Drummer boy Patrick Carney in action

Patrick Carney teams with Petkovic for album

Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, son of retired BJ reporter Jim Carney, and Cobra Verde’s John Petkovic teamed up in the Sad Planets band to record the ‘Akron, Ohio’ album.

The Akron natives were in the Grammy-winning Black Keys band (Carney) and Death of Samantha band (Petkovic).

Carney will remain with Black Keys and Dan Auerbach, another Firestone High grad. Carney and Auerbach will launch another Black Keys tour this fall that includes a stop at the frequently renamed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, home of the NBA’s Cavaliers.

Carney and Petkovic have been friends nearly all of their lives.

Both have performed or watched the late Ralph Carney, Jim’s brother and a multi-instrumentalist, when Ralph did his gigs.

To read the PD article, go to https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/04/black-keys-patrick-carney-and-cobra-verdes-john-petkovic-team-up-as-sad-planets-with-akron-ohio.html

Brain tumor for Dale Allen

Former BJ Editor Dale Allen has a brain tumor.

“It’s in the left side of my brain, which supports speech and words and possible some right-side motion,” Dale reports.

Dale Allen

He’s surveying his options, which include chemo, radiation or surgery.

He is scheduled for a consultation with Cleveland’s University Hospital surgeon.

Dale has a hip replacement in 2016 after falling during a Black Friday horror shopping event.

Since he left 44 E. Exchange Street Dale has divided his time, depending on the weather, between his Akron and Muzzy Lake in Portage County homes.

Dale, vowel-avoiding Features Editor Jim Nolan and I were the midwives for Channels’ birth in 1980. It was a Management By Objective (MBO) project for Dale.

A few years later, Dale had me slow down the BJ computers while Knight-Ridder representatives were in the building to determine if Ol’ Blue Walls needed more mainframe power. I did.

KR folks went back to Miami and the BJ got its upgrade to superpower mainframe.

Tony Tomsic, who worked for the Cleveland Press and, starting in 1981, for Sports Illustrated and the NFL,  and who photographed the first 48 Super Bowls, passed away Sunday, April 21.

Tomsic took many famous Super Bowl photos, including the one of Vince Lombardi celebrating a Green Bay Packers Super Bowl II championship that is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Nine of Tomsic's pictures were included in the NFL's 1999 coffee-table book "Best Shots," commemorating the greatest NFL photographs of the century. Tomsick’s photos were on 20 Sports Illustrated covers.

Tomsic was in the documentary "Keepers of the Streak," along with John Biever, Walter Looss and Mickey Palmer as the only photographers covering the first 48 Super Bowls.

Tony was inducted into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame by the Press Club in 1994.

Tony also was struck in 1996 by a baseball thrown from the outfield by an angry Albert Belle that cut Tony’s left hand.

Tomsic, working for Sports Illustrated, was standing near the Indians' dugout before the game against Toronto when he was struck in the left hand by a ball Belle threw from the outfield. Belle had been angered because Tomsic took his picture while he was stretching earlier.

 

Tomsic didn't mention it till a Cleveland reporter asked him about it.

"I didn't want to make a big thing out of it," Tomsic said. "But when a player is on the field, he is fair game."

Tomsic said he had backed off after Belle shook his finger at him for taking his picture.

Indians pitcher Orel Hershiser, fellow Tribe players Alvaro Espinoza and Omar Vizquel came to Tomsic’s rescue.



John Backderf

Derf graphic novel based on 1970 Kent State shootings

Former BJ artist John “Derf” Backderf will publish a “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio” graphic novel in April 2020.

May 4, 2020 will be the 50^th anniversary of the 4 killings and 9 woundings of Kent State students by the Ohio National Guard during a Vietnam War protest.

"Four dead in Ohio" is the repeated line from Neil Young’s lyrics in the anti-war “Ohio” performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

To read the Hollywood Reporter article, go to

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/kent-state-four-dead-ohio-revisits-1970s-student-shooting-tragedy-1203464



Carolyn with Milan Zban (left) and Roland Queen

Former BJ sportswriter Carolyn White passed away Sunday, April 7 in Cleveland.

Carolyn was at Ol’ Blue Walls from 1977 to 1985. She left the BJ for USA Today, where she remained into the early 2000s.

She was the first female African-American sportswriter at the BJ and was one of two African-American sportswriters at USA Today.

Former Mizell Stewart managing editor Mizell Stewart is on the USA Today staff today as senior director of news strategy. 

Mizell responded to me:

"Charlene Washington, newsroom office manager for USA TODAY, said White joined the staff in 1986, covering high school sports and the America's Cup, among other topics, and made a mean peach cobbler. "Just a really sweet woman with a big heart," Washington said."

 

In 1986, Carolyn, Roland Queen and the late Milan Zban shared an award for their story on sports financing. Carolyn also won an award for her story on scarcity of African-Americans in Akron area high school coaching.

Carolyn was arrested while trying to cover the Washington Redskins Super Bowl parade in 1988, even though she had press credentials. The charges were dropped.

Carolyn once wrote an article about trying out for the Cleveland Cavs' Teddy Bears cheerleaders.

There has been no obituary and funeral arrangements published for Carolyn yet.

Marilyn Paulk first tipped me off. Ken Krause and Mike Williams provided me photos of Carolyn.

Carl Dangel passes away

Carl Dangel, who was a BJ reporter for 10 years before moving on to PR work at General Electric, Goodyear and General Tire and the PD, passed away Wednesday, April 3.

Carl Dangel

Dangel attended 2012 calling honors for BJ retiree Art Cullison at the Billows Fairlawn chapel.

Mark Price, who delves into history for the BJ, once reported on a 1960 review by Dangel about the “Psycho” movie at the Palace Theater.

Carl’s sister, Janet Ann Dangel Myers, passed away in Nashville in 2014. She was a St. Vincent High grad and a nurse.

Carl’s obituary:

Carl Dangel was born on January 21, 1933 to Bernard and Mary Dangel in Akron, Ohio.  He died peacefully in the presence of his family on April 3, 2019 at the Village of St. Edward in Fairlawn.  He is predeceased by his parents; his sister, Janet Dangel Myers, and his son-in-law, Bob Berzonsky.

Carl is survived by his wife, Joan Latham Dangel.  High school classmates, they married in 1954 and had seven children.  He loved his wife and his children and their spouses – Dennis (Jill Demeter), Jo (Diane Kovachik), Theresa Berzonsky, Andy (Pam Appledorn Dangel), Peggy (Brian Cohen), Bernadette (Tim Burton), and Kate Bame (Pete Gori).  Also celebrating their grandpa’s life are Kristen Berzonsky (Fred Ricci), Julie Berzonsky, Lauren and Sydney Dangel, Brendan and Caitlin Tedaldi, Colin, Gretchen, and Evan Burton, and Emily and Annie Bame.  Carl is also survived by brother, Tom (Poochie); and sister, Linda Radwany (Les).

Carl was a hard-working, loyal, and compassionate man who lived his life in service to God, his family, and to the community.  He graduated from St. Vincent High School in 1951 and he and Joanie remained dedicated and actively involved alumni through their entire lives.

He was also a proud alumnus of The University of Akron, earning his college degree in journalism in 1960, while he was a young father.  His studies carried him through a career studded with accomplishments and interesting assignments that he happily shared through the years.  He worked for ten years at the Akron Beacon Journal where his writing, community knowledge, and connections with people resulted in wonderful story telling.  After his work at the Beacon, was an editor at General Electric Lamp Division in Nela Park.  Some of his favorite career highlights followed in his service at Goodyear Tire and Rubber and then at GenCorp.  At Goodyear, he worked in the public relations department, with plum assignments with the blimp fleet and crew and in the race tire division.  His last career stop was at GenCorp, working in community and government affairs.  He traveled often to Washington DC where he worked on Capitol Hill and at White House conferences.  

Carl also worked part-time for more than 20 years on the sports desk at the Cleveland Plain Dealer and as a correspondent for the Catholic Universe Bulletin. He served on the National Alumni Board at UA and as a board member at both St. Edward and the Catholic Service League.  He was active with the United Way of Summit County and with the National Press Club.    

Calling hours will be on Sunday, April 7 at Ciriello and Carr Funeral Home, 39 South Miller Road, Fairlawn from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10AM Monday, April 8 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 164 West Market Street.  Private Burial later.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, 15 N. Maple Street, Akron, 44303 or to The Village of St. Edward, 3131 Smith Road, Fairlawn 44333 to honor Carl’s memory.  

Feran writes about his PD ouster

Tom Feran, among those laid off by the PD, wrote the PD article about the layouts before he left the building.

Feran was among 14 Guild newsroom members exiting the PD. He volunteered for it to save a job for another Guild member.

From 2008 to 2017 newspaper newsroom staff was reduced by 45%. Additionally, more than 2,400 media jobs have been eliminated this year.

The BJ, which once had 340 journalists, will be down to 33.

To read the article, click on

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/04/plain-dealer-lays-off-a-third-of-unionized-newsroom-staff.html?fbclid=IwAR2TT1G7mXJpULa3SxCWlakmn5AIwm86sZZoim418LjYO-vqL6-tSzrJfII

John Jubara passes away

John Jubara, mailer foreman who was at the BJ for more than 40 years, passed away Sunday, March 17.

Son Gary Jubara also worked at Ol’ Blue Walls was a regular as a Salvation Army bell-ringer to raise funds at Christmas time.

John Jubara, Sr.

John’s obituary:

    John E. Jubara (Jib) entered the gates of heaven to be with our Lord on Sunday, March 17, 2019. Jib was born in Akron, Ohio on August 31, 1930 to the late John and Mary (Demchock) Jubara. An only child, he married Dorothy Corall in 1950 and together they raised four children; Irene (David) Williams, John M. (Tracy) Jubara, Gary E. (Janice) Jubara and William L. (Joellen) Jubara.
 

   After Dorothy's passing in 1985, Jib found love a second time when he married Josephine (Coatter) in 1986. He was proud and grateful to accept (and reciprocate) the love and affection of Jo's children, Vikki (Alan) Knapp, John (Jamie) Coatter, Joseph (Heather) Coatter and Tony Coatter (deceased). Jib's grandchildren include, Dewane (Lori) Jubara, Mark (Jessica) Williams, Trisha (Matt) Akers, Shaun (Kerry) Jubara, Kelly Jubara, Jessica Davis, Pamela (Justin) Chmiel, Leah Jubara, Jane Jubara, Kayli (Andrew) Leger, Alan Knapp, John Knapp, Tony (Brooklyn) Knapp, Kelly Goodspeed and Brian Goodspeed. Jib enjoyed the love of 30 great-grandchildren; many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.
 

   Jib worked as a mailer and foreman for over 40 years at the Akron Beacon Journal. Jib was generous with his time and talents. He was a longtime supporter of Archbishop Hoban High School. Active in the Booster Club, he organized fundraisers including golf outings, bingo, 300 club, casino nights, and reverse raffles. In later years Jib and Jo worked in parking and ticket sales for various Hoban sporting events. Jib was inducted into the Ohio A.S.A. and Summit County Softball Halls of Fame as a manager of fast-pitch softball. His teams were very successful having won a state title in 1963 and defeating the world champion Clearwater Bombers in 1964. Jib loved to golf with his many friends and took special joy in that fellowship. We will be together again dad, and oh what joy there will be. Jib and Jo were especially grateful for the compassionate care given by the Harbor Light Hospice Team.

    Calling hours Friday, March 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Anthony Funeral Home Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, 1990 S. Main St., Akron, 44301. Catholic Mass Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1580 Brown St., Akron, 44301 with calling hours at 10 a.m. just prior to Mass. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to Haven of Rest Ministries, 175 E. Market St., Akron, 44308. (Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, Akron)

 

Mango wins lifetime design award

Susan Mango Curtis, former BJ assistant managing editor and associate professor of visual arts at Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, will receive the Society for News Design’s  Lifetime Achievement Award.

Susan Mango Curtis

She left the BJ for Medill in 1997. Mango was involved in the “Question of Color” project that led to another BJ Pulitzer.

She will receive her award April 4 at the Chicago Cultural Center.

To read the article, go to

https://www.snd.org/2019/03/2018-lifetime-achievement-awards-susan-mango-curtis-and-tim-harrower/?fbclid=IwAR0DraJKkTHDWQ2eq23h3vqLUZ7wRMxTIYmpQ3OaWBYbGc4V7SrScFyyV5M

PD Guild reduced from 340 to 30

 

The PD union-busting continues to progress devastatingly.

 

Guild membership will drop to about 30 from 340 members 20 years ago with the latest staff cutbacks.

Click on https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/03/plain-dealer-announces-new-round-of-newsroom-layoffs.html?fbclid=IwAR0WtFdGhUbNffA0_JQlEi-Jc8IN86qQoV_cI0kwHvLf7kcmnM5SDtOMfkg

to read the familiar and sad news.

Tom Melody passes away

Tom Melody, long-time sports columnist  during his 42 years at the BJ, passed away Friday, March 15.



Tom Melody

Tom was among gifted West Virginians came to Ol’ Blue Walls, including former managing editor Scott Bosley, Bonnie Bolden, John S. Knight and yours truly.

Tom and Scott both attended Keyser High School in the eastern West Virgina panhandle. Both are in the Keyser HS Hall of Fame. Scott was the best of the 13 managing editors in my 43-year newspaper career. Scott lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

A guy from Keyser that I encountered this winter during my 3-month stay in The Villages, Florida remembered Tom because “there’s a Melody Music Store” in Keyser today.

Scott and wife Carol lived in Bethesda, Maryland, while he was executive director of the American Society of News Editors (1999-2009). Scott also was managing editor at the Detroit Free Press, editor of Knight Ridder Tribune Information Services, editor of The Journal of Commerce and publisher of the Post-Tribune in Gary, Ind.

Bonnie is married to retired BJ editor Bruce Winges.

Tom’s obituary:

Thomas J. Melody

WADSWORTH -- Thomas J. Melody, 81, of Wadsworth passed away Friday, March 15, 2019. He was born June 10, 1937 in Cumberland, Maryland to the late Joe and Bertha Melody.

Mr. Melody was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was a gifted and talented journalist and had been a columnist and sports editor at the Akron Beacon Journal, retiring after 42 years with the paper.

When not working Tom enjoyed fly fishing, gardening and reading. He was a man of great wisdom, a gifted writer, a master storyteller with unmatched humor and wit, who fiercely loved his family.

He served his community and faith through the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Project Healing Waters, St. Vincent De-Paul Society and as a Eucharistic Minister. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bob and Mike and sister, Janet Groves.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Sharon; children, Joe of Lexington, Ky., Chris (Wendy) of Kingsland, Ga., Kathie (Jeff) Priest of Wadsworth, Matthew (Theresa) of Cincinnati and Mary (Rob) Yeiser of Verona, Wis.; 17 grandchildren, two greatgrandchildren; sister, Joanne (Buddy) Miller of Webster Springs, W. Va.; brother-in-law, Norman Groves and sisters-inlaw, Trina Melody and Judy Melody all of Keyser, W. Va. and Barbara Tenney of Fort Ashby, W. Va.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Tom’s family will receive friends 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home, 174 N. Lyman St., Wadsworth. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Wadsworth, 272 Broad St., Wadsworth. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent De-Paul Society at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 260 Broad St., Wadsworth, OH 44281 or St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 , Source


Tom Melody, ex-sports editor, dies at 81

Former Beacon Journal reporter, columnist remembered as diligent writer, devoted family man

By Michael Beaven

Beacon Journal/Ohio.com

Thomas J. Melody brought wisdom, humor and top-notch storytelling skills to the Akron Beacon Journal newsroom for 42 years.

Melody served as a reporter, columnist and sports editor before retiring in 2000. His knowledge and views on baseball, basketball, football and other sports were respected, and his beats included covering the University of Akron and the Browns.

Melody died on Friday, March 15, at age 81. He was born on June 10, 1937, in Cumberland, Maryland, to the late Joe and Bertha Melody.

Melody lived in Wadsworth in recent years with his wife of 61 years, Sharon. The couple also previously lived in Akron and Norton with their five children.

“It was always a balancing act with our philosophy of coverage from the high schools to Akron, Kent and Ohio State to the Browns, the Cavaliers, the Indians, and we had the pro hockey team for a while too,” said Larry Pantages, a former writer and sports editor who worked at the Beacon Journal from 1972-2015.

“So, it was a question of putting our resources on what we thought were the best stories, and Tom was always involved with the stories that people wanted to read as a sports reporter, editor and a columnist.”

Pantages described Melody as “a great guy” and a “very devoted family man.”

Former Indians beat writer Sheldon Ocker, who worked at the Beacon Journal from 1967-2014, recalled Melody being “meticulous” when it came to writing stories and headlines.

“Tom was a really good editor and a really good writer,” Ocker said. “The Browns used to hate him because he had a little sarcasm in his stories and they didn’t like that. The Browns were kind of used to not being criticized for anything. ... Tom wrote interesting stories and he had certain phrases that he would use, one of which I stole. Whenever he didn’t like something with the front office, he would call them the ‘deep thinkers.’ ” Melody was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and enjoyed flyfishing, gardening and reading. He served with the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Project Healing Waters, St. Vincent DePaul Society and as a Eucharistic Minister.

“Tom was a gentleman and a journalist,” said former high school sports and UA athletics beat writer Tom Gaffney, who wrote for the Beacon Journal from 1986-2012. “He was classy all the way and great to work with. He was very easy to work with and very knowledgeable.”

Melody’s family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home, 174 N. Lyman St., Wadsworth. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Wadsworth, 272 Broad St., Wadsworth. Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-9963829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal. com.

Tom Melody, Frederick Pollack & Mike Herchek, Sr. will be added when I return to Ohio from Florida

Frederick Pollack passes away

Frederick Pollack

Fred Pollack, a BJ printer for 35 years, passed away Sunday, February 17 in Largo, Florida.

Fred’s obituary:

Pollack, Frederick, 81, of Largo, FL, passed away on Sunday, February 17, 2019. He will be missed by his loving family and friends.

Frederick was born in Barberton, Ohio to James and Kathernie. He grew up in Norton, Ohio. During his childhood Frederick wanted to find a steady career. He fell in love with the printing industry. Frederick worked for the Akron Beacon for 35 years as a printer. During his years he loved to travel. He visited most of the 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. He enjoyed a game of Chess and Pinochle, tasting new hot sauces, and would dare you to eat a hot pepper at any family holiday get together. While in his late teens and early twenties he was in a Polka band. He was very talented and could play the Oboe, Clarinet, and the Saxophone in alto and tenor. Frederick was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Largo, FL.

Frederick is survived by children; Timothy F. Pollack, Diana R. Russo, Cynthia K. Grayson, and Marlene G. Sias; 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and sister; Nancy M. Lee.

A memorial service will be held in Frederick’s honor at 11am on Saturday, February 23rd 2019 at Serenity Funeral Home, 13401 Indian Rocks Rd, Largo, FL 33774.

·   FAMILY

·       James Pollack, Father

·       Kathernie Pollack, Mother

·       Timothy F. Pollack, Son

·       Diana R. Russo, Daughter

·       Cynthia K. Grayson, Daughter

·       Marlene G. Sias, Daughter

·       Nancy M. Lee, Sister

Eight Grandchildren

Seven Great-Grandchildren

Philly Guild riled over publisher Egger

The Philadelphia Inquirer Guild is pissed at publisher Terry Egger.

No wonder.

After 11 years without a pay raise he promised them one, but reneged.

Then caved to the Teamsters and gave them a pay raise, a signing bonus and contributions to their pension fund. All things denied the Guild.

Egger was PD publisher from 2006 till 2013.

He was named Editor & Publisher’s Publisher of the Year in November.  Obviously , the Inquirer Guild disagrees.

To read the article, click on

http://www.bigtrial.net/2019/02/inky-staffers-declare-no-confidence-in.html

Winges retires from BJ

Bruce Winges, at the BJ for 37 years including 11 as editor, is retiring from Ol’ Blue Walls.

Michael Shearer, editor and manager of The Record-Courier in Kent and northeastern Ohio regional editor for GateHouse Media, which purchased the Beacon Journal from Black Press last year, will add the BJ editor title to his job description.

Bruce succeeded Mizell Stewart as BJ editor. He is married to Bonnie Bolden, a former BJ department editor who, like me, is a WVU School of Journalism graduate.

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  John & Carolyn today and on their wedding day
  

   

   

  30^th anniversary for Carolyn and John Kovatch

   

  John Kovatch, retired Knight-Ridder vice president/finance and administration, and Carolyn Pope Kovatch are celebrating their 30^th wedding anniversary.

   

  John posted:

   

  “Thirty years ago Carolyn and I walked down the aisle and exchanged our vows. It has been a wonderful life together so far, and I look forward to many more years of happiness. Thanks be to God for bringing this wonderful woman into my life.”

   

   

   

  The Kovatches have homes in The Villages, Florida, where Paula and I spend our winters away from Ohio’s blustery months, and in North Canton.

   

  One winter we saw John and Carolyn dancing in The Villages’ Spanish Springs, one of four squares in The Villages which have free live music and dancing every night of the year.

   

   

   

  John’s career included University of Akron associate vice president/controller, Knight-Ridder vice president finance and administration, Ernest & Young CPA and JEK Accounting Service before his Kent State and Euclid High days.

   

   

   

  He’s from Massillon, where Paul Brown began his fabulous coaching career.

  John can email congratulations to johnekovatch@aol.com

   

   

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