1970s online yearbook

1970 YO U N G S TO W N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

1

CONGRATULATIONS

1970 CLASS OF

Being a part of the Half Century Club is truly a

milestone to be celebrated. We hope you’ll enjoy catching up and reconnecting with class members who’ve shared updates and memories here.

Thank you for your continued involvement with Youngstown State University. Best wishes for many more years of good health and happiness!

With Penguin Pride, The YSU Office of Alumni & Events

alumni@ysu.edu

330-941-3497

JIM ANTHONY

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

Email:

Rochester, PA anth4@yahoo.com

Retirement, golf, going to my camp in Cook Forest.

Golf, and The Elks before the Corona hit.

Jackie, Kids: Steven and Lori Grandkids: Mia, Parker, Taylor and Logan.

Not really ... Became a teacher, taught and coached 32 years, retired.

Now I could go on and on about this one, but for now let’s just say I lived Animal House ... Loved every second of it.

Never go to bed at night not speaking to someone.

A united America, and continue to live the happy life.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

1

PATSY (NAPOLITANO) BAKOS What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

2

Email:

Boardman, OH pbakos@zoominternet.net

Traveling, reading, enjoying friends and family.

Going to South Carolina to visit my grandchildren.

My son and his wife, Drs. Jason and Lumi Bakos and my grandchildren; Jade, 8, Justin, 5, and Julian, 17 months.

Every way possible.

I met my husband, Dr. Jack D. Bakos, Jr., who passed away in 2012.

We were married for 42 years.

Have an attitude of gratitude.

My next travel adventure.

LEWIS “LEW” BANDY

“

Email:

Evans, GA lew.bandy@gmail.com

L

ewis “Lew” Bandy, of Berlin Center, Ohio graduated in 1970 from YSU with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

A service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, captured my attention at YSU and I was active for four years, and served a term as President. The fraternity’s principles are leadership, friendship and service. I developed as a person using these characteristics. The fraternity brotherhood has lasted for 50 years as a number of us are still in touch. Alpha Phi Omega did yearly projects including the used book exchange at the beginning of each quarter (books were expensive and many students used this service), the building of the Homecoming Queens Float, the Ugly Man on Campus Contest, collecting for various national fund drives and circulating the JAMBAR. One memory as a fraternity pledge, the brothers painted “The Rock” with its Greek letters.

On a visit forty years later, The Rock was still being painted by the next generation of students.

My service continued while participating as a member of the YSU ROTC program. The ROTC cadets drilled and studied at the Pollock House and its grounds. The Pollock House now serves as the President’s home. The lawns at the rear of the house were used by hundreds of cadets for drill and ceremony.

The ROTC program at YSU was a close knit organization and instilled leadership and camaraderie. I needed that spirit during this time of protests against the war in Vietnam. I received at graduation a certificate and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and went on to serve in Vietnam. I am proud to say I completed 24 years of service to the country.

I am still connected to the ROTC program at YSU as I have attended several reunion weekend events at the university.

Recently, I joined a local YSU Alumni Chapter that serves the Augusta, Georgia and Aiken, South Carolina region. This group meets several times a year for social events including cheering on the YSU football team. We laugh about old times and reminisce of person and places in Youngstown.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

3

DENNIS BLACK What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

4

The Villages (Lady Lake), FL lkblack45@comcast.net

Email:

Doo-Wop music, Pittsburgh pro sports.

Leader of club — Doo-Wop on the Porch.

Lauren Black.

No.

Hanging with friends at the Golden Dawn Restaurant.

Relax.

Seeing grandchildren make a successful life.

DAVID J. BOKESCH What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Email:

Austintown, OH dbokesch@austintownschools.org

Golfing & chairing the Austintown Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame, spending time with my four grandchildren.

Austintown Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame, golfing three or four times a week, attending grandchildren’s sports games and school activities that they are a part of.

Dena, spouse. Daniel, son and his spouse Leandra, and their two children, Rylee and Ruby.

Daughter, Cara and her spouse, Alvin, and their two children, Sawyer, and Juliana.

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

Graduating from YSU opened a lot of professional doors for me. I expected to get a job teaching, but along with teaching middle school science, I certainly felt blessed with coaching at the middle school level for 14 years. I was awarded a Principal job at that same middle school where I stayed for 23 years. Then, I was named Director of Instruction in Austintown Schools, where I spent four years. At this point, I thought I would retire. However, the Mahoning County Educational Service Center asked me to help launch a grant relative to career counseling. I spent two years there. Now I’ m up to 45 years in education. Next, the District asked me to assume the role of Principal at Fitch High School on an interim basis and, of course I accepted. Total time in education: 46 wonderful years. It all pretty much started at YSU, where my interest truly peaked for teaching.

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

Student Teaching experience.....at Fitch High School. Also, the crazy but fun stuff as part of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

Follow your Dreams.....Don’t Stop Believing!

Enjoying retirement.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

5

GERALD BULISCO

“

Email: :

Our Years at YSU - 1966-1970

A

s a boy growing up in Bessemer, PA, just across the state line from New Middletown, OH, I only knew that I wanted a college education and didn’t have much money. But I was being a little side-tracked by a possible boxing career until my father had to straighten my thinking. He said I had no talent as a boxer and he knew that for sure since he was a runner up Golden Gloves state champion and accomplished boxer when in the Army. He was a bricklayer and said “Look at my hands! You’re going to college, so you don’t have calluses like mine when you’re old. And you’re going to that Youngstown University and become an engineer.” As a dutiful son, I limited my search for colleges to YSU, at the time Youngstown University, a private school, and ultimately received a degree in chemistry.

Historical note For my first year, 1966-1967, Youngstown University remained a private school on the semester system. Then, in 1967, it was absorbed into the Ohio university system and became YSU on the quarter system. Converting from semesters hours to quarters hours was a headache for upper classmen but a minor inconvenience for us freshmen and sophomores.

The Commute Living at home, I commuted the approximate 15 miles each day to school. Why is my commute so interesting?

A large part of the trip was along the Mahoning River through Lowellville and Struthers. At that time the communities were dependent on the many steel mills that lined the river. As I passed by in the morning, hundreds of steel mill workers would be heading across the walk bridges, many going to work while the other shift was heading home or to the many bars along the streets of Struthers for an early morning beer.

The sky would often look orange from the mills pollution and orange mist would cover the sidewalks. At one point, there were signs along the rivers warning people that the river itself was a fire hazard! Also, if your car bore a Pennsylvania license plate, watch out for the ridiculous 25 mile per hour speed limit in Struthers. The police would be waiting for us PA drivers who dare exceed the speed limit by two miles per hour.

6

Maple Grove, MN blgseb@comcast.net

First Day of College The freshmen started class one week prior to others with a week-long orientation. So you say, “what’s the big deal, doesn’t that happen everywhere?” But what was unique about this week was that if you attended all the sessions and tours, you received an “A” and one-hour of college credit. Then many of us were able to brag that we had a “4.0” GPA, which in my case, lasted only until the end of the first semester.

Memorable Professors Physical Chemistry Professor Smith: Smoked a cigar in class and made it known to his students that if the Dallas Cowboys lost on Sunday, we will always have quiz on Monday morning. He was also very protective of YSU’s first computer, which filled an entire room. He would take his class there and let us peer at it through a window, as he described the amazing capabilities of this machine. You could look but not touch.

History Professor Dobert: He sat on a high stool in the front of class lecturing with a cigarette, blowing the smoke straight up into the air.

Philosophy Professor Father De Blasio: Wore his dark suit and priest collar and wrote constantly on the chalkboard.

By the end of class, he was covered in chalk dust and all fired up about such things as “treeism.” To this day, I have no idea what that is, but was still able to squeak an “A” out of the course.

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Having wanted to join the Army since I was a youngster, I enrolled in the Army ROTC program which began a wonderful military experience. I got college credit for military sciences courses, won a two-year scholarship that paid for my tuition, books and fees and during my junior and senior year, I was paid $50 a month. I was a Pollock House “rat” spending most of my free time there. As a member of the Scabbard and Blade National Military Fraternity, I obtained the position of Commander, was designated as a Distinguished Military Graduate, and commissioned as a second lieutenant, regular Army upon graduation.

School Spirit Our ROTC class participated in many school events but especially memorable was attending YSU football games.

We fired a canon after each YSU touchdown and provided a color guard and a large cheering section. We often assisted the cheerleaders in taking care of our mascot, Pete the Penguin, who more than once, left a present on the shoe of an unsuspecting cheerleader. Watching Coach Dike Beede and the likes of Ron Jaworski, who later quarterbacked the Philadelphia Eagles and Cliff Stoudt, who became a Steelers quarterback, made for an exciting fall.

Music Music was an integral part of campus life. Many tuned to WHOT to listen to our “bearded buddy,” Boots Bell. Often big named acts such as the Four Seasons, were booked for campus Homecoming or Spring Weekend concerts. Many may remember “Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars” that often stopped at the Stambaugh Auditorium with 6 or 7 big name rock acts. Dancing to many local bands at Mickey’s or the Holiday Bowl was often a weekend treat. Following the Jaggerz to Geneva-on -the Lake or the Human Beingz (“Nobody But Me”) at Idora Park was commonplace.

Bars, Beer and Food For some freshmen, especially those from Pennsylvania who were introduced to the 18-year-old Ohio drinking age, (only 3.2 beer was permissible) attending class was a struggle. There were several bars downtown that were busy day and night serving college students. The one that stands out in my mind and was the demise of several friends, was “the Tomb.” It was in a basement and made to look like the inside of a coffin. But through those four years, social life often included hot spots like Mickey’s Bar on Market Street, the Holiday Bowl, and Angelo’s. Angelo could barely speak English and never mastered the words, “Can I see your ID?” And who could resist a late-night pizza at the The Oven or Mama Demare’s.

The Love of My Life Some asked “What impact did attending YSU have in your life?” My time at YSU opened so many doors and opportunities, but the greatest of all was falling in love with a drop-dead gorgeous, coed who has been my partner ever since. My wife of 50 years next June, Karen (Summers) Bulisco is a YSU alum graduating with honors in 1970 with a degree in Elementary Education. Although we knew each other from childhood, she moved away at a young age and my contact with her was minimal. We rekindled our friendship after she threw a cream pie in my face when I was staffing a booth during a YSU Spring Weekend carnival activity. She has provided the backbone of our family raising three children while moving 12 times in my 22-year Army career. She is now helping to raise yet another 11 grandchildren. Karen is a YSU “super star” grad in my book.

Civil Rights, Peace Protests and Kent State Armored Army vehicles in downtown Youngstown were a bit of surprise to me one day as I drove to school.

Since we didn’t have cell phones or 24-hour news feeds, it often took a while to learn what was going on. Civil rights demonstrations and peace protests were quite regular events then. I still remember attending a lecture on campus

by Julian Bond, director and founder of SNCC, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, talking about civil rights and equal treatment. Peace protests were common and for a period we were not permitted to wear our Army uniforms on campus during drill days as we did in the past. There were threats against servicemembers and some discussions of burning the Pollock House where the ROTC classes were held. What was most sad were the shootings at our neighboring Kent State campus. As a result of that situation and a protestor attempting to burn down the big-top tent, which housed our spring festival, “Spring Weekend 1970” was canceled.

Closing YSU provided me and my family a gateway to a blessed, fulfilling life. During my tenure in the Army, I was able to serve my country in various combat-arms positions, be designated a senior parachutist, Ranger and Army helicopter pilot attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel and completing the Army’s Command and General Staff College as an honor graduate. After attaining a graduate degree from Webster University, St. Louis and upon retirement from the Army, I served for 24 years in the Dean of Students Offices at the University of North Dakota and St. Cloud State University, Minnesota. YSU ignited that fire and love of learning, leadership skills, and a sound education that has been the foundation of a fulfilling life.

I very much appreciate the opportunity to talk a little about my experience at YSU and the impact it has had on my life and those of my family. I was very touched recently to receive a letter from President Tressel congratulating me upon my retirement.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

7

JOHN BURKE What are some of your hobbies?

Pedal biking, St. Thomas Aquinas.

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

Tutoring, Catholic Men’s Ministry.

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

8

Email:

Marcia, my wife.

Yes.

Marcia was a candidate as Queen of the Engineering Ball, 1969.

Ipsam Sequens non Devias.

Receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.

Lyndhurst, OH jjbbikes@aol.com

LES CAMPBELL

Email:

Anderson, SC lescampbell@att.net

“

M

y education at YSU was a great investment, of excellent value. I was a   Vietnam era vet, on GI bill as married with family. Some fellow students resented us returning vets. I was a little older in age, more mature than most students. I took no guff. Tough era then. I worked hard, took my studies seriously, highly motivated to get a BS in Chemistry. I recall just seven of us graduated May 1970 with a BS in Chemistry.

I had an excellent career with one company, retired early financially strong.

I had numerous career promotions. I did well, traveled much in states and overseas. I enjoyed my career. In final, YSU prepared me well.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

9

KAREN CONKLIN

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Youngstown, OH kconklin771@hotmail.com

Golf, pickleball.

Animal Welfare League, The English Center, YSU.

Six kids, six grandchildren, and a COVID dog we adopted to help clear the shelter... pit mix named Luna.

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

Being from West Virginia I never thought I would still be in Ytown 50 years later. My YSU education positioned me for a wonderful career in the non-profit world.

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

Being a YSU cheerleader when the cheerleaders and football team out numbered the fans. So glad things have changed.

Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

10

Email:

Be honest, be fair, be kind.

Travel.

CAROL (MORELLI) CREPS

Email:

Kent, OH ccreps1970@gmail.com

David and Carol Creps

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Spending time golfing, hiking, reading.

Hope Community Church, Bible Studies, walking.

Hubby David Creps Class of 1972.

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

My time on Panhellenic Council, especially serving as President.

Greek Sing was very special.

What are you looking forward to?

Being able to again travel to see my children and grandchildren!

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

11

SANDRA (JONES) DILLON

Email:

Kenneth and Sandra Dillon

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

12

Golf, glass art, quilting.

Neighborhood organizations.

Kenneth Dillon.

Mother of four children, grandmother of ten, teaching career, retirement to Florida.

Zeta Tau Alpha sorority netting’s and parties. Greek Sing, Homecoming activities.

Live life, enjoy family and friends, be content!

More travel to new places, activities with grandchildren.

The Villages, FL sldillon05@aol.com

VINCE FARABAUGH

Email:

Altoona, PA vince620@atlanticbb.net

Paula and Vince Farabaugh

What are some of your hobbies?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

Motto for a Happy Life:

What are you looking forward to?

Pickleball, bowling, grandchildren watching.

Wife Paula, daughters Christie and Kelly, son Scott.

Life has been a rollercoaster of personal achievements, family highlights and lowlights.

Our sport competition at the local Y with other YSU ballers.

Stay active and share in friendship.

At this age...survival.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

13

DAN GROVES

“

Email:

Bethel Park, PA grovesdan13@verizon.net

I

t is with a great deal of pleasure and pride to recount my YSU years.

The friendships, experience, and excellent education are part of my reflection.

I was an accounting major and fortunate to be hired out of school by a prestigious national accounting firm, due in no small part to my education at YSU. I recall Miss Vera Jenkins, my elementary accounting teacher, who provided the key essentials and excellent instruction that served me for my whole career. The accounting department was excellent and clearly contributed to my career success.

We did have fun though! The Cove, Penguin’s Roost were great hangouts for drinking 3-2 beer (yuck). Dom Rosselli’s basketball teams were always great and exciting to watch! At one point, we even had a live penguin on campus in its own enclosure. I think it got lonely and was returned to its home.

There were Vietnam war protests and draft card burnings and I remember the Kent State shootings when National Guard patrolled Youngstown streets. I went to school with some great people: Denny Numer (who was in my wedding), Tom Waiter, Richie Stofick, Joe Tilves, Rege Harkovich, John Schmegel to name a few.

A special time obtaining a great education sharing with some super people. Go Penguins!

14

DICK HELENBERGER

“ I

didn’t really have a “normal” college experience.

I graduated from Niles McKinley in 1959 and entered Case University (before they merged with Western Reserve). It didn’t go well for me that semester.

My dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I returned home to work for US Steel in McDonald, as well as in the construction trades.

In October 1963, I got a letter from Uncle Sam saying “we need you”. I didn’t want to go into the Army, so I took the test for the Air Force and did very well. My Air Force career was the best thing that ever happened to me up until then. My first posting after basic and tech school was as a ground radio operator at Warner/Robbins AF Base in Macon, GA. A year later I was to go to Fountainbleau, France with NATO. I had just gotten engaged and Judy and I were planning our wedding for September 1965.

I was scheduled to be deployed in August. In 1966, Charles de Gualle threw NATO out of France and we moved to The Netherlands where I was relieved of my USAF job to assist with the establishment of an InterAllied Non-Commissioned Officers Club.

While in France with NATO, I attended the University of Maryland Extension Program and enrolled at YSU as a junior. Judy and I were living with her parents. We both attended a few evening classes to spend some time together. I remember a Philosophy class I enrolled in to meet my Arts requirement called Symbolic Logic. It involved puzzles replacing words or groups of words with symbols. I enjoyed that course and was asked to recruit a few math students to meet the requirements for a Philosophy Master’s Program class which I did.

It was my only graduate credit.

After graduation from YSU with a degree in Math and Business Organization, I worked for Ford Credit in Dearborn, MI in Systems, supporting their automotive and tractor dealer inventory loan accounting systems.

Email:

Trophy Club, TX dhelenberger@charter.net

I left Ford in 1985 to work for CITICORP ACCEPTANCE in St. Louis, MO as Vice President of Business System. I ended my career at CITICORP as Chief of Staff of their Auto Segment.

When CITICORP consolidated their automobile retail finance with banking in 1990, I worked as a consultant for a sub-prime auto finance company which was later purchased by General Motors. In 1991, I accepted a position with the sub-prime company that I had been consulting for, URCARCO, as their Manager/Director of Credit Development in Ft. Worth, TX. That led to a Vice President of Vehicle Risk Management position with Associates Financial Services in Irving, TX in 1993.

In 1995, I was hired

by Greenwich Capital Markets in Greenwich, CT as Vice President, Credit/ Asset Backed Securities.

Probably the most interesting and rewarding five years of my career.

I traveled over a million miles visiting clients all over the US. I served as liaison between Wall Street rating agencies, bond insurers and clients.

In 1999, I accepted a position with one of the clients I managed for Greenwich, Systems & Services Technologies, as Vice President/Director of Business Development responsible for generating new client relationships as well as developing the “SST” brand name into the largest third-party automotive servicer in the industry. In 2003, they were acquired

by JPMorgan Chase and I retired.

Judy and I now live in Trophy Club, TX. We have two boys. Derek, who lives in Berkley, MI, has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Missouri. He has a daughter, Annika, a sophomore at U of M and a son, Kavanaugh, a junior at Berkley High. Our other son, Brad has Education degrees from UT Austin and lives in Frisco, TX with his wife, Angie, and four children, Scout, Scarlett, Sutton and Jack, where Brad is an Assistant Principal.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

15

JIM HOCHADEL What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

16

Email:

Gardening/Landscaping; Travel; Photography.

Politics; National Space Society.

“One year from today I’ll look back on this and laugh.”

End of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Orleans, LA jfh1948@yahoo.com

CHUCK JOSEPH

“

Email:

Warren, OH cjoseph@platzrealtygroup.com

YSU’s Impact On My Life

M

y name is Chuck Joseph and yes, I graduated from YSU’s Engineering School (BSME) in 1970.

You have asked what impact YSU has had in my life over the last 50 years. That’s not an easy answer since YSU has been a part of my whole journey since my teen years.

I am originally from Salem, Ohio. I was one of six kids in our family (five boys and one girl). Our father was able to provide by owning and operating a dry-cleaning business. I learned early on that things had a certain way of being done and do it right. That may have been where I learned to pay attention to details. We went to Church every Sunday, went to a parochial grade school and was taught to respect my elders, do my best at what I did and maintain our proud family reputation. Some people might say I am a bit anal, also.

I was fortunate to have earned a football scholarship and a full ride at YSU with room and board while enrolling in the Mechanical Engineering department. I had some great teachers that took interest in me early on. I remember Professor Don Arnett asking me in first semester if I really wanted to play football at Youngstown. I asked why and he replied “because you are flunking this class”. What, I said?

My freshman football season was over and I needed to redo the entire thermodynamics course in a couple of weeks before finals. Believe it or not, I aced his final and also received a 3.2 grade point for my first semester.

My instructor cared enough about my success that he gave me the huge boot in my rear end to wake up and get serious. I had some great teachers that to this day I remember; Dr. Frank D’Isa – Strength of Materials, Hal Erzurum-Statics and Dynamics; Dr. Frank Tarantine-Vibrations and Dr. Pejack-Engineering Analysis.

They took the time to listen and answer questions that encouraged me to continue to be questioning. I won the Ben Sharshu Scholastic Award for an athlete with the highest scholastic average of a 3.2 and was elected as cocaption my senior year.

What I also learned while being in college and playing on the football team was just that - teamwork. The understanding that when a play was called everyone in the huddle was expected to perform their specific duty.

When that was accomplished, we would be victorious.

That little nugget also helped me to be very successful in my professional career.

Engineering for me was mostly define the problem, look for possible solutions and then react. I was able to carry that thought process into my first job with Packard Electric in Warren, Ohio. I prided myself that when a problem was presented, my challenge was to not only to define the problem, but to also gather as much information pertaining to the problem that I could with the help of the engineers and hourly workers that I served. Working with people became a strong suit. I was fortunate to be promoted early in my career to a management position in engineering and then onto the manufacturing floor with supervisors and hourly workers. The challenge was to motivate our workers to perform their jobs willingly while making a quality product for our customers. I learned the importance of being on the floor and listening to what the workers had to say. It was then that I started to combine the concept of teamwork with listening to one’s employees to solve problems and to do your best to make things better. We would have regular communication meetings by taking my employees off the floor into a conference room to talk about our business and what we needed to do to make a better product. This type of activity was unheard of in a union environment but was just what the employees needed to better understand the bigger picture and show a willingness to work with management.

Two major concepts were developed with this type of interaction: I like to say I coined the phrase “to have all the liars in the same room”. The concept was simple, bring the stakeholders together, discuss what is known, make certain those present were providing input and then let the group work together to help solve the issue at hand.

We would take a lot of pride in solving problems as a team, whether that was when I was in manufacturing,

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

17

Chuck Joseph continued engineering, plant layout or maintenance; the approach would always work.

The other concept was “the what and the how”. We knew we could solve problems and it was very irritating when some who did not fully understand the task would try and tell our people how to do their jobs. We prided ourselves in this way and we coined the approach “you tell me what you want and let us figure out the how to get it done”.

I spent 31 years with Packard Electric and retired from there as a Superintendent in 2001 having had experience in engineering, manufacturing, facilities and maintenance.

Again, the interpersonal skills and the confidence I gained in my younger years and at YSU while playing football for the university enabled me to be as successful as I was and spawned my interest in staying connected through the YSU Football Alumni Club.

When I retired in 2001, you might say I reinvented myself by starting a new career in Industrial and Commercial Real Estate. Once again, building on the skills that were previously developed, I have since spent 17 years in this profession. I used to say, when one worked in corporate life, it was like you were in a fish bowl looking out at the world. Once I started in real estate, I realized that there is a whole new world out there that the skills learned in dealing with people were applicable to new relationships. Now one has to learn how to interface with various governmental offices such as mayors, zoning officials, building inspectors, county engineers, county auditors and planning commissions and from an economic development perspective; the regional chamber, city planners, title companies, etc. Our goal in serving the community was to bring jobs to the Mahoning Valley. And in that charge, we felt our real estate company, known as Routh-Hurlbert RE until 2018 and eventually Platz Realty Group, have been carrying the torch successfully. We were recognized by the Warren Area Board of Realtors for our leadership and activity in both Main Street Warren and expansion activities in the Village of Lordstown. I earned my license as a real estate agent in 2003, through continuing education became a member of a prestigious organization in 2006 called CCIM or Certified Commercial

18

Investment Member and then earned my broker’s license in 2012 so I could purchase the Routh-Hurlbert RE company. In 2018, I sold the company to Platz Realty Group for which I am now a Sales Agent and ready to begin the next phase of my life – Retirement.

My wife has been providing for special needs kids and some handicapped adults a program referred to as Hippotherapy – a form of physical and occupational therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input for clients.

Often, the young children and / or adults can be a challenge for the therapists due to their size. There is the need to place a client on a horse safely and then also to create a human cage around them while they are actually riding the horse in a ring, so they don’t fall off and get hurt. That all being said, my wife needed strong volunteers to assist. We were able to connect with YSU’s football team to get volunteers to help with the lifting and walking with these kids. That relationship has spanned the likes of Coach Wolford, Coach Bo Pelini and now even Coach Doug Phillips.

For the past decade, players from YSU’s football team have volunteered their time to help my wife with this effort. As a result, we have continued our connection with the YSU football team players and recently we have created the Chuck Joseph Football Scholarship through YSU’s Foundation. A football player taking an engineering major can qualify for this scholarship.

So, you ask how my experience at YSU has impacted my life – in every way you can imagine. I met the mother of my three kids at YSU and we have been blessed. I thank my instructors and my coaches for giving me the opportunity to earn a degree, play a sport that I loved and be a successful contributor to society today. Thank you, YSU!

ROBERT (BOB) KENNEDY What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Email:

Austin, TX bkenn888@hotmail.com

Wines, Travel.

Church, working around home.

Leslie (Spouse).

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

Incredibly! I credit the quality and depth of a YSU education for having the capability and motivation to achieve.

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

Participating in campus activities, meeting some extraordinary people.

Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

Don’t stop learning or experiencing.

More travel, more wine and more new experiences in retirement.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

19

JOHN LINDNER

“

I

Email:

entered YSU in the fall of 1966 as a music major, but quickly was awakened to racial tensions in Youngstown and became involved in activism on campus. The protestant chaplain, Burt Cantrell, was important to my exposure including through many programs at the Gates of Eden coffeehouse.

I was involved in a fairly broad spectrum of campus activities but the one I may be best remembered for was as the student coordinator for the Vietnam Moratorium in the fall of 1969. I am attaching several news clippings from the Jambar and the Vindicator that may bring back memories for a number of folks in our class.

New Haven, CT lindnerjb@gmail.com

I could go on with many reflections about the context of our years, 66-70 in Youngstown with labor and racial tensions including curfews for parts of Youngstown for fear of riots. I was hired for a couple of years by a consortium of 12 downtown churches to be the student co-director of “The downtown cooperative ministry for youth”, an interracial program for high school students.

There were so many challenges for Youngstown in those years. One national story was the school board budget failed to be approved and the public schools were threatened with shut down. Those days were some of the final years of the steel mills and the environmental challenges in Youngstown were significant with black soot in the air many days of the year. Coming from a small, all white town in upstate New York, Youngstown was an education for me in so many ways. It made me aware of the spectrum of racial, economic, and environmental justice issues that I had not known in my childhood. It led me to want to spend my life working in ways that make for justice and peace.

In retirement I have been traveling each year to Bethlehem, Palestine, where I have been volunteering with Dar al Kalima University for Arts and Culture. I lead an annual advanced seminar for Americans eager to learn more about contemporary Palestine. One of the people I have the seminar meet with each year is a Palestinian-American alum of YSU that lives in Ramallah, Palestine. His name is Sam Bahour. We have gotten together on several occasions and have commented that it may be the only YSU alumni gathering in Ramallah!

(Photo of the 2 of us from 2017 is to the right.)

John Lindner, left, with Sam Bahour ’87, ’89 in Ramallah, Palestine

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

20

Gardening; International Travel; Reading; Art.

Democratic Party; Gardening; Bright Stars of Bethlehem (the US support organization for Dar al Kalima University for Arts & Culture in Bethlehem Palestine; co-lead an annual Leadership Seminar to Palestine (West Bank and East Jerusalem).

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

Two sons: Andrew & Peter; two grandkids ages 4 and 8.

After grad school, I ended up doing international work mostly based out of NYC including with the World Council of Churches. In 2002, I was recruited by Yale where I spent my last dozen work years before retirement in 2014.

My YSU years exposed me to a larger world and to issues of civil rights and international justice. I was invovled ia spectrum of activist programs in the city and on campus including being the student coordinator for the 1969 Vietnam Moratorium.

I most fondly remember times with friends and several faculty such ast Burt Cantrell; Alice Budge and Ron Daniels. Many, many fond memories!

Be welcoming of others; be eager to keep learning & growing!

Post pandemic to travel and be with friends again!

John Lindner was a campus activist who coordinated the Vietnam Moratorium in 1969.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

21

LESLIE ANN (KNOLL) O’DONNELL

Email:

Marietta, GA jrlakrao@aol.com

Bob and Leslie O’Donnell

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

22

Bible Study, Volunteering at Pregnacy Center.

Teaching Bible Study at a Nursing Home, Dog Walking.

Two children: Katie, Robbie Three grandchildren: Hadley, Norah, Bobby.

Taught school 35 years, adopted 2 children, did foster care for 5 years.

Met my husband Bob (also a Class of 1970 graduate), made some great lifetime friends.

Trusting God. Enjoying being a grandparent.

PAUL J. POLASKY

“

Email:

Houston, PA artfuldodger60@hotmail.com

I

started at Youngstown University the Fall of 1966. At that time the cost was $225 a semester. By the time I graduated in March 1970 they had switched to quarters and it had become Youngstown State University. I received a BS in Education and taught in Pennsylvania for 37 years before retiring in 2009.

Registration for classes in 1966 consisted of making sure that you got there early and stood in long lines hoping that when it got to be your turn the class was not filled.

The mascot for YSU was a penguin named Pete who had a refrigerated home kept in front of the old library.

There was only one dorm on campus. Most of the students were local and went home at the end of the day. Students who were unable to go home lived off campus.

For the first two weeks of college I lived at a hotel in downtown Youngstown until I found housing at 656 Elm St. The tennis courts have since replaced the housing on Elm Street.

Sports such as basketball and football that were affiliated with YSU were played at local high school facilities. There were no gyms or stadiums on campus.

Paul and Mary Lou Polasky

April 1968 after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Youngstown became a war zone with riots and looting resulting in Martial Law being enforced.

Everything was locked down at 5:00 and the National Guard patrolled the streets.

February 1,1969 I met my future wife on a blind date set up by my roommate’s girlfriend at the time. We have since celebrated 49 years of marriage, two sons and four grandchildren.

One of the special events at YSU that my wife and I remembered attending was “Carnival ’69” the weekend of May 16, 17, and 18th. Entertainment was by The Happenings, The Mirifies, Jack Yarnell and Orchestra and The Harold Danko Jazz Combo. There was a formal dance at the Kilcawley Student Center on Friday, a Carnival and dance on Saturday, Idora Park on Sunday and a concert Sunday evening at Struthers Fieldhouse with The Association and Flip Wilson.

A few years ago, my wife and I went back to visit YSU in the Fall. Few things have remained the same, which is as it should be after 50 years. The campus was preparing for a football game and there was the usual excitement and anticipation of a possible win. We visited the bookstore and came home with bright red windbreakers sporting the YSU name that we wear every morning on our walks.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

23

PENNY (LAAKSO) PAVELKO

“

C

an it really be 50 years since we graduated?

I easily recall my years on campus and they seem not long ago.

The Class of 1970 was the last class to begin our freshman year at a private university in 1966. Many of us were the first from our family to attend college and we were proud to attend Youngstown University. There was a freshmen women’s tea in August and we were asked to wear white gloves!

City streets passed through campus and few buildings existed.

We had classes in churches, both the YMCA & YWCA, Lincoln Hotel (in the basement), Clingan-Wadell (later Penguin Place), Elm Street School, Pollock House (now the President’s residence) and other places. One of the strangest locations was an enclosed porch on East Hall ... actually an old house on the current location of Maag Library.

We waited in line for hours to register as freshmen, only to find the closed class postings on a chalk board.

Most of us parked on city streets, walking several blocks to campus. Amazingly we didn’t mind our unconventional campus.

We became Youngstown State University in fall 1967, changing to a quarter system from our existing semester program. Good things happened. Our tuition dropped dramatically. The numbers I recall are $450 per semester ($900/year) at YU and $150 per quarter ($450/ year) at YSU. There were possibly fees on top of that.

Buildings appeared as if by magic with state funding. The Engineering Building, Cushwa Hall and an addition to Kilcawley happened during our tlme.

24

Email:

Leetonia, OH pennypav@att.net

There were few activities on campus, so joining an organization was the way to become involved. My fondest memories are my 3 years in Student Government with Mrs. Dykema and Dr. Coffelt serving as challenging advisors. We met with President Pugsley, city officials and Governor Rhodes. The latter was in Columbus, after the Kent State shootings. We developed the Faculty Evaluation and proposed having a student serve on the Board of Trustees.

The Viet Nam war and Kent State remain as major shadows of our era. We held outdoor meetings/sit-ins after Kent State on the yard of the “President’s house” (an old house near Maag Library that was the President’s office.)

Looking forward to volunteering again with Pete’s Pride. Go Penguins!

Penny Laakso Pavelko Mathematics 1970, YSU Pin

Penny Laakso Pavelko is pictured in this March, 1969 Jambar article with Pete Isgro. Pete and Penny served as President and Vice President of Student Government during their senior year, 1969-1970.

JOHN PAWCIO

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life: What are you looking forward to?

Email:

St. Petersburg, FL johnapawcio@gmail.com

Bicycle riding, sailing, walking.

H&R Block during tax season and the YMCA year around.

My wife, Sandy.

Lived in several cities and worked for a number of different manufacturing companies. Never really planned to move out of the Youngstown-Warren area nor did I expect to ever leave Republic Steel.

Friendships with other accounting majors. Doing our accounting homework and smoking up a storm in the Purnell room on the top floor of the library.

Live in the present moment.

Today!

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

25

RICHARD ROCOCI

“

Email:

Youngstown, OH judy@rococi.com

M

y fondest memory of YSU happened when I was just getting out of German class ... second floor of Jones Hall. I was eating a Snickers Bar, and heading to the water cooler. There stood this beautiful girl.

Since my Mom always taught me to share, I asked her if she wanted a bite.

We have been married 51 years and have two children. My wife, Judith Goldich Rococi graduated in 1969, BS/ ED; and son Richard Ralph Rococi a 1998 Bio/Chem YSU graduate.

I furthered my education by attending Ohio Northern University and earned a BS/ Pharmacy degree.

I worked for 40 years as a registered pharmacist in Ohio. I credit my success, with the great education I received at Youngstown State.

Judith and Richard Rococi

Professors that made a big impact on me were Dr. Frank Smith, Chemistry and Dr. Warren Young, Astronomy.

They were the greatest!

26

CAROL (NUDEL) SHERMAN AND BRUCE SHERMAN

Naples, FL (winter), Canfield, OH (summer) Email: shermancarol2a@gmail.com shermanbruce2a@gmail.com

Carol and Bruce Sherman

What are some of your hobbies?

Carol’s responses:

Bruce’s responses:

Water aerobics, walking, reading, canasta.

Pickleball.

Board member of OH WOW! Children’s Museum, PBS Western Reserve Public TV, NEOMED Foundation.

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Two grown daughters, one sonin-law, and four grandchildren.

Carol Sherman (wife).

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

Presentation of the 2006-2007 Dean’s Appreciation Award by Dean Phillip Ginnetti.

Getting to know my professors on a personal level and maintaining those friendships over the years.

Motto for a Happy Life:

Stay healthy, be patient enjoy every moment.

Live every day to the fullest.

What are you looking forward to?

Many years of retirement.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

27

NANCY (CAIRNS) SMITH

”

Email:

Myrtle Beach, SC nschuste@kent.edu

M

y time at YSU was great in so many ways. I may only have earned an Associate’s degree, but it helped me in many ways. While at YSU, I worked for Dr. Howard Jones, President Emeritus, and Dr. Smith at the Youngstown Education Foundation. I was a member of a local sorority and a little sister to a fraternity.

I obtained a fulltime position at Kent State University, where I worked for 23 years.

My degree gave me more than an education. It opened doors and opportunities and helped with my self-esteem.

I haven’t been back, but if in the area, would treasure a walk down memory lane.

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU:

Motto for a Happy Life:

What are you looking forward to?

28

Knitting, Crocheting, Machine Embroidery and Reading.

Chair the Low Country Food Bank Craft Fair, Member of Surfside Knitting and Crocheting Club, Member of a Book Club and Board Member for my neighborhood pool and amenity center.

Alex Smith (husband) 3 biological and 2 step children (Amy, Kristy, Scott, Vicki and Matt) and 8 grandchildren (Tom, Lylag, Brynleigh, Christopher, Kamron, Kayleigh, Etta and Macy) and have 2 inside cats (Mittzi and Murphy).

I feel that my degree helped opened doors ... ended up with a great job at Kent State University meeting remarkable people.

I was working in the ROTC building for The Youngstown Educational Foundation when the 3 of us were put in a limo and rushed off campus... it was May 4th...And Kent State had just had 4 students shot...it was scary...then I ended up at KSU working for 23 years.

My parents taught us the GOLDEN RULE and if we didnt have anything nice to say..say nothing!!

Getting thru 2020...then back to enjoying retirement.

CHERYL ANN (CARROLL) SNYDER

“ I

Email:

Columbiana, OH sako1946@yahoo.com

was a 1966 graduate of Columbiana High School in Columbiana, Ohio.

I began YSU as a commuter in the fall of 1966 and remained a commuter. At that time there were no parking decks and most of the lots were dirt covered areas where homes had been demolished.

I completed my BS in Education degree in 4 years, only taking one class during one summer. I graduated Magna Cum Laude and married that summer to my high school sweet heart Lowell Snyder, a 1969 graduate of YSU. My first teaching job was at Fairfax Elementary School in Mentor, Ohio. With Lowell and I both being farm/small town kids we returned to Columbiana in the summer of 1971.

I was hired as a fourth grade teacher in the Boardman Local School District, teaching at the Market Street Elementary School (now closed) for 40 years, all those years in the same room and all grade 4 except one year teaching in grade 3.

I received the Martha Jennings Holden Foundation Scholar Award in 1994.

One of my fondest memories was swimming at the YWCA where I earned a life guard and instructor certification as an activity course. I had to walk from the Y to the old Elm Street School for my next class in 10 minutes. I had to hustle, and in the winter, I would arrive at Elm Street with frozen hair. At the Elm Street School another activity course I took was tap dancing. I remember dancing stiff “like a penguin”.

I still reside in Columbiana on an 82-acre farm. I retired from teaching after 41 years and just this summer Lowell and I celebrated our golden wedding anniversary. We raised two children, Ellery James Snyder who passed away in 2019 at the age of 35 and Andrea Jill Snyder, a YSU graduate of 2002 and a Fordham University graduate of 2006. Andrea and her husband Thomas Wakefield, chairman of the math department at YSU, have triplet daughters age 9. They keep Lowell and me very busy.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

29

DAVID S. SNYDER

What are some of your hobbies?

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

List members of your family (pets too!)

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

One Highlight from Your Time at YSU: Motto for a Happy Life:

What are you looking forward to?

30

Email:

Toney, Alabama dsnyder@pga.com

Golf, politics.

PGA of America.

Susann, David C, Phillip, Jeffrey, Rasputin (chihuahua) and Bettina (chiweenie).

Yes!

I remember watching us play the Pensacola Goshawks at Stambaugh Stadium. Our QB was Ron Jaworski and theirs was Roger Staubach. It was a fabulous game!

I have two: the first is never stop seeking the truth, and the second is that Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Playing golf with my grandchildren on earth, and with my father in heaven.

DONNA (FRY) FABER WARREN

“

Phone:

330-689-0769

M

y YSU journey began in the fall of 1966. I planned to become a   Health and Physical Education teacher. During the next two years, I learned to play and teach nearly every sport known to mankind! I also took health related courses like anatomy and physiology for two semesters, microbiology and psychology as part of my curriculum.

Little did I know at the time, these courses would lead me to a 35 year career as a surgical nurse!

After taking a summer school course on the human body in health and disease, I decided to apply to the School of Nursing and get my Associate in Applied Science degree. I was in the second graduating class.

This transition changed the course of my life. My parents were thrilled about my wanting to become a nurse. I got some hands-on experience working with my father, Dr. Gene D. Fry, M.D., in his family practice office in Girard.

While at YSU, I became very active as the vice president of the Student Nurses Association. We did community service projects, as well as fundraisers, like the on-campus W.C. Fields film festival. We also had an intramural basketball team on which I played.

I passed my State of Ohio Nursing Board exams right after graduation and married in October, 1970. I began my first official job in the operating room at Northside Hospital 17 days later. I worked in the O.R. at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Ft. Wayne, IN beginning in 1973.

In 1979, I got a job at Akron City Hospital, now part of Summa Health System, where I worked until my disability retirement in 2005.

I had a fantastic career and learned something new every day on the job. I was a member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses for 25+ years and very active in my local tri-county chapter. I sat on the Board of Directors for many years and wrote and published the chapter newsletter for more than a decade.

I also attended numerous national conventions as an elected delegate from my Ohio region.

In summary, I had a great liberal arts education, as well as a terrific nursing education at YSU. I would love to know what all of my nursing classmates have done throughout their careers and where they are now.

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

31

GAYLE (KOPPS) WILLIAMS What are some of your hobbies?

Reading, golf, sewing masks lately.

What activities or organizations keep you busy?

Daily fitness center, grandchildren.

Has your life changed in any unexpected ways since you graduated?

32

No.

Hubbard, OH

CLASS QUOTES “We are both proud to be members of the YSU Class of 1970! Married a year later on August 28, 1971.”

Cynthia (Kryzan) Roberts, CPA and Ted Roberts, Esq.

“In the 60’s most of us at YSU were working in the steel mills and attending class at night: Fridays 7 to 10 and Saturday mornings. Very few of us graduated in four years. You just finished when you were able to meet the requirements for your program. That is the way it was. Thanks to YSU, most of us got through, eventually.”

John Popio

“Our Circle K chapter was quite active on YSU campus, both service-wise and socially. We worked enough service hours to be chosen as the #1 Circle K Service Club in the Nation by Kiwanis International, for two years running. Our members accumulated thousands of hours during the year working with the Blind Association kids, providing meals to the homeless and needy, working YSU class registrations, ushering and setting up major events, as well as tending to Pete, the live YSU penguin. My Circle K days were the best. We had a lot of fun and many great experiences that shaped my life and taught me values and the importance of giving back and working for humanitarian causes, without expecting rewards or recognition. The reward is the feeling you get inside when you know you have done something truly worthwhile.”

John Long Email: jraylong@verizon.net

“I’m Ron DeSantis, Class of 1970, Theta Xi Fraternity. My only claim to fame is my son is the Governor of Florida. Pictured above, left to right: Me, wife Karen, Governor DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis.”

Ron DeSantis Dunedin, FL Email: desantis@tampabay.rr.com

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

33

1970 NEON STAFF Submitted by

ED DOBRY

Pottstown, PA Email: edobry47@hotmail.com

The Neon staff in 1970 consisted of: • David Costello, Editor (retired) • David Moritz, Assistant Editor (deceased) • Ed Dobry, Assistant Editor (I am still teaching high school in Reading, PA.)

34

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

35

MEMORIES Red Barn and Isaly’s Shoppe were popular places to grab a bite to eat.

36

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

37

MEMORIES

38

MEMORIES

H A L F C E N T U RY C LU B M E M O R I E S & REFLEC TIONS

39

MEMORIES

40

Keep up with YSU alumni news and activities!

Follow @ysualumni

YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF ALUMNI & EVENTS

4

11.2020