The Woodward Alumni Hall of Fame Association

From NPR.org - June 13, 2022
  Philip Baker Hall, the prolific character actor of film and theater who starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's first movies and who memorably hunted down a long-overdue library book in Seinfeld, has died. He was 90.
  Holly Wolfle Hall, the actor's wife of nearly 40 years, on Monday said Hall died Sunday surrounded by loved ones in Glendale, Calif. She said Hall had been well until a few weeks earlier, and spent his final days in warm spirits, reflecting on his life.
  "His voice at the end was still just as powerful," said Wolfle Hall. Her husband, she added, never retired from acting.
  In a career spanning half a century, Hall was a ubiquitous hangdog face whose doleful, weary appearance could shroud a booming intensity and humble sensitivity. His range was wide, but Hall, who had a natural gravitas, often played men in suits, trench coats and lab coats.
  "Men who are highly stressed, older men, who are at the limit of their tolerance for suffering and stress and pain," Hall told The Washington Post in 2017. "I had an affinity for playing those roles."
  Born in Toledo, Ohio, Hall initially devoted himself more to theater in Los Angeles, after moving out in 1975, than TV and movies. While shooting bit parts in Hollywood (an episode of Good Times was one of his first gigs), Hall worked with the L.A. Actor Theatre. There he played Richard Nixon in the one-act play Secret Honor, a role he reprised in Robert Altman's 1984 film adaptation. Critic Pauline Kael wrote that Hall "draws on his lack of a star presence and on an actor's fears of his own mediocrity in a way that seems to parallel Nixon's feelings."
Hall often worked with Paul Thomas Anderson
  Hall made an impression in the smallest of roles in other films, like 1988's Midnight Run. But outside of theater, Hall was mostly doing guest roles in television. That changed when he was shooting a PBS program in 1992. Hall then encountered a production assistant in his early 20s named Paul Thomas Anderson. The two would hang out, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee between scenes. Anderson, believing Hall hadn't gotten his due in film, asked him to look at a script he had written for a 20-minute short film titled Cigarettes & Coffee.
  "I'm reading this script, and I truly had trouble believing that that kid wrote this script," Hall told the AV Club in 2012. "I mean, it was just so brilliant, resonating with nuance all over the place, like a playwright. Certainly, as a film, I'd never really seen anything like it. It was staggering."
  After the $20,000 short made it into the Sundance Film Festival, Anderson expanded it into his feature debut, 1997's Hard Eight, which catapulted Hall's career. In it, Hall played a wise and courteous itinerate gambler named Sydney who schools a young drifter (John C. Reilly) on the craft. In one indelible scene, Philip Seymour Hoffman's first with Anderson, a hot-shot gambler chides Hall as "old-timer."
  Anderson would cast Hall again as adult film theater magnate Floyd Gondolli who warns Burt Reynolds' pornography producer about the industry's future in Boogie Nights. In Anderson's Magnolia, Hall played Jimmy Gator, the host of a kids game show.
  "I have a particular fascination with character actors, with wanting to turn them into lead actors," Anderson told the Los Angeles Times in 1998. "I see Philip Baker Hall, he's just ... an actor that I love. There's no one else with a face like that, or a voice like that."
  To many, Hall was instantly recognizable for one of the most powerfully funny guest appearances on Seinfeld. In the 22nd episode of the sitcom in 1991, Hall played Lt. Joe Bookman, the library investigator who comes after Seinfeld for a years-overdue copy of Tropic of Cancer. Hall played him like a hardboiled noir detective, telling Seinfeld: "Well, I got a flash for ya, Joy-boy: Party time is over."
  Hall was brought back for the Seinfeld finale and by Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm. David once said no other actor ever made him laugh more than Hall.
  Among Hall's many other credits were Michael Mann's The Insider, as 60 Minutes producer Don Hewitt, and Lars von Trier's Dogville. Hall appeared in Say Anything, The Truman Show, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Zodiac, Argo and Rush Hour. Hall played the neighbor Walt Kleezak on Modern Family. His last performance was in the 2020 series Messiah.
  Hall, who was married to Dianne Lewis for three years in the early 1970s, is survived by his wife, four daughters, four grandchildren and his brother.

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   Ewing, Marilyn Ruth 7/22/1925 - 11/6/2021 Ann Arbor Marilyn Ruth Hainbuch Ewing, born July 22, 1925, in Toledo, Ohio to Clara Epiphany Henes and Henry John Hainbuch, died peacefully in her sleep in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Nov. 6, 2021.
  Marilyn grew up with her twin sister, Carolyn (Edmunds, deceased), and pursued many musical and social activities throughout her life. She was in the Woodward High School marching band and was inducted into the Woodward Alumni Hall of Fame in 2015. She graduated from the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing in 1945.
  In 1942 Marilyn met Clark Ewing at YMCA Camp Storer. They married in 1946 and lived in Toledo or Sylvania until some time after Clark became the full-time Director of Storer when they moved to camp. Marilyn served as the nurse and dietician for many years. She was inducted into the YMCA Storer Camps Hall of Fame in 1987. Her caring nature led her to become a surrogate mother to countless staff, campers, and visitors to Storer.
  When Clark retired, they moved to Ann Arbor, where many of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren now live. They had been married for 73 years when Clark died in 2019. Marilyn was a constant, loving presence for her 5 children: Marcia Lane, Linda Forster (Peter), Nancy, John (Jill), and Rob (Heidi). She and Clark were very involved with their 11 grandchildren: Jenni Lane (Bill Harrison), Liam Ayers (Christine), Robin Eilers (Mike), Megan Ewing (Tyler Whitney), Suzanne Ewing (Greg Sawyer), Jeremy Wood, Sean Ewing (Carissa Orizondo), Stephen Ewing (Kate), Sarah Wood, Claire Forster, and Zach Wood (deceased), as well as their 14 great-grandchildren: Jade (Brandon Decker), Celia, Wilson, Bennett, Quinn, Julia, Katie, Alex, Noah, Rosalie, Elka, Theo, Rei, and Max: they lived to meet the first of their two great-great-grandchildren, Braxton and Briella.
  We miss our Mom/Grandma/Aunt/Friend. Her suffering from progressive dementia over the past several years prolonged our grief, but will not diminish our loss and the memories of her sweetness, generosity, goodness, and love for all. A celebration of Marilyn's life will be held in the spring of 2022. Tributes to her legacy can be made to YMCA Storer Camps, The Ewing Scholarship Fund, 6941 N. Stony Lake Rd., Jackson, MI 49201. Nie Funeral Home

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   Frederick Christopher (“Mr. C.”) Cieslewski, age 83, of Toledo, passed away Sunday, September 26, 2021 at St. Charles Hospital. He was born June 21, 1938 in Toledo, OH to Marion and Helen (Piskur) Cieslewski. Frederick was a graduate of Woodward High School and the University of Toledo where he completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. He was employed as a math teacher and coach at Woodward High School from 1964-1991. After his retirement, he stayed busy as a driver for HOT Printing.

    “Coach C” was a very popular and successful coach at Woodward, as well as a scout for the Kansas City Royals. He was proud to have three players go Pro – Bill Laskey, Stan Clark, and Tom Marsh. He also coached the Ohio All Star Game in Columbus, OH and was an inductee in the City of Toledo Hall of Fame. A skilled athlete throughout his life, he enjoyed bowling and once bowled a 300 game. He was a longtime parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Fred was a devoted husband, father, and friend to many. A passionate teacher, coach, and mentor to countless students over the years, he was recognized as “Mr. C.” or “Coach C.” wherever he went.

   Fred is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, JoAnn (Wieczorek) Cieslewski (married May 19, 1962); sons, Christopher (Jody Gruesbeck) and Kevin (Heather) Cieslewski; aunts, Evelyn Shordt and Wanda Niemiec; and special friends, Dale Gray, Dennis Pawlecki, Bob Pawlak, Al Misko, Harry Heart, and Jim Bieniek. Also surviving are dear family friends Jim Gates who was their “right hand man” for many years, and Joe and Debbie Correa who graciously provided care and support during Fred’s illness.

 

   On September 23, 2021, Justice Andrew "Andy" Douglas passed away peacefully at his home in Dublin, Ohio with his beloved and devoted wife, Sue, at his side. The cause of death was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Andy was born on July 5, 1932 in Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from Woodward High School in 1950 and from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1960. While in college, he was involved in student government activities and was an active member of the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army with the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the 1st Infantry Division – The "Big Red One" and the Army Signal Corps. He began his law career in Toledo in the Law Office of Eugene Winchester and soon became a partner. In 1961, while handling a busy law practice, he was elected to the Toledo City Council becoming the youngest person to ever be elected. He was elected 10 consecutive times, served for 19 years and became known as the "Dean" of Toledo City Council. In 1980, he was elected to the Sixth District of Appeals (comprised of 8 counties in Northwestern Ohio). He served there until his election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1984. He was reelected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1990 and 1996. After serving for 18 years, he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 and retired from his service to the State of Ohio. Andy resumed his law career and actively practiced until the time of his death. While sitting on the bench, Andy was an Adjunct Professor for the University of Toledo Community & Technical College and the Ohio Dominican College. He often served as a guest lecturer for undergraduate and law school classes and was a featured presenter at numerous seminars and conventions. Andy was a member of many boards and commissions and received many awards and commendations. He remained a member of the Columbus, Toledo and Ohio State Bar Associations. Andy had few hobbies but he enjoyed all things sports. For 15 years, he pitched for the Ohio Supreme Court softball team and always looked forward to the Thursday night games. On the field, he was just another player. He didn't hang up his glove until he was 70. He religiously followed and supported the Ohio State Buckeyes, the University of Toledo Rockets and the Cincinnati Reds. For years, he attended home games and also enjoyed traveling to away games. On game days, it was common for him to have two televisions going and be watching multiple games. Some days, he even turned on a radio! Andy found his true calling in the law. He never tired of discussing it. He spent a great deal of time in the past few years, responding to calls from judges and lawyers seeking guidance about a particular issue, case or rule. His memory for cases, statutes and rules and their applications was encyclopedic. He always told others that being on the Ohio Supreme Court was an intellectual feast every single day. He also said: "If you serve long enough, you will make everyone angry." One of his greatest joys and delights was engaging with and debating other lawyers, judges, staff attorneys and interns. There are countless amusing stories about Andy and his red pen. He is survived by his devoted wife, Sue. Also surviving are four children, Cynthia Reeves, Robert (Janet) Douglas, Andrew "Chip" Douglas and David (Nora) Douglas; 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and his sister-in-law, Emmie Douglas. Andy was preceded in death by his parents Andrew Douglas and Elizabeth Wilson Mair Douglas, his wife Joan, his three sisters Jean, Sadie and Elizabeth, and his brother Bill. At his request, there will be no visitation, funeral or memorial service. Remember him as he lived. Andy lived his life by being able to say each night when he put his head on the pillow that "Today, I helped someone." If you want to honor him in some way, do so by helping someone today, tomorrow and the day after. Each day of his life, he strived to earn the words found in Matthew 25, Verse 21 – "Well done, good and faithful servant."

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   Harry J. "Bud" Kerwin, Jr., 86, Indianapolis, died on September 1, 2021. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, to the late Harry, Sr., and Myrtle on December 17, 1934. Bud graduated from Woodward High School in Toledo in 1954 and was inducted into the school's Alumni Hall of Fame in 1998. As a freshman, Bud recalled, with amusement, that his first theatrical performance as a high school freshman was with senior Jameel Farah (Jamie Farr). Following high school, Bud received his education at the school of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the International School in New York. He returned to Toledo and collaborated with Sam Szor at Woodward High School. There, Bud conducted classes in ballet, unheard of at the time in any public school. Students received dance training and performed with Sam's orchestras. This experience had a profound effect on Bud as a teacher and a lifelong friendship with Toledo's 'Mister Music'. Bud spent fifteen years directing his own school of dance and company in Toledo-The Kerwin Ballet Theater. In 1967, he became the artistic director of the Columbus (Ohio) ballet, a position which he held for six years.
  Bud joined the faculty at Butler University in 1971 and was regarded as a prolific choreographer and a celebrated teacher for Butler Ballet and the University. He taught jazz as well as ballet. He had a friendly air about him, and his students loved learning from him. He lived by a motto he wore on his shirt, "To live is to dance and to dance is to live". Bud was often invited as a guest to teach and choreograph across the country and internationally. His love of travel grew in 1980 when his work at Butler provided him summer sabbatical experiences studying in Paris and teaching daily jazz classes at the International Center for Dance. During the summer of 1984, he was invited to teach and stage a ballet in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Bud spent the fall semester of 1990 observing classes of major dance companies throughout Europe. Amsterdam became his second home. For nearly 20 years, Bud performed the role of Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker at Butler. He was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash upon his retirement in 1997, as associate professor of dance, for his contributions to the community for The Nutcracker.
  Bud encouraged his students to be the best creative versions of themselves, and "go for it" in a very challenging career. To honor his legacy, the Bud Kerwin Jordan College of Arts Dance Scholarship was created to immortalize all he gave to his students and the dance community.
Bud is survived by dear friends and hundreds of former students and accomplished dancers.

 

  Thomas Papps passed away on January 23, 2021, after a productive and interesting life. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Christos and Maria Pappastamos in 1931, attended Woodward High School, received his bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and his Law Degree from Ohio State. He practiced law until his retirement in 1998.
  He enjoyed being a rebel in his practice and to follow his own rules. He quit the Toledo Bar Association two years after he joined as they permitted attorneys to contribute to the campaign of Judges. He refused to charge any client any amount that would make the client uncomfortable based on his interpretation of ancient Greek law and its demands for honor; reducing his income dramatically so that he estimated that 60% of his practice was at no cost to his clients. If he needed money, he tried a small or large injury case against an insurance company and made his living.
  He was a legal scholar and was the first attorney in the United States to file and win a suit in Pennsylvania on the theory of malpractice due to a failure to obtain informed consent, which is now the law in all the nation. In a criminal defense of an army court martial the defense he used to win caused the army to change its rules to ban such a defense. In Michigan, his one case was reported and then used by several major universities to teach the law of search and seizure. Another of his cases in the Supreme Court of Ohio established the law of deliberate tort in order to by-pass the laws of workman's compensation. In the Supreme Court of the United States against Thurgood Marshall, when he was solicitor general, he obtained a reduction of criminal sentence; after the case with different lawyers had certiorari denied.
  During and after his retirement he authored several books, one of which was recently published, "Eight Reasons for Divorce", "God Wore Glasses" and several others on the topics of ancient history and law are in the works to be published. He also authored several magazine articles on ancient history that were published in national journals; and he wrote much poetry, one of which won a national contest.
  He is survived by his wife, Wladyslawa Papps; step-daughter, Dr. Joanne Wojcieszek of Indianapolis; sister, Elizabeth Papps; daughter, Maria Papps (from whom he had been alienated); grand-daughters, Shoshana Lowinsky; grand-son, Ariel Lowinsky; Pietrzak Family: John, Irene, Paula; friends: Hela Zuzia, Greg Tarkowski, Grazyna and Anna Ramotowska, Heath and Regina Lein, Becky and John Skiadas, Arthur Henry and Mohammed Joseph.
  He passed in the presence of his wife, Lottie. He was a great husband, step-father and friend. We will hold his sweet memories in our hearts forever.

 

    Joseph William Dempsey, age 76, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Joseph was born October 21, 1943 in OH to Nina and Joseph Dempsey.
  Joseph is survived by his wife, Sandra Dempsey; son Jeffery Dempsey; and daughter Lisa Dempsey; grandsons Aaron William Dempsey, Jacob Elliot Dempsey, William Cox, and Nathaniel Ferenschak, granddaughter-in-law Brianna Cox, great grandson Liam Cox, great granddaughter Keira Cox, great grandson Lucas Cox, nephews Johnny Cichocki, Mark Cichocki, David Cichocki, Joey Dempsey, and Michael Donoho, niece Sue Cichocki, and niece Carrie Dempsey Ibrahim.
  Joseph was preceded in death by father Joseph Dempsey and mother Nina Dempsey; brother John Dempsey; brother Richard Dempsey; sister Ginny Dempsey; sister Joanne Donoho and sister Betty Cichocki.
  A funeral service for Joseph will be held Tuesday, August 11, 2020 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Palm Northwest Mortuary, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131, followed by a reception from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Burial will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

Click here to view Chief Master Sargeant Dempsey's service at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

   Andrew J. Fenady, October 4, 1928 - April 16, 2020 Andrew J. Fenady and Mary Frances, his beloved wife of sixty-three years, are together again. A.J. died peacefully at the family's longtime home on April 16, 2020 of natural causes. A.J. was born in Toledo, Ohio to John A. Fenady and Mary Fenady. He grew up with his parents and brother, Georg, in the shadow of the Maumee River. He attended Woodward High School – but also received a different type of education working at his father's twenty-four hour restaurant/saloon not far from the hard-scrabble docks in the midst of the depression.

   From Woodward, A.J. graduated to The University of Toledo, where he was Student Body President, and a leading man in the university's plays. It was during one of those performances when he met his real-life leading lady, Mary Frances (née Dolan). It was a romance that lasted a lifetime.

   After college, while Mary Frances was finishing up her degree, he was invited to join a summer stock company at the Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, Massachusetts where he met and became life-long friends with a few wannabe actors: Burt Reynolds and Dan Blocker. A.J. then toured forty-six of the forty-eight states with Clare Tree Major's National Classic Theatre.

   Still smelling of college, he set off for Hollywood to forge a future for himself and Mary Frances. In short order, he became a legman for Paul Coates on his controversial television series CONFIDENTIAL FILE. A.J. wasn't a legman for long – he was soon writing and producing the Emmy Award winning program. Having a toehold in tinsel-town, A.J. hightailed it to Toledo, married his college sweetheart, grabbed her by the hand, and sailed back to the 'Land of Dreams'. Three years and 150 programs later, Fenady and the show's director, Irvin Kershner set out to make a feature film: STAKEOUT ON DOPE STREET on a borrowed $21,000 – the young film makers sold it to Jack Warner for $150,000 and went under contract to the fabled studio. After several features – A.J. tried his hand at television. That first olive out of the bottle was a hit – creating, writing and producing THE REBEL starring Nick Adams. There were other TV series, Branded and Hondo – then he hopscotched back to features and Movies of the week – then came the 'Big Casino', creating, writing and producing – CHISUM starring John Wayne. Wayne and A.J. remained fast-friends until the Duke's passing.

   A.J. continued in the picture business nearly to the end – working with, and befriending a constellation of stars: Robert Mitchum, Ray Milland, Bob Hope, Don Ameche, Charles Bronson, Angela Lansbury, John Carradine, Elsa Lanchester, Broderick Crawford, Ernest Borgnine, Jamie Farr…Halfway along the way his son, Duke, joined him – they became partners, producing a passel of MOWs and collaborating on several plays – the two remained partners for life. A.J.'s talent stretched beyond writing and producing – he was also a successful lyricist and novelist – with over twenty novels on the shelves – and over half a dozen published plays, including YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS, based on his award winning Movie of the Week, starring Charles Bronson, which A.J. co-wrote and produced.

   A.J. was member of many professional societies - Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts & Sciences, Television Academy, WGA, Producers Guild… among the numerous awards he received was the Golden Boot, the Spur Award and the Owen Wister Award for his lifelong contributions to the field of Western literature from the Western Writers of America.As well as receiving awards – A.J. and M.F. were most generous in bestowing awards, scholarships and donations to hospitals, high schools, their alma matters and churches.

   As proud as he was of his professional career, A.J.'s proudest achievement was the family he created with Mary Frances. He relished the time he spent with them: coaching little league at Ahmanson Field, endless holidays and weekend get-a-ways in Lake Arrowhead, and at the family retreat in LaQuinta – and of course the holiday gatherings and Sunday football games at Rossmore. There is no doubt A.J. (puffing on a Romeo y Julieta #2) and M.F., with that twinkle in her eye, son Shannon at their side – are smiling down at their loving family. Gena Fenady Ryan, her children, Jonathon (Amanda) and grandson, Nicholas, James and Megan – Duke (Di) – Sean, his son, Jack – Andrew (Regina) and their two children, Griffin and Parker - Thomas… And A.J.'s childhood compatriots, Ted Sahadi, Richard Joseph, Phillip Baker Hall and Jamie Farr. Andrew J. Fenady, a larger-than-life man, who leaves behind a lasting legacy is with his beloved Mary Frances once again.

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   Edna Brooks Robertson beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend and educator went to be with the Lord on February 3, 2020. The students in the Toledo community truly lost a lifelong advocate and champion of children and education. Mrs. Robertson was born on January 7, 1942, to Victoria Thornton Brooks. She married her high school sweetheart, Tyronne Adams Robertson and had one son, Tyronne Jr.
  Mrs. Robertson was a product of Toledo Public Schools graduating from Woodward High School in 1959. After graduating from The University of Toledo earning a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education she returned to TPS and devoted her life to the children and community of Toledo. She went on to earn her Masters and Specialists degrees in education and served the school district as an educator, assistant principal, principal, instructional planning consultant, retiring in 2002 as a school improvement leader on the Superintendent' cabinet. Toward the end of her career and into retirement, Mrs. Robertson was active with the Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls and instrumental in providing the students with the tools necessary to lead a successful educational career and life.
  Mrs. Robertson has served education and the community in multiple leadership roles in many organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Toledo Chapter of Links, TAAP, Toledo Association of Elementary Principals, TPS Women Administrators, first African American president of the Phi Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity ,Chairman of the Toledo Urban Resource Network Educational Excellence, and first president of the Educational Leadership Association of Northwest Ohio. She served in the capacity of Board member on the TPS Foundation, YWCA of Greater Toledo, Frederick Douglass Community Association, and the Catholic Club.
  As a tribute to her dedication and service she was awarded the YWCA Milestone Award for Education, Save My Children Award, Toledo Council PTA Outstanding Educator Award, Delta Kappa Service Key Award for Outstanding Service, Who's Who in American Education and induction into the Woodward High School Hall of Fame.
  Mrs. Robertson was a member of the New Life Church of God in Christ and has served as the secretary and treasurer of the Sunday School as well as a Trustee Board Member for the church for many years.
  Survived by her loving husband, Tyronne; son and daughter-in-law, Tyronne Jr. and Jovita; grandchildren, Kaden and Kamya and many cousins, nieces, nephews and beloved family members.

 

   John Charles Sinkovic, age 91, of Toledo, died January 13, 2020, at Heartland of Perrysburg. He was born July 27, 1928, at home, in Toledo, OH and attended St. Joseph and St. Francis Grade Schools and graduated from Woodward High School in 1948. He served in the Marine Corps from 1951, until his honorable discharge in 1952. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Toledo Sub-Mariners; a member of Mudjaw Bowman Archery Club since 1956; life member of St. Jude Thaddeus Post 1675, Catholic War Vets; American Legion Post 335, Toledo; a member of Lou Diamond Detachment USMC Post, Toledo. He was inducted into the Woodward High School Hall of Fame; member Rosary Cathedral Church.
  Prior to graduating, John at the age of 15 was hired by the Grey Nuns of Montreal at St. Vincent Hospital on June 19, 1943; at that time he worked during his high school years – he scrubbed floors, washed windows and hauled trash. A number of stories about his service to St. V's was one that he scrubbed his way to management. Under the guidance of Sister St. Rene, SGM, who tutored him throughout the years relating to all aspects of Radiologic Technology and procedures, in 1950 he applied for and took the National Registry Examination and in May 1950 was certified by the American Registry as a Registered Technician. Upon becoming a Registered Technician, he assumed many supervisory positions in the department – supervisor operating room procedures – portable equipment, supervisor dark room techniques, Assistant Chief Tech. to Sr. St. Rene and Chief Technician until 1971. In 1971 he was appointed to the position of Administrative Head of Radiology and it's Ancillary Departments, a position he held until 1992. He retired in 1993 after 50 years of service.

   Upon his retirement the Medical Center presented him with a 2 week photo safari to Kenya (Nairobi) Africa. Upon his return his next venture was to apply for a position with the Volunteer Department, as a volunteer he assumed various assignments throughout the Medical Center and put in many hours in helping put together the Ambassador program. He received the St. Marguerite Award and was also Employee of the Year at St. Vincent. He was proud to be associated with St. Vincent for over 75 years.

 

   Sylvester L. "Sonny" Smith, 86, passed away September 29, 2019 at Ebeid Hospice. He was born February 14, 1933 to Sylvester and Alma Smith in Toledo. A graduate of Woodward High School, Class of 1951, Sonny excelled in athletics, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. In 1951 he earned the Michigan Honor Trophy from the University of Michigan Club of Toledo.

   He graduated from the University of Toledo, Class of 1955, with a Bachelor's degree in education and played football and baseball for the Rockets. Sonny returned to Woodward following graduation from U.T. where he taught and coached football for over 40 years. In 1975 Woodward were City Champs and Sonny was named Coach of the Year. In 1990 he was inducted into the Woodward High School, Hall of Fame. In 1991 he was inducted into the City of Toledo Athletic League, Hall of Fame. In 2002 he was inducted into the Varsity T Club Hall of Fame and in 2016 he earned the Varsity T Club lifetime achievement award for his 25 years of service and serving as president. He was a radio announcer on WCWA with Don King for many years, calling Whitmer and Bowling Green football games.

 

   Morris Reichlin, died on July 17, 2018 in St. Louis, MO. Beloved husband of 60 years to Marianne (Wolfson) Reichlin. Morris was born on February 2, 1934 to Fannie Reichlin and Henry Reichlin in Toledo, OH. He graduated from Woodward High School in 1951 and received his BA and MD degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, graduating Phi Beta Kappa (1955) and Alpha Omega Alpha (1959), respectively. In 1971, he became full professor of medicine and biochemistry at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. In 1981, he became chief of the arthritis and immunology section at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF).
  In his distinguished career that spanned over five decades, Morris lectured across five continents, published more than 330 papers, and was honored by numerous awards, including a Distinguished Investigator Award from The American College of Rheumatology in 1996. In 2006, he received the Evelyn V. Hess Research Award from the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), recognizing his lifetime achievement in advancing understanding of the autoimmune disease. Morris had eclectic tastes: he was an ardent, competitive tennis player, a trumpet player and lover of classical and jazz music, an avid downhill skier, devoted follower of the Buffalo Bills (and Buffalo Braves basketball team before they were moved to San Diego) and had a keen interest in politics and progressive causes. Morris will be remembered as a kind, loving, supportive and stalwart husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend, colleague and mentor.

 

   The Honorable Richard William Knepper, of Perrysburg, Ohio, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, after a brief illness.
  He was born to Charles W. Knepper and Elizabeth (Wilson) Knepper on January 30, 1947, in Toledo, OH. He was predeceased by his father.
He graduated from Woodward High School, and received both his B.S. in Business Administration-Finance, and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees from the University of Toledo, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award. He began the private practice of law in 1973. In 1976, he served as City of Toledo prosecutor and assistant city law director and, in 1983, he began a 13-year run as judge in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. In 1987 and in 1994, he served as the Court's Administrative Judge and in 1990, as the Presiding Judge. In 1997, he was appointed by Gov. George Voinovich to the District Court of Appeals, Sixth Appellate District, a position which he served from 1997 to 2005. Judge Knepper was also an instructor with the Ohio Common Pleas Judges' Association and Ohio Judicial College. For several years, he sat as a visiting judge, by appointment of the Ohio Supreme Court, on cases throughout northwest Ohio. Upon his retirement from the bench, Judge Knepper opened Richard W. Knepper & Associates, Ltd., a mediation/arbitration firm in Perrysburg.
  He was a member of the Ohio Bar Association, the Toledo Bar Association, the Lucas County Bar Association, and a former member of the Ohio Court of Appeals Judges' Association, Ohio Community Corrections Advisory Board and the Common Pleas Judges' Association Board of Directors, International Dispute Resolution Board of Directors, and the University of Toledo College of Law Foundation Board. Other past board service includes the Riverside Mercy Hospital Board, Ohio Community Corrections Advisory Board, president of St. John's Jesuit High School Father's Club, Lucas County Board of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, Toledo Youth for Christ Board, chair of the Substance Abuse Services Board, Cordelia Martin Health Center Board, chairman of the Maumee Valley Broadcasting Company Proclaim FM Board, Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center Board, and the Josina/Lott Foundation Board. He was a Life Member of the University of Toledo Alumni Association, a member of the UT Law Alumni Association, and a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, where he enjoyed many lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers. In 1993, he was inducted into the Woodward High School Hall of Fame.
  In his leisure time, Richard enjoyed playing golf and reading on the deck of his Pinehurst, NC lake house, or fishing near his cabin in the North Carolina mountains. He loved the camaraderie of his Bible study prayer group. In retirement, his passion and pleasure became researching and writing his book, titled Darwin and the Constitution, the Secularization of American Law Schools and the American Legal World View. But most of all, he cherished being with his wife, his children, and being Poppy to his six grandchildren, who all formed the center of his life, and with whom he shared his remarkable sense of humor. Friends and family will remember his drawn out jokes with crazy punch lines, and his pride in being a self-proclaimed "luddite."

 

   Marie E. Williamson, 86, of Maumee, Ohio passed away peacefully on Monday, November 7, 2016, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Marie was born on April 3, 1930, in Weirton, West Virginia to John and Milija (Roknich) Frankovitch.
  She graduated from the University of Toledo with a Masters of Education and Specialist Degree in 1968-1970. Marie worked from 1959 until her retirement for the Toledo Board of Education at Woodward High School as an English teacher from 1959-1968, as Dean from 1969-1972, as a Counselor from 1973-1978 and as Assistant Principal of Instruction from 1979-1993. She loved to tutor children in reading, working in her garden, watching Shakespeare plays in Stratford, Ontario, reading and cooking. She was a member of the Autistic Society of Northwest Ohio and served on the Altar Rosary Society at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maumee and a member of Phi Delta Kappa Sorority.

 

   Richard A. Lovett, age 69, of Sylvania, Ohio passed away on August 20, 2016, due to Pancreatic Cancer. He was born in Toledo on August 25, 1946, to the late Fred and Thelma (Zingg) Lovett.
  Rick was a proud graduate of Woodward High School (Class of 1964) where he met the love of his life, Treassa Bashore. After graduating from the University of Toledo in 1968, he was hired by Toledo Public Schools and assigned to his alma mater Woodward High School where he taught English and Social Studies. Rick continued his education by receiving a Master of Education (1971) and Education Specialist (1975) from University of Toledo. During his career with TPS, he had experience as a secondary guidance counselor, middle school principal, and school district human resource director.
  Rick joined Adrian College faculty in 2003 as an Associate Professor, Teacher Ed.

 

   Frank C. Goldie, died Aug. 3 2016, in Advanced Specialty Hospital in South Toledo after a fall. He was 95. Mr. Goldie started out as a post office distribution clerk working his way to general superintendent of mails. In 1967, Toledo Postmaster Francis Szollosi  named Mr. Goldie installations director to oversee new automated and transport systems. Eventually Mr. Goldie became postmaster of Toledo. He oversaw 99 post offices in northwest Ohio and, at the start, a $20 million annual budget. He was appointed postmaster of Chicago in 1977, and by his retirement a decade later, also was general manager of the Chicago division. Mari Beth Kirkland, postmaster of Middlefield, Ohio, described Mr. Goldie as a  “ role model, a leader, a legend,”

   He was born Nov. 28, 1920, to Virginia and James Goldie and grew up in the black community of North Toledo called “Out Stickney.” He was a 1938 graduate of Woodward High School and in 1983 was among the first inducted into its hall of fame. He studied engineering at the University of Toledo.

   Mr. Goldie of Ottawa Hills was treasurer of All Saints Episcopal Church. He was a fixture at the Woodward Hall of Fame dinner.

Mr. Goldie, was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, and a Tuskegee Airman. Mr. Goldie  served with the 477th Bombardment Group formed at Tuskegee, Alabama. Although the 477th Bombardment Group trained with North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, they never served in combat.

William Brower associate editor of the Toledo Blade praised Mr. Goldie in 1987 saying, “Mr. Goldie “proved his mettle in Toledo,” … “widened the window of opportunity for women and other minorities. His advancement was part of a trend that opened the doors to blacks in the top echelon in the service,”

   Should you wish to remember Frank Goldie his family suggests tributes to the church; a scholarship fund in his name through the National Association of Postmasters of the United States; the Frank and Cleo Goldie Scholarship Fund; or the United Negro College Fund.

 

   Bryant Keith Robinson (Big Dog aka B-Rob)  Our condolence and prayers to the Robinson family. Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, from 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Woodward High School, 701 E. Central Ave. Bryant Keith Robinson (Big Dog aka B-Rob), was born June 22, 1974, died Saturday, June 11, 2016.

   Bryant graduated from Woodward High School in 1993. He excelled at football and wrestling. His dream was to be in the WWE. He began his college football career at college of the Desert in Palm Desert, California. Bryant transferred to the Fresno State Bulldogs in 1995. Professionally, he played for the St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphines and Arizona Cardinals. He loved the time he spent with each team, but his best years were arguably with the Bears, where he played a stunning game on November 7, 1999 following the death of Walter Payton. His last year playing with the Cardinals was one of his most energetic and memorable being the year he went to the super bowl. He is remembered by his former teammates as a tough player and great mentor.

  After he retired from professional football, he moved on to coaching at the University of San Diego. He also helped to establish RFS Charitable Foundation, which is a program that helps and mentors youth with mental and behavioral difficulties. Bryant had many hobbies. He loved music. It didn't matter whether is was popular or not, if he liked it, he liked it. Erykah Badu was a favorite artist of his.

   Bryant was a risk taker. When he saw a opportunity he would take it. He was a conoisseur of the finer things in life. He liked playing bingo. He also said he was going to get a blue LTD drop top and a candy red 1974 Corvette, and he accomplished that goal. Collecting cars was a favorite pastime of his. Dominoes was a game he and his mother and siblings would play and every time they were together.

   Bryant had a beautiful smile. It was infectious. Almost every time you saw him, there was a smile on his face or a laugh coming out of it. He was very much down to earth and spoke his mind at all times. He was so fluent at profanity it was thought to be his second language. Accompanying that profanity was normally a smirk as if to say, "Yeah, told you so." He was a true believer of tough love and pulled no punches. He valued hard work. Bryant was a mastered at cracking jokes and spared no one, not even children. He was very passionate about youth and children. He felt they were extremely honest and more capable than adults at handling difficulties and more willing to learn. He was a lover of family and people in general. He was great at making surprise visits to his family and friends in Toledo when they least expected it. Bryant was born to Louise Robinson and Clyde Williams, the latter of which preceded him in death.

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   Joseph Stanley Badyna passed away on June 8, 2016 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 85 years old.
Joe was born on May 24, 1931 in Toledo, Ohio to Joseph and Clementine (Michalak) Badyna. He was a 1948 graduate of Woodward High School and attended Toledo University. During his youth he was a paperboy.
  Joe served in the United States Marine Corps, 1950-54. A Korean War veteran, he served aboard the USS Saipan. Joe was onboard the Saipan when it became the first U.S. aircraft carrier to circle the globe. He was honorably discharged with the rank of PFC and after the war, received a special honorary medal from the Korean government.
  After military discharge, Joe worked at Libbey-Owens- Ford for 38 years; declaring he would enjoy retirement and never work again, he found himself two weeks later employed at Anderson's and spent a decade there. Joe also worked with the Board of Elections for many years as a voting precinct staffer.
  Adept at sports, Joe played basketball and football for the Marines as well as church basketball. He was an active lifelong bowler, golfer and runner. Joe was a huge lifelong Ohio State Buckeyes and Detroit Tigers fan.
Anyone who knew Joe, knew that he was a huge fan of the television show Seinfield and often quoted episodes. A master storyteller, Joe entertained multitudes with lively stories of yesteryear. Never an unkind word about anyone was ever uttered by him. He was admired, respected and loved by many. Joe was patient, true, strong, honorable and kind, a true Marine in every sense of the word.
  Active in the community, Joe was an integral part of Toledo's The Old Newsboys where he was named Man of the Year. An active member of the Woodward Class of 1948, in 2015 he was inducted into the Woodward Hall of Fame for athletics and community achievement. Joe was a regular member of the Woodward Class of ‘48 luncheon group, the L.O.F. breakfast group and helped organize the Pals of Yesteryear that grew to a membership of over 300. He started the first area Cystic Fibrosis summer camp for kids and revived the local YMCA father and son Indian Guide Program. He served as Indian Guides regional district chief and was honored nationally by the program. Joe greatly enjoyed visiting with Saipan shipmates each year at their annual national Saipan Reunion.
  Joe loved his sweetheart Davida Moldawsky so much that he married her twice: eloping on December 30, 1958 and holding a second formal ceremony on June 27, 1959. Known at the time of their marriage as modern day “Romeo and Juliette,” Joe remained Davida's “Knight” and she remained his “Clarence” for over five decades.

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   Richard H. Buchholz, 86, died June 5, 2016 surrounded by his family at LanePark of Oregon, after a short battle with dementia and cancer.Dick was born in Toledo on March 11, 1930, to Fred and Euala Buchholz. He was married to JoAnne (Mattes) for almost 49 years before she died June 11, 2001.

   Dick was a graduate of Woodward High School in 1948, where he excelled in track and cross country. He received his bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1952 and his Master's Degree from Bowling Green State University in 1958. Dick had a long career in the education field. He taught Industrial Arts at Jefferson Consolidated in Monroe, Michigan, and at Mason Consolidated in Erie, Michigan, before starting at Waite High School in 1955, where he taught Industrial Arts and served as a counselor. As a counselor, he set up a Waite High School Employment Office, which was unique at the time. He was promoted to the supervisor of Industrial Arts and was soon named Principal of the Jefferson Center for Vocational Rehabilitation. He moved to Macomber Vocational High School before he retired.

   After retirement, he stayed busy both professionally and personally. He loved to travel, dine and see movies with his wife. He became a speaker and author, giving more than 3,000 talks to organizations, schools, churches and businesses. In addition, he wrote three books concerning praise and parenting. His company, The American Praise Institute, produced many other booklets, pamphlets and tapes. Dick was the past president of the Toledo Federations of Teachers, the Old Newsboys Goodfellow Association, where he was also the historian. He was the president of the St. Vincent's Parish School Board and the Toledo Area Industrial Arts Association.

   He was inducted into the St. Mary Elementary School and the Woodward High School Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was nominated for a Toledo-Area Jefferson Award for his many philanthropic efforts. He was very proud of the fact that he donated 25 gallons of blood, most of it to the Red Cross.

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   Raymond Saba, age 92, passed away Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at home. The son of Mike and Lillian, he was born March 18, 1924 in Toledo. He was a graduate of Woodward High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII and later served with the Air Force Reserve before being honorably discharged as 1st Lieutenant. In 1950 he married Mary Lou Brock and they enjoyed 55 years together. He owned and operated Centre Supermarkets until his retirement in 1986. Ray was a model train enthusiast and enjoyed
boating and yard work. His greatest joy was his family.

 

   John “Jack” Kesling, 88, of Toledo, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2016. He was born on July 17, 1927, in Toledo. Jack graduated from Woodward High School where he played football and achieved a place in the Hall of Fame. He proudly served his country during World War II in the U.S. Seabees. Jack was a talented musician. He played the vibraphone (vibes) and the bass with several bands in the 40's and 50's in Toledo and the surrounding areas, including the Four Keys.
   Jack's many careers included being operations manager and stage manager at the Masonic Auditorium. He was T.V. director and host of the “ MR. T” show on WTOL-TV from 1964-1971 and on the Bowling for Dollars show on WDHO (WNWO) from 1974-1975. He also was a T.V. producer and director for the National Cablecasting Company in Detroit from 1971-1972. He eventually left television and retired in 1992 from the United States Postal Service.
   He played vibes at many private parties and every year at the Cafe Concert Series at Toledo Botanical Gardens. Jack was a Free and Accepted Mason, a member of Lodge # 746 Harbor Light, 32 Mason Valley of Toledo, and the Zenobia Shrine where he was president of the Arab Patrol Marching Unit in 2001.

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   David R. Taylor III, 66, passed away peacefully, on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio on S. Detroit surrounded by family members. Born December 17, 1949 in Toledo, OH to David Taylor II and Shirley (Swan) Taylor-Williams. David attended Spring and Sherman Elementary Schools. Graduated from Woodward High School in 1968 and was a 1999 inductee of the Woodward High School Hall of Fame. David earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Toledo Law School in 1974.
  He was the first to receive a scholarship from the Institutional Youth Guidance League in 1967 serving as a member of the League's Board of Directors years later. He was an active member of the Black Student Union and president of the Student Bar Association. He was a life member and officer of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. In 1976, David joined the court staff as a referee in the Family Court Center hearing traffic, juvenile and domestic relations cases. In 1979, David and Lafayette Tolliver founded the Thurgood Marshall Law Association as a means to provide a forum for informal and formal exchange of ideas on issues that faced African American attorneys and the black community. He was appointed Chief Referee of the Lucas Court of Common Pleas in 1980. David joined the law firm of Simmons, McConnell and Peters in 1984. The firm was pivotal in advocating for civil rights issues in the city. David was active in a number of activities and organizations to better the Toledo community. He was a lifelong member of the NAACP, and served as a local president. He was a member of 50 Men and Women. He served as Special Counsel to the Attorney General of Ohio in 1989. In the same year, he was named by Mayor John McHugh to serve on the Committee to Study Race Relations in Toledo. He was a long-standing member of the National Bar, the American Bar, the Ohio State Bar and the Toledo Bar Associations. David was an active member of Friendship Baptist Church (Bishop Duane C. Tisdale) until his lengthy illness, teaching Bible class and training others to teach. He was affectionately called, “Master Teacher” by many. He humbly considered himself just a “Servant of The Lord”.

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   Jim Wilusz, 86 years young and a life-long Toledo resident, lost his battle with bladder cancer on May 15, 2015 and is dancing his way to heaven.

   Jim was a 1947 graduate of Woodward High School.  He then received his education degree from Purdue University and his Masters degree from the University of Toledo.  He then returned to his alma mater as a teacher, ultimately becoming a coach of a variety of sports, Athletic Director and Boys Dean.  After 40 years, he retired and started to embrace even more his other passions of golf and dancing.  Jim was inducted to the Woodward High School Hall of Fame in 1990, and has been a loyal Woodward High School volunteer serving on the Hall of Fame Committee and many reunion groups. Jim was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He most recently married Elma (Reddish), his loving wife of twenty years.  He was previously married to Virgie (Jakubowski) for 36 years, who has been in heaven for the last 23 years.

   Jim had a true gift of improving the lives of others; his family, students, players and all who waited to dance with the saddle-shoed man at The Elks. In addition to loving to dance, he was an avid golfer who remembered every hole he played and lived to play the game.  He also enjoyed the flowers that he loved to plant in their yard during the summer months and the lights he enjoyed putting up outside during the Holidays.

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