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

 

2016 West Virginia Reunion in The Villages, Florida March 5 & 6

John Olesky with sign at entrance to West Virginia Reunion



Monongah High's former Karen Pflock and her husband



1944 Shinnston tornado survivor (at 3 1/2 months) Dawn Mastrodonato, John Olesky



Jean Pigott, John Olesky



Table 36 with John & Paula & others



Table 36 again



Another Table 36 view

Fairmont West graduate Ed Patterson, John Olesky

Fairmont's Jim Law, Sharon Julian, John Olesky

Some of the 400 who attended the annual West Virginia Reunion in The Villages, Florida

Guest lists follow, alphabetically, by county and by table seating so you can find people you know

Mountaineer & state outline on back of shirt of attendee. Nearly everyone had a "WV" shirt on

2016 West Virginia Reunion in The Villages, Florida

Paula and I attended the 2016 West Virginia Reunion in The Villages, Florida Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6. There were 400 Mountaineers enjoying the vittles and the conversation.

There was the former Karen Pflock, a Monongah High graduate and sister of Toni Pflock Hennis, who also lives in Florida. There’s a third sister; same father, two moms.

Ed Patterson, Fairmont West graduate, was there. He was a Polar Bear at the same time as my late cousin, Don Futten, and former Monongah resident John Brzuzy, also deceased, who worked for Boys Clubs in Indiana for decades.

John’s parents owned the PNA Tavern in Monongah. His siblings graduated from Monongah High – Walter, Freda, etc. – but the family moved to Country Club Road in Fairmont about the time that John was in junior high.

He went to Sts. Peter and Paul School and was famous for taking the wooden paddle the nuns used to whack us away from the nun and running away before he could be whacked. He was a hero among the students.

Also there was Jean Pigott, widow of World War II flight instructor George Pigott, 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 community near Ocala, Florida.

One of the luckiest people at the reunion was Dawn Mastrodonato, who survived the 1944 Shinnston tornado – as a 3½-month-old! She was with her husband, Ron Mastrodonato.

The June 23, 1944 tornado ripped through her Pleasant Hill home, hardest hit in Shinnston, where 30 of the 103 victims died and 50 domiciles on the hill were leveled.

 

There’s a list of everyone there in the photos atop this article. Maybe you’ll recognize them although I couldn’t find many from Monongah. A few from Mannington and Farmington.

2^nd day added to West Virginia Reunion in The Villages

It looks like there will be TWO days for West Virginians to have their reunion in The  Villages, Florida. So, if you’re in Tampa or Orlando or the northwest panhandle, find lodging for the weekend in or near The Villages.

The annual West Virginia Reunion will be Sunday, March 3 in the Savannah Recreation Center. Doors will open at 11 a.m. The luncheon will start at 12:30 p.m.

Only those who have reservations for Sunday can attend the West Virginia Social at Lake Miona Recreation Center at 6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 2. It's free for those who have tickets for Sunday.

That way you get two chances to meet up with former West Virginia friends. Tables for Sunday’s Reunion are set up by counties so that Marion Countians, will be at the same cluster of tables.

Steve Nicely of the West Virginia Club posted:

Suggestions from past events have included having more time to socialize and something to do Saturday evening for those who arrive early.  We are very pleased that both those ideas have been fulfilled.

 The West Virginia Club in The Villages is hosting a Saturday Evening Social on March 5 for those who will be attending the luncheon the following day.  The event will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Lake Miona Recreation Center located at 1526 Buena Vista Boulevard.  The recreation center is south of the Savannah Center between CR 466 and CR 466A at the intersection of Buena Vista Boulevard and Bailey Trail. 

While there is no additional charge to attend this event, reservations are necessary.  To make your reservation, please reply to this email indicating the total number of reservations you are making.  In case others in your party arrive at a different time than you do, please let them know in whose name the reservation is being made.

Please plan on attending this event that will feature light refreshments, a 50/50 drawing and plenty of time to socialize with other West Virginians.

Remember, this event is for those registered for the luncheon on Sunday, and you must make a reservation in order to attend Saturday evening.  Reservations will be accepted until Tuesday, March 1 or the capacity of the recreation center room is reached.

Thanks to the West Virginia Club for hosting this event!

If you want to attend, email Steve Knicely at

steven_nicely@hotmail.com Tickets are $18 per person.

Paula and I were at the 2015 West Virginia Picnic (name changed to Reunion this year) in The Villages. So was Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950, who lives on Crescent Beach just south of St. Augustine Beach, Florida with husband Don Wills, a Fairmont West graduate and former athlete.

 

Even if you can’t make it to the West Virginia Reunion, which is limited to the first 500 tickets sold, if you’re near The Villages, call John Olesky at (330) 388-4466 and we’ll arrange a Monongah High mini-reunion of former Lions. 

 

The Villages is northwest of Orlando and northeast of Tampa and about an hour from each city.

Karen Rodriguez, a 1960 Fairmont East grad, was involved in tickets for the 2015 reunion.