Julie Monell Koloskie’s sister-in-law,
Elaine Hewitt Monell, coming to MHS Reunion
John Koloskie, Jr., Class of 1944, who married the late Julia Monell
Koloskie, also Class of 1944, will be celebrating his birthday June 8. I am 86
and Junior is 6 years older than me. Do the math.
Junior shares the same birthday as Bernie Shelosky, Class of 1965, whose widow is Linda Mazza Shelosky.
Jerry Koloskie, who spent decades in the athletic departments at the
University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Albany University in New York, is Junior’s
son. Jerry played baseball for two years at
Marietta (Ohio) College before graduating with a bachelor's degree from West
Virginia University in 1980.
Julia’s brother was the late Raymond “Soak” Monell,
whose widow is Elaine Hewitt Monell, Class of 1949, of the Dayton, Ohio suburb
of Riverside. Elaine and I will be sitting at the same table Saturday at the
Monongah High Alumni Reunion in Fairmont with Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of
1949, who lives in Monongah, and Tom Dean, also Class of 1949, who moved from Lynch Station, Virginia, to Goldsboro,
North Carolina, after his wife, Rosemarie Dean, passed away. Tom has three sons
in Goldsboro and brother Jim Dean, Class of 1945, not that far away in LePlace,
Louisiana.
This will be the 60th anniversary of Ramona and Tom’s graduation
from Monongah High.
Junior, as John is known to this day, graduated a year
before Tina Ann “Peaches” Aldridge DeMary, Class of 1945, who lives with
husband Frank DeMary, Jr., Class of 1947, in Monongah. Peaches has a birthday
June 5. Frank and Peaches once had a grocery store at the end of Bridge Street
in Monongah before they moved to Rivesville.
Patty DeMary Evans,
Class of 1972, is their daughter. Patty is married to Brian Evans.
Frank, Jr.’s parents were Frank Joseph DeMary, who
passed away in 1972, and Lena Duva DeMary, who passed away in 1986. His
siblings are Louise DeMary Lusi of Clearwater, Florida and Rose Ann DeMary
Flore, Class of 1943, married to Robert and living in Princeton, Rhode Island.
Frank, Jr.’s brother, Joseph A. DeMary of Rivesville,
passed away in 2007. Joe’s children are Kimberly Jo DeMary Clowers, Class of
1979, married to Earl Clowers and living in Rossville, Georgia; Sgt. 1st
Class Joanne Mary DeMary of Fort Meade, Maryland; another Joseph Allen DeMary,
living in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee with wife Yvonne; and Julie Ann DeMary, also
of Soddy.
Sally Ann Woods Merchant, Class of 1953, will be
celebrating her birthday June 20. She is a schoolteacher at Springfield Local Schools near Akron (1967-1993)
and got her post-MHS education at Fairmont State, University of Akron and
Malone University in Canton, Ohio. Her
siblings are John Woods, Class of 1957, and the late Clarence
William “Bill” Woods, Class of 1952.
Bill’s widow is Dorothy Browning Woods, Class of
1955. John Woods is an IBM retiree and a math graduate
of Bob Jones University in Greeneville, South Carolina.
1959, 1969 and 1979 will be the honor classes at
Saturday’s Monongah High Alumni Reunion, the longest-running continuous high
school reunion in West Virginia. Greta
Martin Mike, Class of 1922, founded the Monongah Alumni Association in
1922 and came up with the first Monongah High Alumni Reunion, which is only 3
years from its centennial reunion unless dwindling attendance causes it to die
out.
The Class of 1959 includes Dietta Harden Goush, Carole
Lushinsky, Peggy Rahl Orsino (widow to Tom Orsini, Class of 1950) and the late
Eugene “Sonny” Kubiet, who was part of the facietiously named Gang That
Terrorized Marion County that I ran around with in my teens).
The Class of 1969 includes Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey,
whose mother Frances Olesky Fazio, Class of 1937, and my father, John W.
Olesky, Sr., were siblings; Debbie Urish Carpenter, who grew up in Four States
but lives in Clarksburg; Paulette Ellison, who grew up in and still lives in
Four States; Nancy Cowart Willis, who married Larry Willis and lives in
Worthington, where Nancy grew up.
Nancy, who was cafe manager at the old Monongah High
School for 26 years, lives in Worthington where she spent her childhood with
siblings Joyce Cowart Davis Peck, Class of 1966, who lives in Palm Bay,
Florida, Alma Cowart Allen, Class of 1963, Carol Cowart Ensminger, Duane Cowart
and Warren Cowart, Class of 1967.
Besides Kim DeMary Clowers, the Class of 1979, the last
graduation class before Monongah High helped form North Marion High, includes Brenda
Lee Graffius, Anthony “T.J.” Saverino, Class of 1979, whose
siblings are Linda Saverino Moorehead and Mark Saverino, Class of 1970; Delmas
Gene Hartley; and Paula Kerns Fazio.
The original T.J. Savereno, Class of 1948, who lives in Florence, South
Carolina with wife Lynette Saverino, is a former
Extension Associate at Clemson, where he studied Wildlife Biology
after his Fairmont State College and Monongah High days. The elder T.J. is a son of Tony Frank
Savereno, Monongah's mail carrier for many years. Tony’s siblings were Christine, Orlando,
Jean, Frances and Mary. Tony’s mother is Harriet (Hattie) Savereno.
Trudy Hartley Plaugher, a 1982 North Marion graduate.
Carla Hartley Vanfossen is a 1986 North Marion graduate. Rocky Hartley is a
1988 North Marion graduate. David
Hartley, Class of 1963, lives in Circleville, Ohio.
The Hartley brothers’ mother, Velma Hartley, worked in
Worthington’s Hertzog Drug Store run by Virgil Hertzog, father of Marylee
Hertzog Gwinn, Class of 1948, who lives in Rockville, Maryland, and the late Dick
Hertzog, Class of 1942, a WVU chemical engineering grad.
Paula Kerns Fazio, Class of 1979, married Joe Fazio, Class
of 1974. Her mother, Dorothy Stevenski Kerns, was Class of 1942. Her father was
Wester Warren “Bud” Kerns. Paula’s
brothers are Dave and Donnie Kerns and her sisters are Pam and Patti. Paula grew up living near the late math/algebra/geometry
teacher Mary Turkovich, my favorite teacher at Monongah High. Dave lives in
Mannington. Donnie lives in Worthington with wife Linda. Pamela Kerns Ross,
Class of 1970, lives in Syracuse, Indiana, with husband Christopher Ross, and
Patti Kerns Haught lives in Lumberport with husband Glen Haught.
Monongah High birth dates
If your name is not on this list, email John Olesky
at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com with your full name, including maiden name,
your birthday date, your graduation year and your current hometown.
May
21 – June Paxton Rogers, Class of 1948
22 – Toni Pflock Hennis, Class of 1955
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
8 – John Koloskie, Jr., Class of 1944
8 – Pat Slovekosky Morris, Class of 1970
13 – John Melton, Class of 1975
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
22 – Prudence Deane Tetrick Funk, Class of 1960.
23 – Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949
23 – Kathryn Manuel Marshall, Class of 1960
23 – Ron Manzo, Class of 1969
23 – Frankie Vandetta, North Marion grad
July
1 – Roger Fisher, Monongah High grad
3 – Susan Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971
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
18 – Larry Zickefoose, Class of 1968
19 – Arlene Martha Edwards Costelac, Class of 1958
20 – Catherine Reckart Boyce, Class of 1973
21 – Robin Huffman Satterfield, Class of 1973
16 – Jean Nagel Viglianco, Class of 1949
19 – Jane Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975
29 – Pete Basagic, Class of 1972
August
1 – Kim DeMary Clowers, Class of 1979
5 – Robert Tennant, Class of 1971
6 – Wauneda Evans, Patty DeMary Evans’ mother-in-law
7 – Dorie Mike Whetsell, Monongah graduate
8 – Sandra Ashcraft, Class of 1964
9 – Paula Kerns Fazio, Class of 1979
15 – David Kelly, 1980 North Marion grad after 11 years at
Thoburn & Monongah High
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
21 – Robert Howard Edwards, Class of 1959
24 – Sean Patrick Fazio, 2015 North Marion grad
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
3 – Debra June Knight, Class of 1973
6 – Dave Domico of Monongah, Fairmont West grad married to
Andrea Justice Domico
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 Tennant, Class of 1974
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
29 – Pamm Yanero Bragg, Class of 1969
October
2 – Stanley H. Vance, Class of 1964
7 – Sherry McIntire, Class of 1975
8 – Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971
8 – Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973
11 – Jay Holman, Class of 1971
12 – Brenda Manzo, wife of Danny Manzo, Class of 1957
14 – John Prunty, Class of 1949
20 – Leona “Duckles” Davis Schooley, Class of 1953
20 – Richard Edwards, Class of 1978
21 – Ken Slovekosky, Gilmer County High Class of 1976.
22 – Mike Uram, 1981 North Marion graduate
25 -- Rachel Vivian Stalnaker Sloan, Class of 1962.
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
31 – Helen McDougal Mudry, Monongah High grad
November
1 – Tom Dean, Class of 1949
4 – Roger Harbert, Class of 1960
5 – John Olesky, Class of 1950
8 – Diana Pishner Walker
10 – Tony Orsini, Class of 1946
10 – Anthony Pulice, Jr., Class of 1945
13 – Elwood Toll, Class of 1951
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, 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
3
– Goldie Mae Martin, Class of 1964
4 – Ronald Pearse, Class of 1961
4 – Jay Michalski, 1980 North Marion graduate
5 – Duane Harbert, Class of 1951
5 – Frances Victor Eates, Farmington grad, wife of Larry Dan
Eates, Class of 1970
6 – Goldie Basagic Huffman, Class of 1974
8 – Brenda Urban, Class of 1971
10 – Richard Weaver, Class of 1957
11 – Paulette Colanero O’Connor, Class of 1966
13 – Otis “Sarge” Shaver, Class of 1948
14 – Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974
16 – Shelvy Maze Cunningham, Class of 1964
16 – Henry Moore, husband of Beth Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975
16 – Paula Rossi Wiley, Class of 1976
18 – Bill Cameon, Class of 1960
20 – Mike Hess, Class of 1975
22 – Frances Wimer Miller, Class of 1951
23 – Jim Fullen
25 – Charles Melton, Class of 1973
25 – Chris Shamrock Henning
27 – John Yokay III, son of John Yokay, Class of 1953
29 -- Dolores Edwards,
Class of 1955
30 – Deborah Prunty Poluck, Class of 1973
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, Monongah mayor, husband of Debbie Manzo
Vandetta, Class of 1973
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
February
1 – Debra Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973
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
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 1958 MHS
grad Bill Davis
15 – Clarence William “Bill” Woods, Class of 1952
18 – Nancy Carol Davidson Kantura, Class of 1955
20 – Barbara Melton Earl, Class of 1978
22 – David Haines, Class of 1964
25 – Sandy Cook, Class of 1959
25 -- David
Edwards, Class of 1976.
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
15 – Judy Stewart Monell Razook, Class of 1959
16 – Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961
18 – Aaron Justice, Jr., Class of 1972
30 – Shirley Knight Ritterhouse, Class of 1954
