Regina Levelle Humphrey, Class of 1973
14 – Regina McCoy Murphy, Class of 1973
17 – Delmas Gene Hartley, Class of 1979
20 – Shirley Ann Woods Merchant, Class of 1953
23 – Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949
23 – Kathryn Manuel Marshall, Class of 1960
23 – Ron Manzo, Monongah grad
23 – Frankie Vandetta, North Marion grad

 July

3 – Susan Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971
4 – Barbara Fleming Marsh, Class of 1947
5 – David Gowers, Class of 1971
5 – Bill Meredith, Class of 1957
7 – Alex Fazio Huff, North Marion 2005 grad
10 – Mary Fleming Toothman, Class of 1960
14 – Ted Nagel, Class of 1954
14 – Bentley Evans, Class of 1978
16 – Jean Nagel Viglianco, Class of 1949
18 – Larry Zickefoose, Class of 1968

19 – Jane Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975

20 – Catherine Reckart Boyce, Class of 1973
21 – Robin Huffman Satterfield, Class of 1973 
29 – Pete Basagic, Class of 1972

August

1 – Kim DeMary Clowers, Class of 1979
7 – Dorie Mike Whetsell, Monongah graduate
8 – Sandra Ashcraft, Class of 1964
9 – Paula Kerns Fazio, Class of 1979
12 – Jack Fuller, Class of 1974, son of Lucille Bonasso Fuller, Class of 1945.
16 – Debby Morrison Harden, Class of 1966
17 – Twins Earnest Hayes & Chester Hayes, both Class of 1965
18 – Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960
18 – John Fazio, Class of 1970
19 – Greg Postlethwait, Class of 1964
19 – Barbra Eller-Hanning, Monongah grad
20 – Irene Fazio Preolitti, Class of 1966
20 – Connie Warash, Class of 1975
29– Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950
30 – Beth Pritchard Brooks, Class of 1978
30 – David Harbert of Idamay, Farmington grad

 September

1 – Claude Domico, Jr., Class of 1959
6 – Dave Domico of Monongah, Fairmont West grad married to Andrea Justice Domico
7 – Mary Louise Orsini, Class of 1948 (honorary)
7 – Phillis Tarley, North Marion grad from Idamay living in Fairmont
8 – Fred Moorehead, Class of 1964 
8 – Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955
13 – Karen Manzo, Class of 1974
14 – Suzanne Barr Loss, Class of 1948
14 – Jim Shaver, Class of 1954
15 – Bettie Hensley Lowther, Class of 1948
17 – Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972
20 – Greg Patrick, Class of 1970
23 – Sally Wood Tarley, Class of 1959
24 – Joe Fazio, Class of 1974
25 – Marylee Hertzog Gwinn, Class of 1948
25 – Jim Davis, Class of 1964
26 – Nathaleen Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948
27 -- Bonita Lavencheck Waybright, Class of 1968
29 – Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959

 October

7 – Sherry McIntire, Class of 1975
8 – Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973
11 – Felix Colisino, Class of 1947
11 – Jay Holman, Class of 1971
12 – Brenda Manzo, wife of Danny Manzo, Class of 1957
20 – Leona “Duckles” Davis Schooley, Class of 1953
21 – Ken Slovekosky, Gilmer County High Class of 1976.
26 – Lori Hawkins Ice, Fairmont East graduate living in Carolina
29 – Robert Boydoh, Class of 1956
31 – Patty Steele McCombs, Fairmont East graduate who lives in Monongah

February

1 – Debra Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973
1 – Jonna Pritchard Barnett, 1980 North Marion grad
2 – Sylvia Edwards, Monongah grad living in Idamay
3 – Debbie Weaver Hurley, Monongah grad living in Monongah with husband Milton Hurley
3 – Rebecca Urish Anderson, Class of 1971
8 – Tom Fleming, Monongah grad living in Bridgeport
9 – Bob Nichols, Class of 1964
10 – Bonnie Nicholson Moats, Class of 1960
11—Linda Renay Hess Postlethwait, Class of 1968
15 – Jerry Koloskie, Class of 1975
17 – Larry “Danny” Eates, Class of 1970
18 – Mark Tarley, North Marion grad
20 – Harold Dean Kniceley, Class of 1960
21 – Eva Huey Jarvis, Class of 1975
24 – Mary Kelly, Monongah & North Marion
29 – Betty Sikinow Cunningham, Class of 1954

 November
1 – Tom Dean, Class of 1949
5 – John Olesky, Class of 1950
8 – Diana Pishner Walker
10 – Tony Orsini, Class of 1946

14 – Ann Marie Mascak Davis, Class of 1955
17 – John Todd Moats, North Marion Class of 1985

20—Hellen Snider Carpenter, Class of 1950               

20 – Kathryn Toothman Crim, Class of 1950
22 – Mike Ahouse, Class of 1968
23 -- Antheai Justice Turner, North Marion 1982
25 – Gerald Nelson Hartley, Class of 1955
27 – Roy Foster, Jr., Class of 1945
28 – Danny Fullen, Class of 1961
29 – Dave Westfall, Marcia Westfall Michalski’s son

 December

2 – Adam Michna, 1980 North Marion graduate
2 -- Mareia Wilmouth McDougal, Class of 1964
4 – Ronald Pearse, Class of 1961
4 – Jay Michalski, 1980 North Marion graduate
5 – Duane Harbert, Class of 1951
8 – Brenda Urban, Class of 1971
11 – Paulette Colanero O’Connor, Class of 1966
13 – Otis “Sarge” Shaver, Class of 1948
14 – Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974
16 – Barbara Sweede, Class of 1956
16 – Shelvy Maze Cunningham, Class of 1964
16 – Henry Moore, husband of Beth Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975
18 – Bill Cameon, Class of 1960
20 – Mike Hess, Class of 1975
22 – Frances Wimer Miller, Class of 1951
23 – Jim Fullen
25 – Chris Shamrock Henning
27 – John Yokay III, son of John Yokay, Class of 1953

 January

6 – Jeanette Barr Baczuk, Class of 1940
13 – Beatrice Salisbury Mills, Class of 1951
17 – Susan Colaneri Monell, Class of 1949
18 – Arlene Marteney Decker Edgell, Class of 1951
?? – Marie Bee Zwiegel, Class of 1951
18 – Bertha Pazdric Sullivan, Class of 1954
18 – Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975
19 – Joe Martin, Class of 1957
19 – Joann Thompson, Class of 1962 
22 – Jo-Jo DeMary of Monongah, who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is married to Yvonne King DeMary
24 – Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974
24 – Mark “Hooch” Aldridge, Class of 1973
29 – Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968

 

Mazza’s closes for the final time

Mazza’s restaurant, a fixture on Alta Vista Avenue for Fairmont East students since 1948, has closed … again, and for the last time – on Friday, February 24.

Larry Mazza & Linda Mazza Shelosky

Monongah’s Linda Mazza Shelosky, widow of Bernard Shelosky, Class of 1965, and her brother, Larry Mazza of Fairmont, kept Mazza’s going till Friday.

Linda recalls:

Mazza’s “opened in 1948 with my Dad (Jimmy Mazza) running it. From 1973-1993 Larry ran the business.

“We closed in 1993 for 19 years because the kids weren’t allowed to come over (when Fairmont East became a closed campus and the students ate in the cafeteria). In 2013 we reopened.

“WOW! THANK YOU so much for such an overwhelming closing day -- cakes, gifts, plaques, clothes, chocolate-covered strawberries, candy, wine, hats, beautiful cards, handmade cards from the kids.

“But most all for the friendships my family has made throughout the years. Tonight after closing I walked up to the new field, sat on the bleachers and said, ‘Thank you, God!!’

“It has been the BEST JOB that any person could have. It has been one heck of a ride. We couldn’t have made it without you all!!!

“So, with closing this chapter of my brother’s life and mine, it truly is sad.  GOD BLESS from our house to yours. We LOVE and THANK YOU.”

Although Linda is a Fairmont East grad, she has lived in Monongah on Cottage Street for more than 40 years after marrying Bernie Shelosky.

Bernie passed in 2013; her father, Jimmy Mazza, in 1973.

Larry has a condo in Boca Raton, Florida, where his son, Rocky Mazza, lives.

Linda’s brother, Rick Mazza, was on the football coaching staff at Monongah High for the 1973 state football championship and has a successful high school coaching career in North Carolina.

Linda is related to Andrea Shelosky Matthews and husband Tim Matthews and Tom Shelosky and wife Phyllis, who all live in Monongah.

Tom Shelosky is a son of Julia Lazorick Shelosky and Stanley “Strob” Shelosky, the late superb golfer at Green Hills who built up his body by laying bricks and cinder blocks for home foundations.

 

Julia passed away in 2013, Strob in 1993.

 

George Shelosky was Strob’s brother.

The Mazza and Shelosky families are spread throughout Monongah High history.

Starting with George Shelosky, Class of 1932.

Theresa Mazza Slamick, Class of 1941, who married Jim Slamick.

Carmella Mazza Davis, Class of 1942.

Elvira Mazza Roth, Class of 1944.

John Mazza, Class of 1948, an excellent infielder for Monongah High.

Yanit Skarzinski Mazza, Class of 1951, who I frequently saw at the Monongah CYO that Father John McNulty started. It met in the basement of St. Stanislaus Church.

Stanley Shelosky, Class of 1958.

Barbara Shelosky, Class of 1968, who moved from Monongah to San Diego, California. So did Andrea Shelosky.

 

Tom’s sister, Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961, lives in Fairmont.

 

Bernie Shelosky’s aunt, the late Sophie Dudiak Shelosky, was a sister of Mary Dudiak Raymond, who was married to Angelo Raymond and the mother of the late Bobby Raymond, Class of 1951, and Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro, wife of Carman Pagliaro, who lives in Fairmont.

 

Bob’s widow, Susan Russell Raymond, lives in White Hall.  Bob and Susan’s children are Paula, married to Sam Adkins and living in Idamay; Robin Long of Colfax; Mary Harr of Pleasant Valley; and another Bob Raymond, married to Susie and living in Fairmont.

Sanford Carr hospitalized

Sanford & Linda Carr

Former Monongah Town Councilman Sanford Carr, one of the good guys in the town, is hospitalized in Veterans Administration Hospital.

His wife, Linda Knobel-Carr, Class of 1967, said Sanford is undergoing tests. Linda added that he has “lots of pain in chest, bad headache, dizziness and is light-headed.”

He’s in the VA Intensive Care Unit. Sanford has had previous heart attacks.

Linda and Sanford have been married almost five decades.

Sanford is the kind of guy who goes around Monongah cleaning up dilapidated property without compensation.

 

Toni Carr Posten, their daughter, North Marion Class of 1989, is married to Bill Posten, a Monongah boy who also is a North Marion grad.

North Marion girls 4^th, boys 8^th in state rankings

North Marion girls rank 4^th in the state in basketball. NMH boys rank 8^th .

Morgantown University is #1 in AAA boys, Fairmont West #1 in AA boys and Wheeling Central #1 in A boys.

#1 among the girls is Huntington Central in AAA, Bluefield in AA and Summers County in A.

61’s go 91 mph with fun

The Class of 1961 sure knows how to throw a party. But I’m not surprised since Donna Davis, who collects the dinner-dance reservations for the Monongah High Alumni Reunions, is in that class.

But it was Harold Maze who rounded up the '61 troops. Good job, Harold!

TWENTY THREE of them got together at 3 Ways Inn Restaurant in Fairmont on Thursday night.

The lineup of laughter:

Georgetta Blake

Nicky Smith Cullen and daughter

Donna Davis and husband Bill Davis, Class of 1958

Phyllis Henderson Day and husband

Sandy Batson Hulsey

Dave Loretta

Harold Maze

Clifford Morgan

Lorraine Day Patton

Keith Raddish

Luanna Felton Raddish

Bill Schell

Carolyn Satterfield Smith

Jackie Swinger Neese and husband

Dave Willis and wife

 

There will be another Monongah High reunion March 3 at the Sarasota home of Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, and wife Roleta Meredith, a Clarksburg Washington Irving grad.

 

 

If you can make that one, call Bill at (941) 342-0030 or (614) 582-0335. So far, 18 say they're coming. Another half-dozen and we can beat the Class of 1961 turnout, which is saying something.

 

Genie Fairman Fleming’s husband passes away

John Richard “Dick” Fleming, husband of Roberta Genie Fairman Fleming, Class of 1960, for 56 years, passed away on Friday, January 27.

They have three children.

Dick’s obituary:

John Richard Fleming, 76, Home, passed away Friday, January 27, 2017, at his residence.

The son of John W. and Katherine (Bailey) Fleming, he was born January 30, 1940, in Sagamore, PA.

John was a graduate of Shannock Valley High School. He had been employed for 33 years with the Iron Worker Local #3.

John was a member of the Harmony Grove Lutheran Church. He enjoyed spending Sundays with his family playing cards and watching Nascar racing.

Friends will remember John as a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Surviving is his wife of 56 years, Genie (Fairman) Fleming; children, Mark Fleming, Home, Glenda Cribbs and husband Jeff, Clymer, and Scott Fleming, Creekside; grandchildren, Jacob and Bailey Cribbs, and Matthew and Allison Fleming; brothers, George, IN, Joe, TX, and Jim, PA; sisters, Eleanor McGara, AZ, Mary Jane Lias, TX, Dorthy Rowe, OH, Patty Saliga, PA, and Phyllis Cessna, PA; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding John in death were his parents; brother, Robert; sisters, Shirley Dalessio, Betty Nesbit, and Ida Richards.

The family would like to thank Cindi and Candy of Asera Care for their dedication and care of John.

A private memorial service will be conducted later this week with Pastor David Wasemann, officiating.

www.lefdahlfuneralhome.com

‘Crisis’ teacher shortage in West Virginia

To flip an oft-used phrase, you don’t get what you don’t pay for.

That’s why West Virginia’s teacher shortage has reached a “crisis stage,” according to West Virginia State School Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano.

Because teacher pay in West Virginia ranks 46^th among all states with a $33,685 annual median, there are 740 teaching vacancies.

That has nearly doubled in two years.

Hardest hit is special education (238 vacancies). Next is math (92), elementary and early education (79), science (43), English (41), administration (36), career and technical education and reading (both 32), foreign languages (31), the arts (20) with 96 in the other disciplines. 

The greatest teachers I had in Monongah were the late Mary Turkovich, who would NOT let you not learn math, algebra and geometry at Monongah High, and Sister Agnes, a whiz at grammar and spelling instructions (with the help of her 1-hole and 2-hole paddles).

Those two are most responsible for my 43-year newspaper career and financial fortunes. I owe both a major debt.

Amazing recovery for Laurann Vance Allen's mother

The mother of Laurann Vance Allen, Class of 1971, is being discharged from home health care.

Jay Holman, Jr., keeper of the flame for the Class of 1971, relayed this message:



“Amazing recovery, thank you for all for your many prayers. She is back to her old self. God is Great!”

Previous reports were that Laurann's mom was “Not doing well. Can't eat very much. Losing weight.”

Laurann is retired from WVU Children’s Hospital in Morgantown. She lives in Enterprise with husband Garry Allen. They have 2 children and adopted their 2 grandchildren.

Her sister, Nicole Knox Vance, lives in Fairmont.

Stanley Vance is Class of 1964. Sue Vance Latham is Class of 1975. Howard Vance, who lives in Worthington, is a 1985 North Marion High grad.