Those in photo are identified in this article

Saintly blast from the past

Since Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, Class of 1969,
 is in this Sts. Peter and Paul School photo, this has to be the 1964 graduates.

That’s 14 years after P&P’s most famous pupil graduated.

You guessed it: Robert  “Satch” Kasper, who helped Ford Motor negotiate international contracts with the United Auto Workers Union before retiring to South Lyon and Grand Lake (Presque Isle) in Michigan.

Fooled you, huh?

OK, Bob is best friends with other famous grad, John Olesky, also Class of 1950, since they met in 1^st grade at Sts. P&P. Bob walked 2 miles to school every day; I skipped 4 doors down to get to my seat and await my paddlings from Sister Ursula and Sister Agnes.

 Mary Chris' mother, Frances Olesky Fazio, was a younger sister to my father, John W. Olesky, Sr., and Helen Olesky Kerekes, the world’s greatest cookies baker.

 

Mary Chris' father, Renzy Fazio, was the best golfer I ever played with, at White Day. Maybe it helped that I've never played with Arnold Palmer or Tiger Woods. But a 30 at White Day is outstanding, nevertheless.

Father Briggs survived Japanese internment in Japan during World War II and became a historian about the 1907 Monongah mines explosion that killed 362 (still America’s worst mine tragedy), led the push for the Monongah heroines’ tribute to miners’ wives and families that stands near the Town Hall and founded Saint Barbara’s medical facility just beyond Monongah’s southern boundary not far from where Bob and sister Evelyn Kasper Boggess and retired St. Petersburg Times advertising vice president Leo Kubiet of Largo, Florida grew up.

Thanks to Pamm Yanero Bragg, here are the identifications for the historic photo:

Front row...Cathy Mikulski Rogers, Donna DeCarlo, Jo Ann Bonasso, Rosemary Baransky, Sarah Bright Yanero, Pamela Yanero Bragg..2 girls behind....Mary Kay Matro, Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey..Boys...Joe DeFazio, Edward Salabor, Ron Manzo..Back...Steve Batiste, Joe Jacobin, Joe Martin, Jim Pulice....Sister Stephen...Father Briggs...

Bob Raymond’s widow passes away

Susan Raymond, widow of Bob Raymond, Class of 1951, passed away Thursday, March 30. Bob passed in 2009.

Bob and Susan’s children are Paula, married to Sam Adkins and living in Idamay; Mary Harr of Pleasant Valley; and Bob Raymond, Jr., married to Susie and living in Fairmont.

Survivors include Bob’s sister, Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro of Monongah. Bob and Rosemary were the children of Mary Dudiak Raymond and Angelo Raymond, who had the tavern adjacent to their home at the bottom of Swisher Hill.

Susan’s obituary:

Susan Ann Raymond
(June 4, 1938 - March 30, 2017)

Susan Ann (Russell) Raymond, 78, of Deerfield Estates, Whitehall, WV died Thursday, March 30, 2017. Susan was born in Fairmont, WV on June 4, 1938, daughter of the late Harold H. and Mary Jane Chase Russell.

She was a former employee of North American Phillips, Fairmont Box Factory, and The Oak Room at the Fairmont Hotel.

She was an avid sports fan and really enjoyed watching her grandchildren DOMINATE. She also enjoyed going to the theater to watch movies, and would often be accompanied by one of her grandchildren.

Susan is survived by her three daughters and one son in law, Paula and Sam Adkins of Idamay, Robin Long of Colfax, Mary Harr of Whitehall, and one son and daughter in law, Bob and Susie Raymond of Fairmont. She is also survived by her very loving grandchildren; Aaron Hale and his wife Emily, Derek Hale and his wife Samantha, Mallory Powell and her husband Derrick Powell, Nathan Long, Spencer Long, Phillip Harr and his wife Nicoline, Colton Harr and his girlfriend Taylor Wright, Jared Harr, Sydney Raymond, and Emma Raymond. Susan is also survived by three great children, Bryce Hale, Gavin Hale and Gracelyn Rae Hale. One brother, Harold Russell, one sister in law and her husband Rosemary and Carmen Pagliaro of Monongah, and her very dear friends Bob and Ria Sliger and their two sons Hayden and Maddox, and several cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Phillip Raymond, who passed away in 2009 and one brother Thomas Allen Russell of Catawba, South Carolina, who passed away in 2006.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Don Fitzwater, Yvonne Faulkner, and the staff of Fitzwater's Gracious Living of Fairmont for their excellent, loving care.

 The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Ave. Fairmont, Saturday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home with Pastor Mike VanZandt officiating.  A private interment will follow at a later date at the WV National Cemetery in Grafton, WV.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com

Happy report from Phil Colanero



Phil and Betty Colanero

Good news from Phil Colanero, Jr., Class of 1963, who lives in Morgantown with wife Betty Hanlin  Colanero:

“I would like to thank everyone for their prayers. Betty’s heart cath went wonderful. She has one small blockage which they will take care of when they replace the valve.

“Thank you so much and have a wonderful day. This is really good news for us.”

In 2015 Betty had to deal with kidney problems in the same year that her son, Daniel, passed away.

Phil’s father was on the unbeaten 1940 Marion County Champions Monongah High football team.

In 2014, Phil, Betty, myself and my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, had a dinner reunion in Morgantown before a WVU football game.

The health report makes Phil's 11 grandchildren and Betty's 4 grandchildren happy, too.

 

Monongah Middle hits high note

Monongah Middle School received a Superior rating, the highest possible, at the Regional 10 Band Festival Wednesday, March 29 in Bridgeport. 50 bands competed.

Middle schools performing were Washington Irving, East Fairmont, Fairview, Taylor County, West Preston, Central Preston, South Harrison, Lincoln, Mountaineer (Monongalia), Mountaineer (Harrison), East Preston, Mannington, Rivesville, Trinity Christian,  Barrackville, Bruceton, Clay-Battelle, West Fairmont, Aurora, Rowlesburg, Westwood, Suncrest, St. Francis and South.

Top ratings is in the blood for Monongah. For years Monongah High got the top rating at the state band festivals.

Barry Vingle, of Monongah’s musical Vingle family, was one of the judges.

The other judges were Cynthia Smith, who was a band director in Morgantown, Williamstown, Blennerhassett Middle School and Tyler Consolidated High School; John Sullivan, a band director at Barrackville High School and Miller and West Fairmont middle schools; David Burton, who has 40 years in music and education; John Christian, West Virginia Band Director of the Year in 1998 while at Bridgeport High; and Earl McConnell, former Fairmont East and Grafton High band director.

Vingle is former West Virginia Jazz Festival president, is a member of the National Education Association, the West Virginia Bandmasters Association and the West Virginia Music Educators Association.

He was named West Virginia Band Director of the Year in 1995 and was inducted into the West Virginia Music Educators Hall of Fame.

He was director at both Mannington and Fairmont West.

Other judges were Cynthia Smith, John Sullivan, David Burton, John Christian and Earl McConnell.

Darley Fink Carpenter passes away

Monongah’s Darley Fink Carpenter passed away Sunday, March 26.

Her seven children include Sheila Mills and Crystal Carpenter, who live in Monongah.

Darley’s obituary:

Darley Mae Carpenter, 74, of Monongah, passed from this life Sunday (March 26, 2017) at home under Hospice Care after a year-long illness.

She was born in Fairmont on Dec. 31, 1942, a daughter of the late Benjamin Franklin and Pearl Augusta Simms Fink.

Darley was a loving homemaker, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed crafts, yard sales, word puzzles, game shows and westerns. She was Methodist by faith.

She is survived by her seven children, Thomas Carpenter and his companion Wendy Wilson of Fairmont, Milton Carpenter Jr. of Wallace, Sheila Mills and her companion Randy Womac of Monongah, Charlotte Carpenter and her companion Donald Shipley of Fairmont, Pam (Doug) Martin of Indiana, Lisa Carpenter of Fairmont and Crystal Carpenter of Monongah; half-brothers George Vincent and Richard Vincent of Fairmont; half-sisters Betty Miller of Elizabeth and Carol Summer of Morgantown; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and her canine companion "Buddy."

She was also preceded in death by her brother Benjamin Fink.

Darley's family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers of Hospice Care.

Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the Frey Home For Funerals (Addition Chapel A), 320 Madison St. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with Pastor Bill Preston officiating. Interment will follow at the Mt. Zion cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at fhff320@aol.com.

Kerri Basnett released from hospital

Kerri Basnett was released from Uniontown, Pennsylvania hospital and will do followups at the Fairmont hospital for heart blockages.

Kerri Basnett

Kerri, daughter of Nancy Riley Basnett and Tom Basnett, both Class of 1960, was in WVU’s Ruby Memorial Hospital in 2015 after a heart attack.

Kerri’s boyfriend, who was at her side in Uniontown, is Eric Lincoln.

Here are two reports from Kerri:

“First of all, TY all my friends for the prayers and concerns! Will thank you individually when I get home. Much appreciated 💕. Started on new seizure med (Keppra) and nuclear stress test showed old MI but did not have new one.

“Will follow up at Fairmont for heart blockages.

“Also, want to say how kind, professional and supportive the staff was at Uniontown Hospital in PA. Thank you, my friends.”

When I inquired further, Kerri wrote:

“Hi John, this is Kerri. I'm not an alumnus of Monongah High but my father was and I live on Swisher Hill in my grandparents’ house.

“I live by my cousins, Tony and Mary Orsini."

 

Olesky note: Tony, Class of 1946, is one of the six famous Orsini brothers from Worthington who populated Monongah High sports teams. He is married to Mary Baker Orsini, who began at Monongah High with the Class of 1948.

Kerri continued:

“As for my hospitalization, I had a complex partial seizure with cardiac complications. I had triple bypass and a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted 6 years ago.

“I had my seizure episode in PA while visiting family and I was admitted to Uniontown Hospital. I was released today. Will be following up for heart blockages at Fairmont General this week.

“TY for reaching out and your prayers. Extremely appreciative!”

Lions are always happy with better news about MHS Alumni kin.

Kerri, an RN private duty nurse, is from Shinnston but lives in Fairmont. Nancy, who worked at Westinghouse, lives in Shinnston.

There were a lot of Basnetts roaming the halls of Monongah High from 1932 through 1975.

Taking them in chronological order:

Roy Basnett, Class of 1932.

Doris Menear Basnett, Class of 1938.

Raymond Basnett, Class of 1947.

Dennis Basnett, Class of 1962.

Carlton B. Basnett, Class of 1965.

Jack Basnett, Class of 1969.

Debbie Rutherford Basnett, Class of 1975.

Michael Basnett, Class of 1975.

And then there’s Barbara Basnett Cain, who started with the Class of 1956 before she left Monongah High and Worthington during her sophomore year and moved from Ohio back to Monongah in 1970.

Her father was Paul Basnett, who drove both a school bus and a mine bus.

Barbara hung out with Barbara Jean Brooks, Class of 1955; Lillian Alice Baker, Class of 1956; and Sue Martino.

Patricia Preolette Lechiara passes away

 

Pat Preolette Lechiara, Class of 1959, the daughter of Patsy and Ann Preolette, passed away March 18 in New Albany, Ohio.

She was predeceased by siblings Helanne "Dee Dee" Preolette and Patsy "Patrick" Preolette Jr., Class of 1963.

Sibling survivors include Michael Preolitti, a 1961 Mannington High grad living in Monongah with wife Irene Fazio Preolitti; and Corki Preolette Schrecengost, Class of 1966, living Asheboro, North Carolina with husband Bob Schrecengost.

Patsy, Jr.’s widow, Bonnie Preolette, also lives in Monongah.

Some members changed the spelling of the family name.

Patricia’s obituary:

Patricia "Pat" Preolette Lechiara of Kure Beach, NC passed away March 18, 2017 in New Albany, OH surrounded by her family.

She was born February 19, 1941 in Monongah, WV to the late Patsy and Ann Preolette.

She was a graduate of St. Mary's Nursing School in Clarksburg, WV and worked in the nursing field for over 40 years.

She was preceded in death by her sister Helanne "Dee Dee" Preolette and her brother Patsy "Patrick" Preolette Jr. both of Monongah, WV.

She is survived by her sons, Anthony Lechiara and his wife Alice of Wheaton, IL and Steven Lechiara and his wife Karen of New Albany, OH; three granddaughters, Emily and Grace Lechiara of Wheaton, IL and Sophia Lechiara of New Albany, OH and one grandson Pete Lechiara of New Albany, OH.

She is also survived by her brother Michael Preolitti and his wife Irene, of Monongah, WV her sister Corki Preolette Schrecengost and her husband Bob of Asheboro, NC and her sister-in-law Bonnie Preolette of Monongah, WV and several nieces and nephews.

Pat enjoyed traveling and loved life and lived it to the fullest. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren and will be greatly missed by family and friends. Pat volunteered at the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center in Wilmington, NC.

Family would like to thank the staff of Otterbein New Albany Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Zusman Hospice in New Albany, Ohio.

A family memorial service is being held at a later time. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, 2222 S. College Rd. Wilmington, NC 28403.

Dolores Collins Moore’s dad passes away

Monongah’s Ira “Bennie” Benton Collins, father of Dolores Collins Moore, Class of 1968, passed away Sunday, March 26.

Bennie’s obituary:

Ira “Bennie” Benton Collins, 85, of Monongah, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at the Mapleshire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Morgantown, WV. He was born December 5, 1931 in Doddridge County, WV a son of the late Oval Edison and Dephna Jones Collins. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen V. Harris Collins.

Bennie was a born again Christian and attended both Calvary Temple Assembly and Trinity Assembly of God. He retired from the Marion County Board of Education in the Maintenance Department with over 25 years of service. He was a fan of both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the WVU Mountaineers. Bennie enjoyed fishing and hunting in his spare time.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sisters, Alma Chrislip of McCurdeysville, and Doloris Moore of Fairmont, several nieces and nephews, and his good friends, John Serian and Tom Loss

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Collins, and his sisters, Wilma Jean Sigley, Ruby Fast, and Betty Pierce.

Friends and family may call the Ford Funeral Home, DeGarmo Chapel, 207 Second Street, Rivesville, WV 26588 on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 from 4-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Bill Preston officiating. The committal service will follow in the McCurdysville Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.FORDFUNERALHOMES.com.

 

Memorial service for Monte Carpenter’s mom

A memorial service for Mary K. Simon, mother of Monte V. Carpenter, Class of 1970, will be held at 1 p.m. June 10, 2017 at the Greene-Robertson Funeral Home in Sutton.

Mary passed away March 21, 2017. She will be buried after the memorial service alongside Monte’s father at Barker Ridge Cemetery in Sutton.

Monte, who lived in Worthington while attending Monongah High, is a resident of Baldwin Park, California in the central San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County.

He is married to Francisca Luz “Lucy” Carpenter, who came to America from El Salvador in 1972.

Monte retired from the U.S. Marshal Service after serving in the Air Force for six years and in the Army for another 22 years.

He has visited Worthington 4 times since his final retirement, reuniting with Roger Shumate, Class of 1970; Collett Melton, Class of 1970; Wanda Fetty; Cindy Chism, daughter of the late Louie “Scoogum” Domico and Mary Ann Bienkoski Domico, Class of 1950; Nick Demus, Class of 1945; and Nick's sister, Nellie Demus Bailey,  Class of 1938.

Monte worked at the Demus store during his senior year at Monongah High.

He plans to attend the Monongah High Alumni Reunion on May 27. If you print the registration form on this blog, fill it out and mail it to Donna Davis with your check, you can chat with Monte in person.

West Virginia Reunion in Florida

Paula and I went to the West Virginia Reunion in The Villages, Florida today (Sunday, March 26) and came across familiar faces and an interesting shoulder among the 300 who attended the event in the Savannah Center.

At one table was Jean Piggott, widow of World War II flight instructor George Piggott, who with former Monongah High teacher Mary Weis' husband trained U.S. and European pilots how to fly near and over Germany. Jean lives in the On Top of the World seniors community near Ocala, Florida.



John Olesky, Jean Piggott

We also got together at last year’s West Virginia Reunion in The Villages.



Sisters Doris Lyon & Mary Ann with John

At another table was Doris Lyon and her sister, Mary Ann, who lives in The Villages, who are the nieces of Roxie and Paul Sayre and a cousin of Mary Margaret Sayre Lewis.

The Sayre family lived next door to the Olesky family on Church Street during my childhood.

We first met Doris the day before, at the West Virginia Social in Lake Miona Recreation Center for those who traveled from out of town and would enjoy a get-together better than sitting in their hotel rooms waiting for Sunday to show up.



Our East Fairmont guests at table 14

Doris, who lives in a Seattle suburb, came with Mary Ann to Sunday’s affair.

 

The sister of my best friend since first grade at Sts. Peter and Paul School, Bob Kasper, Class of 1950, who lives in South Lyon and Presque Isle, Michigan, also is a Sayre.

Mark Stewart, "WV" tattoo

Her name was Helen and her son was Bernie Sayre.

Bernie, Bob and I ran around Marion County when Bernie came on vacation from Detroit to Monongah.

There's also a Donna Sayre Barfield, Class of 1970.

I don't know if any of those Sayres are related to Paul and Roxie and Mary Margaret.

The shoulder?

Mark Stewart frontal view

That belonged to Mark Stewart of Morgantown and Keyser, who got one of the prizes for having a “WV” tattoo on his left shoulder, a 60th birthday present.

Marion County had the most butts in the seats.

Kanawha County was next.

And, of course, there were plenty of photos taken of friends from our high school days

 

Monongah/Florida small-world happening



Doris Lyon and John Olesky at West Virginia gathering in Florida



Paula and I attended the West Virginia Social on Saturday, March 25, the precursor to the Sunday, March 26 annual West Virginia Reunion in The Villlages, Florida that is limited to the first 500 tickets purchased. 

I ran into Doris Lyon of a Seattle, Washington suburb whose sister, Mary   Ann, lives in The Villages.

When Doris found out I was from Monongah she asked me if I knew her aunt and uncle, Roxie and Paul Sayre.

Well, yeah.

My parents – John W. Olesky, Sr. and Lena Futten Olesky – moved to Church Street in the early 1940s when they bought the Consolidation Coal Company house that Angelo and Mary Dudash Raymond had been renting and where their children, Bobby and Rosemary, were growing up.

That was the first house off U.S. 19 (Camden Avenue). The next home was occupied by Roxie and Paul and their daughter, Mary Margaret, now Mrs. Lewis.

The Sayre home was between the Olesky house and the one occupied by John and Sophie Lushinsky, whose children were Rosemary (now Tetrick) and Loraine.

The next buildings were Our Lady of Pompeii Church and Sts. Peter and Paul School.

I’ve extolled the virtues of The Villages many times.  There are 157,000 senior citizens (you have to be 55 to purchase a home), but no city, just a humungous housing development controlled by the Morse family since the 1970s.

It is the fastest growing seniors community in America, skyrocketing from the 8,333 population in 2000.

It has 48 golf courses, free to homeowners who pay about $150 a month for the amenities, which include 32 neighborhood centers, 17 village centers, 8 regional centers, 11 parks, free outdoor live music and dancing every night of the year at three town squares, 2,900 clubs for every activity imaginable, 11 softball fields, bocce courts, tennis and pickleball courts and exercise parks.

And restaurants, theaters, department stores and other businesses givw the Morse family a percentage of their revenue to be allowed into The Villages.

Paula owns a home in The Villages so we spend our winters there and use our Tallmadge home when Ohio’s snow and cold has gone away.

I have played golf more than 70 times this year. Despite 10,000 tee times A DAY, the courses are always crowded.

I have been to 55 countries and 44 states and I’ve never seen anything close to The Villages.

Janet Salvati article on 1907 Monongah tragedy to be published

Janet Sue Salvati, Class of 1960, who lived in Monongah during her high school days and is a Fairmont State professor emerita, has co-authored an article about lives affected by the 1907 Monongah mines explosions that killed 362.

It will appear in a future issue of the Journal of Appalachian Studies.

Janet was born in Monongah. At MHS she was one busy girl: Fashion show, class tournaments, Junior Red Cross, Glee Club, Journalism Club, newspaper staff, yearbook, National Honor Society, Girls State, Social Studies Award, class play business manager, Latin banquet, prom committee, Christmas program, Student Council, North Four Student Council Conference.

The information came from retired George Washington University professor Joseph Tropea, who has done extensive research on the 1907 Monongah tragedy.

Joe’s cousin Rose is a granddaughter of Tony Tropea and wife Rose Loss Tropea, who ran the Tropea Grocery in the building next to the one that housed Julie and Gene Carlot’s restaurant across the street from Monongah High.

Tony Tropea's father was in the military under General Giuseppe Garibaldi in the successful fight to unify Italy in the mid-19^th century.  Tony and Rose left Monongah briefly, moving to Argentina, but Rose didn't care for the Pampas so they returned to live out their days in Monongah.

Tom Salvati is Class of 1958.

The Salvati family has a long history in Monongah.

Raymond Ernest Salvati, who was born in Monongah in 1899, after graduating from WVU before becoming superintendent over five Island Creek Coal Company mines, then vice president of Pond Creek Pocahontas vice president and American Mining Congress president. In 1959 he was named West Virginia Son of the Year.

 

The late Dr. Eugene P. Salvati, who was born in Pursglove in 1923, was a son of Nicholas P. Salvati of Vacri, Italy and Mary Pellegrini Salvati of Monongah.

Mike Manzo passes away in Ohio
Mi

Mike Manzo, Class of 1941, passed away Saturday, March 18 in Ohio. He was a Ford Motor retiree living in Cleveland.

Mike Manzo

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

His brother is Patsy Manzo, Class of 1942, who lives in Fairmont.

Mike’s obituary:

MIKE MANZO

May 27, 1922 - March 18, 2017

MIKE MANZO; age 94. Beloved husband of the late Isabelle (nee Kish); loving father of Libby Kraft, Michelle Manzo (Robert Jeracki) and Michael Manzo; father-in-law of Dawn Manzo; devoted grandfather of Danny (Linda), Jaime and Nick Kraft, Michael Manzo Jr., Cheryl Stanowick (Ryan) and Anthony Manzo; great-grandfather of Hailey, Mikaela, Danny, Nathan and Adalyn Kraft, Michael Crystaloski and Kaitlyn Wolfe, Zayden and Greyson Manzo, and Dylan and Peyton Stanowick; dear brother of Patsy and Jeanette; uncle of Francie and many others.

World War II U.S. Army Veteran.  

Memorials may be made to Holy Family Hospice, 6707 State Rd., Parma, OH 44134.  Mass of Christian Burial at St. Leo the Great Church, Tuesday, March 21 at 10 a.m. Entombment Brooklyn Heights Mausoleum.

Friends received at RIPEPI FUNERAL HOME, 5762 PEARL RD. (AT SNOW RD.), MONDAY 2-4 and 6-8 PM.

Larry Argiro passes away

Married into Demus family

Larry Argiro, husband of Rose Demus Argiro, Class of 1941, and one-time owner of Country Club Bakery which invented the pepperoni roll, passed away Saturday, March 18.

The marriage brought him into the family of Rose’s siblings Nick Demus, Class of 1945; Nellie Demus Bailey, Class of 1938; Mickey Demus, Class of 1948; and Jim Demus, Class of 1954. That includes a slew of Monongah High athletes, particularly in football.

Mary “Kitty” Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, who lives on Lyndon Avenue in Monongah,  recalls:



Larry Joseph Argiro

“It was always a joy when Larry came in from Maryland to see his mom and family. He would come to the bakery to help us roll pepperoni rolls.

“I always enjoyed hearing him talk about the earlier days and his life in Maryland. His son also would come help if he was in town. A wonderful family.” 



While the late Joe Argiro, Class of 1948, isn’t listed among the relatives, living or deceased, I suspect that the close friend of Frank Franze, Class of 1950, is tied to this Argiro family in some way.

After all, it was Italian immigrant Giuseppe “Joseph” Argiro who came up with the pepperoni roll and first sold them at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont in 1927.

Before that, coal miners who came from Italy would take a loaf of bread and a stick of pepperoni into the mines. Joe Argiro just put the two together.

Today, it’s the official food of West Virginia. My sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, brings me a half-dozen pepperoni rolls to Mountaineer Field when I join her and her daughters at WVU football games.

Larry Argiro’s obituary:

Larry J. Argiro, Sr. 96, formerly of Fairmont, died peacefully Saturday March 18th at his Severna Park, MD home.

He was born November 23, 1920 in the city of Caulonia, Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of the late Guiseppe and Teresa Santa Croce Argiro.

He immigrated to this country and ultimately Fairmont with his parents when he was four years old.  He often recalled the excitement of seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time and how it impacted those aboard as the ship approached Ellis Island. 

 In 1947 Larry married Rose Demus who became the Love of his life for over 69 years.  Their deep devotion for each other was an inspiration to all who knew them. 

Larry was devoted to his family and is survived by Rose; his son Larry Jr, daughter-in-law Barbara, of Annapolis, MD, sister-in-law Nellie Demus and brothers-in-law Nick Demus, of Worthington WV, Michael Demus, of NY, and Jim Demus, of Shinnston, WV and many cousins, nieces and nephews located in the U.S., Australia, Canada and Italy. 

He was preceded in death by his sister Amelia Fanto and brother, Frank “Cheech” Argiro.  The family previously owned Country Club Bakery, famous for its pepperoni rolls.

Larry graduated from West Virginia University in 1947 with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering.  He served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific as a commissioned officer in the Signal Corps. 

Post WWII he began his career in 1947 with the David Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center, Annapolis, Maryland and progressed from entry level engineer to become a member of the Senior Executive Service and Director of the Machinery Research and Development Directorate responsible for developing quiet advanced machinery systems.

Larry was a pioneer in developing machinery acoustic silencing technology for reducing noise from shipboard machinery and controlling environmental and habitability noise on ships.  He and his laboratory team (who he often credited for his achievement) were extremely successful in developing and applying new silencing technologies that allowed the U.S. Navy to enjoy the strategic advantage of having the quietest ships in the world.  The total benefit to the Navy, DOD, and the Nation as a whole are incalculable. 

During his distinguished career which spanned 50 years, he received numerous prestigious awards and accolades for his leadership and engineering accomplishment.  In 1994 his retirement was announced on the U.S. Senate Floor and a Tribute by Senator Sarbanes (MD) acknowledging his achievement became part of the Congressional Record. 

Among his many awards two in particular remained close to his heart; in 1995 he was inducted into the WVU Distinguished Alumni and in 1997 selected as Italian-American Man of the year. 

He is a lifetime member of the Society of Naval Engineers; a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America; a member of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering; and registered Professional Engineer in Maryland.

His intellect matched with his kind and warm spirit will be missed by all who knew him.  

Friends may call at the Ross Funeral home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont on Wednesday from 12-8:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Thursday at 10:00 A.M. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Monongah, with Fr. S.A. Arokiadass as Celebrant . Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery.

A vigil service led by Deacon Lou Belldina will be held Wednesday evening at 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Marion County Veterans Council will conduct full military honors at the cemetery.

Flowers may be directed to Ross Funeral Home or in lieu, memorial donations may be made to the WVU Foundation 1 Waterfront Place, Morgantown, WV 26501.

Condolences can be sent to www.rossfh.com .