I can’t think of a better Monongah High Fathers Day article than one centered on the Colisino brothers.

All five served in World War II. And they all survived to live out their lives for decades. As fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

Ronda Colisino of Clarksburg, daughter of Carmen Colisino, one of the five brothers who were Monongah’s version of the famous Sullivan brothers but with a happier ending, and Ann VanGilder Colisino, started me thinking about it. Larry Colisino was Ronda’s brother.

Carmen’s parents were Mary DeSalvo Colisino and James Colisino. His brothers were Patsy, Louis “Skeeter,” Frederick, who lived in Baxter, and Anthony. Their sisters were Flora Payne, Elizabeth Marano and Rosemary Klam.

Carmen’s daughters are Karen Miller and companion Richard Edwards and Rhonda Colisino and companion Charles Pinnell. His daughter-in-law is Cindy Colisino.

Carmen, who was stationed in Alaska during World War II, later was a captain in the police reserves. He loved to fish and hunt, but threw the fish back most of the time and never killed a deer. He loved to garden, particularly raising blackberries.

Ronda recalls: “Mom and dad bought their property in Monongah in 1950. My father was Catholic but marrying my mom who was Methodist he converted so that they both became members of the First United Methodist church of Monongah."

Patsy’s sons are Harry James Colisino, 1974 Mannington High graduate, married to Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974;  Patsy Colisino, Jr., Class of 1975, who lives in Barrackville and works at Fairmont General Hospital; and Robert Louis Colisino. He had 2 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

 

In 1975, Patsy the papa earned his GED from Fairmont West High School and was the longest continuous resident of Carolina, having been born in the same room in which he died. He was a truck driver and a coal miner.

Patsy’s first wife was Margaret L. Markley. His widow was Erma M. Nuzum Colisino.

 So this is a triple salute: To the Colisino brothers of Monongah, to everyone who served America in its too-many wars and to fathers everywhere, alive or looking down from Above.

Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, who spearheads fundraisers for Christmas street lights in Monongah, and husband Ron Sanders will celebrate their 28^th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 17.

 

Susan and husband Ron Sanders live on Thomas Street, next door to Mayor Greg Vandetta and his wife, Janice Manzo Vandetta.

Joyce Peck heading north to family again

Now that it’s heating up in her Palm Bay, Florida neighborhood, Joyce Cowart Davis Peck, Class of 1966, writes:

“Leaving for S.C. then W.V. and on to Ohio before coming back to Fl. in August.”

Plus, of course, Alma Allen (not in photo)

 

It's an annual thing with Joyce. 
Perry is coming with her, too.

Her son lives in Alliance, Ohio, near Akron.

Joyce’s sister, Nancy Cowart Willis, was cafe manager at the old Monongah High School for 26 years. 

Joyce's siblings are Duane Cowart & Warren Cowart & Alma Allen, Carol Ensminger & Nancy Willis. They all went to Monongah High along with their mother, Florence Vellora Harris Cowart, and Florence's siblings.

 

Alma Cowart Allen is Class of 1963.

Warren Cowart is Class of 1967.

Palm Bay is in Brevard County and not far from Melbourne, where Bob Cottrill, Class of 1951, and Jim Wright, Class of 1957, live. So did Jim Weaver, Class of 1948, who was a schoolteacher in Brevard County for 30 years before he joined parents Robert and Elsie Weaver in the Hereafter.

Joyce is among the legions of Dr. Barr babies born in Worthington. Her email address is  joycepeck77@gmail.com  

Louellen “Boots” Saunders Manzo, Class of 1946, widow of Joe Manzo, Class of 1950, passed away in Tucson, Arizona.

Boots and Joe were married after Joe's tour in the Army that took him to the Korean War.

At Monongah High, Louellen was senior class secretary-treasurer, Craft Club secretary-treasurer and Servicemen’s Informer typist for sending news from back home to troops with MHS ties. She lived in Everson during her Monongah High years.

Debbie Manzo, the granddaughter mentioned in Louellen’s obituary, is not the Debbie Manzo Vandetta married to Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta.

Joe Manzo was in our facietiously named Gang That Terrorized Marion County which roamed during our teen years before we went our separate ways.

Frank “Bruno” Franze of Everson and Donald “Jake” Halpenny of Jackson Street in Monongah drove the getaway cars. Their fathers’ cars, actually.

Jake was clarinetist supreme for United Mine Workers and Vingle bands and lives in Fairmont. Frank lives in Slidell, Louisiana and has been widowed twice.

Others in the “gang” were Duane Harbert, who today lives in Marlton, New Jersey; the late Lawrence “Sonny” Godby, Lawrence and Regina Boone Godby’s son and the late Jackie Godby Lusczynski’s brother who survived two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Marine pilot; Steven “Bucky” Satterfield, who lives in St. Albans after retiring from a long career as a West Virginia Highway Patrolman; Anthony “Tony” Eates, who is retired and living in Fairmont with wife Lucy; Robert “Satch” Kasper, who had a successful career at Ford Motor Company before retiring to his homes in South Lyon and Grand Lake (Presque Isle), Michigan; the late Tom “Judge” Starcher, who began his prowling in Carolina; and me, John Olesky, retired after a 43-year newspaper editor career who alternates between homes in Tallmadge, Ohio and The Villages, Florida when he’s not traveling to 55 countries and 44 states with Paula Tucker.

There has been a Manzo at Monongah High from 1935 through 1950 and 1969 through 1978 (the year before the final 1979 MHS graduation class that preceded the consolidation into North Marion High).

That includes:

Phyllis Manzo Berardo, Class of 1935.

Genevieve Manzo Lopez, Class of 1937.

Mike Manzo, Class of 1941, on the 1948 world champ coal-loading crew at Monongah Mine No. 63 which loaded 1,536 tons on one shift on June 14.

Patsy Manzo, Class of 1942.

Helen Manzo Raspa, Class of 1945.

John Manzo, Class of 1945.

Raymond “Pigeon” Manzo, Class of 1947.

Mary Manzo Tiburzi, Class of 1949.

Ronald Manzo, Class of 1969, of Morgantown, son of Helen Cecelia Manzo and Phil Manzo; brother of Monongah’s First Lady, Debbie Manzo Vandetta; nephew of Ernie “Frog”, Joe, Duke and Raymond “Pigeon” Manzo.

Nancy Manzo Bolyard, Class of 1970.

Pat Manzo, Class of 1973.

Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973, married to Monongah Mayor Carl Vandetta.

Karen Manzo Tennant, Class of 1974.

Lisa Myers Manzo, Class of 1977.

Tina Manzo Prodanovich, Class of 1977.

Jim Manzo, Class of 1978.

Kim Sapp Manzo, North Marion 1980.

Louellen’s obituary:

Louellen “Boots” Saunders Manzo.

Died in Tuscon, Arizona. Dear wife of the late Joseph R.

Dearest mother of Larry J. and Beverly (Bill) Deitrick.

Grandmother of Debbie Manzo, Joey Dietrick and Vincent Lazos Manzo.

Great- Grandmother of Dylan and Jacob Osolin.

Sister of Catherine Soles and the late Paul and Ray D. (WV).

Louellen had 30 years of service at Mary Mavec School. In 1979 she was a Charter Member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 1056 and had more than 2,000 volunteer hours at Tucson Medical Center.

Gathering of friends at Brickman Bros. Funeral Home, 37433 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Everyone is invited to meet at church for the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at St. John of the Cross, 140 Richmond Rd., Euclid, OH. Burial All Souls Cemetery.

Published in The Plain Dealer from June 13 to June 14, 2017

Monongah election results

MAYOR
82 GREG VANDETTA

RECORDER
80 PATTY MCCOMBS

COUNCIL (5 elected)

86 JohnBoy Palmer

71 Brenda Manzo

62 Bill McCombs

55 Don Harris

44 Teena Ailstock

(not elected)

42 Bertha Wilson

42 Hooch Aldridge

36 William Bill Watkins

20 Lenny White

New councilwoman Teena Ailstock lost to Patty Steele McCombs in the 2015 election for Town Recorder.

JohnBoy Palmer was the top vote-getter in 2015, too. Don Harris finished 2^nd in 2015. Charles Parker was 3^rd. Bertha Wilson was 4^th. The late Warren Sloan was 5^th.

Frank Cosco and Susanne Carleson also ran.

Brenda Manzo, Bill McCombs and Teena Ailstock are the newest council members.

McCombs, Class of 1969, is Monongah’s water expert. Bill won the Monongah mayoral race several years ago when his name was drawn from a hat to break a tie with incumbent Don Harris. But after the state ruled that he couldn’t be both mayor and town water director, Bill resigned as mayor. 

Bill’s wife, Fairmont East grad Patty, broke the tie that put Greg Vandetta into the mayor’s chair. 

Monongah fire chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, is Bill McCombs’ brother. Harless is married to Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children’s book author Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977.

Mayor Greg Vandetta is Class of 1975.

Brenda Manzo is a Fairmont East grad, too. She’s married to Danny Manzo, Class of 1957.

Harris is president of the Monongah Community Employment Board.

Fairview High grad Bertha Wilson was the only incumbent not re-elected.

Let Adam Michna, who graduated from North Marion in 1980 after attending Monongah High for 3 years, begin this story:

“On June 11, 1960, Rev. E.F. Briggs married two couples at St. Stanislaus Church. Henry 'Dinkle' Martin and Gloria Jean 'Jeanie' Nichols, and my parents, Adam Michna and Ethel Stevens. It was a very warm day fifty-seven years ago.”

The Martins and the Michnas also shared the same street for their homes. Dinkle and Jeanie lived at 350 McCue Avenue, Adama and Ethel at 364 McCue.

All of the Martin and Michna children attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Monongah under supervision of the Auxiliaries of the Apostolate’s nuns, including two from the Michna family.

Dinkle and Jeanie had three children: David, Michael Ann (Michelle) and Robert "Robbie".

Dinkle died at the age of 53, Jeanie at 57, Adam at 77 and Jeanie at 83.

Henry Michael "Dinke" Martin, Class of 1957, made the PAT kick that won the 1955 state championship for Monongah High, the second of five Lions state titles in football (to go with the 1955 state crown in baseball behind Frank DeMoss’ pitching with Dinkle involved in state title games for MHS in two sports, a rarity).

Dinkle kicked the game-winning point over Wirt, 14-13, after Joe Meffe caught the TD pass that tied the contest. Their teammates included Bob Joy, who passed away in 2013; Danny Manzo, who with wife Brenda Manzo has attended recent Monongah High Alumni reunions; John Koval, who grew up on Jackson Street with his sister, Shirley; Dave Carlot, whose parents Julie and Gene ran Carlot’s Grill for years just across the street from Monongah High School; John Gillespie; Bob Boydoh; Bill Lewis; Vic Durret; and Don Kerns.

Dinkle also was a starter on the Lions’ basketball team and on the golf team for three years, a game he played almost to his dying day, usually with Paul Goush at his side.

I remember Dinkle, during his days at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School with my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, as Monongah’s version of a freckle-faced Huckleberry Finn.

Dave, Robbie and Michael Ann remember Dinkle as their father who was married to Gloria Jean Nichols Martin, Class of 1959, the daughter of former Monongah mayor Bob (whose barber shop for 60 years was near Thoburn School on U.S. 19) and Margaret Blocker Nichols. They remember their childhood on McCue Avenue in Monongah with their parents.

Dave Martin lives in Millwood, West Virginia with wife Mandy Martin. He became president of the Mason Jackson Roane Central Labor Council after his Fairmont State graduation.

Dinkle had a fatal heart attack in 1990 at Consol’s Loveridge Mine in Fairview. Gloria Jean passed away in 1999.

Dinkle and Gloria Jean lie in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Fairmont next to the plots that Paul and Dietta Harden Goush purchased from Sam Lopez. Both couples purchased their plots at the same time.

Dietta says “Paul quit playing golf after he lost his golf buddy.”

Dinkle’s brother, Joe Martin, is married to Chris Martin. Their parents were Henry and Della Martin.

As for the original Adam Michna, wed on the same day as Dinkle, he had another, intriguing same-day tie. His parents, Francis "Frank" Michna (1887 - 1947) and Katrazyna Dering Wegrzyn (1877 -1947), died on the same day in 1947.

Adam the dad’s two daughters became Sisters with Auxiliaries of the Apostolate -- Sister Rose and Sister Dolores of the Sts. Peter and Paul School nuns.

Son Adam Michna II is a Monongah historian. I get a lot of my MHS Alumni blog stories and photos from Adam.

Adam II wrote:

“Sister Joseph taught my father when he attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and she also taught me in 1st grade. As an adult, she gained his respect and undivided attention through the board of education.

"She mellowed after many years, and was my 1st grade teacher. My father was stunned speechless when he picked me up after school one day: found me sitting on her lap and eating chocolate chip cookies. Life was good for me in the 1st grade.

“My father skipped a grade or two at Saints Peter and Paul and graduated from Fairmont’s Saint Peter's High School in 1938.

“He attended Fairmont State Teachers College and was drafted into the Army during the spring semester of 1943. Upon his return from the service he graduated from Fairmont State College in 1948. My mother graduated from Mannington High School in 1948.”

Adam the father was legendary for sloshing through wetlands and woods on field trips as a biology teacher at Fairmont State.

To see the 19-page online album of Henry “Dinkle” Martin, click on https://picasaweb.google.com/115483244393507838338/HenryDinkleMartin#

After reading this article, Richard Weaver, Class f 1957, responded:

“I remember all of these folks. I went to grade and high school with Dinkle, attended church while Father Briggs was pastoring.

“Bob Nichols and his wife were good friends with my parents in their younger years. He was my barber for many years. When he moved to Fairmont he bought a house about a block from where I live in the Watson area. Nice folks. Many good memories.”

Dick is a Fairmont State grad who retired from the United Hospital Center and lives in Fairmont with wife Esther. He lived in Monongah during his MHS days.

He missed the 2017 Monongah High Alumni Reunion because of health issues (“nothing lethal,” he quipped).

Diane Weaver Tennant is his daughter.

Debbie Weaver Hurley, Class of 1979, is his sister and married to 1977 Fairview grad Milton Hurley.

Jim Weaver is Class of 1948.

Armed robbery at Pennsylvania road construction

My God, it’s not even safe to stop for road construction without someone putting a gun to your head?

Bill Davis

Bill Davis, Class of 1958, stopped at construction on U.S. 219 between Myersdale and Somerset in Pennsylvania when two guys came alongside each side of his truck. One pointed a gun to his head. The criminals only took his cash. They didn’t want a check or credit cards, anything that could be traced.

The bad guys were driving a red car. So beware of red cars in that area at the construction stop. Or bring a machine-gun with you if you drive there.

That’s near where U.S. 219 meets I-70/I-76 in case you want to know where to keep an eye out for the red car, assuming it wasn’t stolen.

It happened at the barriers where vehicles then merge onto the road.

Donna, Class of 1961, the Monongah High Alumni Association treasurer who collects the money for annual Reunion dinner-dance reservations, wrote:

“And to think I used to drive back to West Virginia by myself when I lived up in Pennsylvania.”

And, as Nancy Davidson Kantura, Class of 1955, responded: “Things were a little better then. The world is crazy now.”

Amen, Nancy.

Bill and Donna live in Monongah. Bill is on the Alumni Association board of directors.

Nancy is the widow of George Kantura. Their children are Amy Kantura, Chris Kantura, George Kantura IV, Jeff Kantura, Lee Kantura and Nancy Kantura Slater.