ST. V-ST. M HONORS FORMER BJ PRESSROOM WORKER BOB BERDIS

 

St. Vincent-St. Mary will honor long-time former BJ pressroom worker Bob Berdis on Friday, October 1 as their Fighting Irish Superfan.

Ken Krause, a BJ retiree, tipped me off with this:

It will be Bob Berdis Night at Green Street Stadium Friday, October 1, when St. Vincent-St. Mary High School honors their “Fighting Irish Superfan,” a former longtime Beacon Journal press room worker. Though not a graduate of St. Vincent, St. Mary, or St. V-M (where his son was in the Class of 1989), Bob has been a longtime St. V-M Athletic Booster Club member and a constant presence at Irish sporting events, home or away. He will be honored before the St. V-M football game against Youngstown Ursuline.

Some BJ folks might also remember Bob as one of the standout bowlers in the Akron Allied Printcraft League.

Bob’s wife, Syvia Jean Berdis, passed away in 2012 at the age of 75. They lived in Norton and the funeral service was held in Doylestown.

Bob was extremely active St. V-M Athletic Booster Club member, as the Superfan honor indicates.

PENNY MORETZ OF ACCOUNTING, PRODUCTION, MAILROOM PASSES AWAY

 

Penny L. Moretz, who retired in 2002 after 35 years at the BJ, passed away.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service for Penny at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 18 at the Suffield United Church of Christ, 1115 State Route 43, Suffield, in the outdoor pavilion.

Luncheon will be served immediately following in the fellowship hall. In the event of inclement weather, services will move to the sanctuary.

Social distance and masks will be required.

 

Penny began at 44 E. Exchange Street in accounting in 1967, then became Production secretary to Tony Agnello before joining the BJ mailroom.

DOYLE BAIRD PASSES AWAY

Doyle Baird, a BJ truck driver for 30 years, a  superb boxer who went toe-to-toe with four world champions, and an outstanding Teamsters member, passed away Thursday, September 2.

The native of Elk Valley, Tennessee was inducted into the Summit County Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000.

He fought for three world titles.

He was the widower of Janet Baird. Their children are Andrea Stem, Doyle, Jr., Derek, Daryl and Billy.

There’s fascinating video, “Grit & Determination – The Doyle Baird Story,” that runs nearly a half-hour. To see it, go to  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=BhXqoRmrFGc&app=desktop

 

Doyle’s obituary:

 

 

Doyle Baird

April 18, 1938 ~ September 2, 2021 (age 83)

 

Doyle Baird, 83, passed away September 2, 2021 surrounded by his family and friends. He was born April 18, 1938 in Elk Valley, Tennessee to the late Jennings and Evelyn Baird.  Doyle lived his younger life in Akron and resided in Portage Lakes for over 52 years.

 

 

Doyle was legendary in the Akron area for his professional boxing career and was inducted into the Summit County Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000.  He fought for three world titles, his most memorable bout at the Akron Rubber Bowl in October of 1968 when he fought Middle Weight Champion Nino Benvenuti for a non-title bout. As the story goes, Doyle won the fight, however the fight was declared a draw.  Doyle’s love and passion for the sport of boxing led him to a training career of over 40 plus years where he trained several professional boxers including heavy weight champion Michael Dokes. Doyle also trained countless numbers of amateur fighters in the Akron area.  He not only taught them the grit and determination it takes to be a boxer, he mentored them and taught them how to be honorable young men and to fight when life gets tough, how to overcome obstacles by believing in themselves.  His motto was always finish what you start and to get up if you get knocked down.  Life is a journey, it’s what you make of it, only you determine your destiny.

 

Doyle retired from the Akron Beacon Journal after 30 years of service being a Teamster truck driver and union steward. He had a heart of gold always humble and kind, loved life, always laughing, joking, or telling a story. Doyle was always eager to go above and beyond to help someone in need.

 

Doyle was a member of Teamsters Local 473, Deuces Wild; Turkeyfoot Sportsman Club and Adoniram Joppa. He loved to watch his children and grandchildren play sports, never missing the opportunity to cheer on and support his family.  He enjoyed weekends watching The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns.  He loved riding his Harley with his boys and playing poker.

 

Besides his parents, Doyle was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Janet and sister, Velda Lou Armstrong.  He is survived by his daughter, Andrea (Jeff) Stem; sons, Doyle (Jenna); Derek (Jessica) and Daryl (Amy) and Billy (Patty) Baird; grandchildren, Chloe, Isabella, Kassie, Danica, Lauren, Gavin and Nathan; great grandson, Mavrick; sister, Peggy Snyder; sister-in-law, Sandra Gray; nephew, Jon Gray; as well as many other loving family and friends.

 

Doyle’s constant presence, sound advice and unwavering love will always be remembered and cherished for a lifetime.  He will be deeply missed by his family and so many wonderful friends. 

 

Funeral service will be held at 10 A.M. on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, Ohio 44319 with Pastor Bobby Dugger officiating.  Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 1 to 3 P.M. and 5 to 8 P.M. at the funeral home.  Entombment will take place at Greenlawn Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Doyle’s name to Alzheimer’s Association, Greater East Ohio Area Chapter, 70 W. Streetsboro Street, STE 201, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  To leave a special message online for the family, visit our website at www.schermesserfh.com.

 

SCHERMESSER
(330) 899-9107
www.schermesserfh.com 

Memorial Contributions:

Alzheimer’s Association
Greater East Ohio Area Chapter
70 W. Streetsboro Street, STE 201 

Hudson, Ohio 44236 

DAVE ALLBAUGH'S WIDOW PASSES AWAY AT AGE OF 96

 

Rose Allbaugh, widow of super reporter Dave Allbaugh of Dayton Daily News fame, passed away in North Carolina at the age of 96.

 

Rose and Dave’s sons are David B. Allbaugh of Arlington, Virginia and Mark G Allbaugh of Brevard, North Carolina. They had two grandchildren, Alex and Lea Rose Allbaugh.

 

Bill Hershey, a former Columbus and Washington bureau regular for the BJ, gave me the sad news.

 

Bill added:

 

“She had been living in assisted living in North Carolina near their son Mark and his family for the last five months, Mark told me. Until then she had been living independently. She was a force of nature, always on the move.

Mark’s wife Florence posted on Facebook about Rose, our daughter said.

Mark said they plan to have a gathering on Sept.18 at Dave and Rose’s house in Dayton.
Marcia and I plan to go.
They also have a son David who lives in Washington D.C. area.”

 

If you want to send condolences to Mark his email address is ifg24@att.net

 

Dave was my most loyal friend when the Dayton Daily News fired me for union actitivities. Everyone else hid under their desk to avoid the wrath of union-hating Cox Newspapers, which owned the DDN.

 

I didn’t know till I looked up Dave’s obituary in connection with this article that he was born Roy David Allbaugh. Fitting. He was King David to me, too.