Former BJ editor Paul Poorman’s
widow, Sylvia Elizabeth Powers Poorman, passed away Saturday, July 4.
They had eight children: Pamela
Poorman Phillips of Hudsonville, Michigan, Cynthia Poorman Paul of Northville,
Michigan, Peter Poorman of Plano, Texas, Stephen Poorman of Akron, Thomas
Poorman of Zanesville, Ohio, Andrew Poorman of Mundelein, Illinois, Robert Poorman of
Franklin, Tennessee and William Poorman of Peoria, Illinois.
Sylvia and Paul had 17 grandchildren and 10
great-grandchildren.
Paul passed away in 1992 at the age
of 61. He retired from the BJ in 1986.
As managing editor of the Detroit
Free Press he got President Nixon to utter the legendary quote to answer a Poorman
question: “I am not a crook.”
Nixon was, of course.
And Republican
Senators persuaded him to resign and avoid an Impeachment Trial that would kick
him out of the Oval Office.
Paul and 3 of his reporters won a libel
lawsuit filed by Akron Police Chief Robert Prease, who was unhappy over articles
about him published in the BJ. Court ruled no unearned damages were proven.
Born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania,
Paul was a Penn State graduate. He met Sylvia when both were State College, PA
campus students.
Paul began his journalism career at
the State College Centre Daily Times. Next came the Harrisburg, PA Patriot and
the Philadelphia Bulletin before the Detroit Free Press famous moment.
After a stint as Northwestern
University journalism professor, Paula came to the BJ in 1976.
He left the BJ in 1986 to lobby for
Kent State and later became a faculty member. There have been a lot of Kent
State to BJ and BJ to Kent State traffic over the years.
Sylvia’s obituary:
Sylvia Elizabeth
(Powers) Poorman passed away on July 4, 2020 after enjoying a long and full
life. She was 88. Mrs. Poorman was born on February 16, 1932, in Cambridge
Springs, Pennsylvania, and had lived in State College, PA, Harrisburg, PA,
Philadelphia, PA, Detroit, MI, Winnetka, IL, Copley, OH, Akron, OH, Stow, OH
and South Lyon, MI. Most recently Sylvia resided in Spring Lake, MI while
receiving excellent care at Heartwood Lodge.
She was preceded
in death by her husband, Paul A. Poorman, of Akron, Ohio; brothers, William,
Edward, and David Powers; and sister, Elouise Connors. She is survived by her
loving children, Pamela (Bob) Phillips of Hudsonville, MI, Cynthia (Don) Paul
of Northville, MI, Peter (Stephanie) of Plano, TX, Stephen (Barbara), of Akron,
OH, Thomas (Tara) of Zanesville, OH, Andrew (Sherri) of Mundelein, IL, Robert
(Cassi) of Franklin, TN, and William (Margaret) of Peoria, IL; sisters-in-law,
Mary Powers of Whidbey Island, WA, Cheryl Poorman of Markleville, IN, Noreen
Poorman of Rica, GA, and Patricia (Jim) Scheid of Douglasville, GA; 17
grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and
her beloved extended family members assimilated over the years.
Nothing was more
important to her than family, and she and her husband incorporated into their
family innumerable friends, always treating everyone as a valued member of the
family.
Sylvia earned a
bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and master’s degree
from Kent State University. She was a whirlwind of positive energy and traveled
widely, visiting all seven continents. This earned her the nickname 'The
Travelling Grandma.' She took great joy in showing and discussing the
photographs that she took in many exotic locations. In taking care of a large
family she bought everything in quantity and never passed a sale by. Her
Master’s degree was in history which joined with her love of genealogy and f il
Th th i f h
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From previous column
family. The thesis
for her degree included original research into the early 1800s in Ohio when
members of Sylvia’s family were influential in the development of that state.
Music was also particularly important to Sylvia. She was a regular audience
member of the Cleveland Symphony for many years while remaining active in
Tuesday Musical in Akron. Sylvia was a Nittany Lion through and through,
graduating in 1953. Much of her youth was spent in State College where her
father was the Dean of Chemistry at Penn State. She attended as part of an
early class of female students following World War II and was enormously proud
of being part of that cohort. She met Paul while in college at Penn State and
they lived in State College for the first 10 years of their marriage She will
be deeply missed and fondly remembered for the positive impact on the lives of
everyone she met.
A private service
and burial will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron, OH.
Memorials may be
made to the Paul A. and Sylvia P. Poorman Memorial Scholarship at Kent State
University, which is awarded to outstanding newspaper majors. Gifts may be made
through the Kent State Foundation at P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001 or
online at https:// www.kent.edu/ advancement/ kent-state-university-foundation.
(Press the 'Give Now' button in the upper right. Press 'Make Your Online Gift'
in the center of the page. Under 'Designate Your Gift', check the box for 'I
would like to enter my own designation'. Type in 'Paul A. and Sylvia P. Poorman
Memorial Scholarship'). To share a Memory, Send a Condolence, Light a Candle or
Send Flowers, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com .
(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)
