Cathy Strong, granddaughter Katie Belle, flying off on another adventure

Cathy Strong flies more than Mary Poppins

1970s BJ State Desk reporter Cathy Strong, who created the journalism master’s program at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand, and who stays in one place about as long as a hummingbird does, is off to Washington State with her granddaughter, Katie Belle, whose parents are Cathy’s daughter, Rebecca and her husband, Dion.

Cathy’s sister, Janet Mullins, lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

In February, Cathy saw daughter Penelope marry international patent attorney John Pint, originally from Minnesota, in New Zealand.

In 2005 Cathy's daughter, Rebecca, and husband Dion, were married in Otaki, New Zealand. They have three daughters and a son. 

In 2013 Cathy’s daughter, Amanda, married Jeff Shima near Waiouru, New Zealand. They have a daughter. 

Cathy lives about an hour away from Wellington on the Kapiti Coast’s Te Horo Beach. 

She  spent three years in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, teaching journalism, mostly to daughters of Arab royalty (with a broken foot slipping down a stairway as a souvenir). 

She also has taught snowboarding down New Zealand mountains (with cracked ribs to prove it).

And given journalism lectures in Japan, water-skiied and kayaked. 

She's been to Kenya and Tonga (for a family reunion), given journalism seminars in Taiwan and flown to Washington, D.C. to accept first prize in the Great Ideas For Teachers competition at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2013. 

Cathy flew to Boston to jump in a hot tub with friend Pam McCarthy, retired North Canton Hoover High teacher, in a reunion that took 35 years to happen. 

Hell, when retired BJ photographer Don Roese, 1970s State Desk reporter Paula Stone Tucker and I visited Cathy in 2013, she hadn’t had a visit from anyone except the late legend Fran Murphey in her four decades in Kiwi land.

And, as Don said, “she’s still a fine-looking woman.” Maybe a little accident-prone, though.

If you want to visit or phone Cathy, her New Zealand office number is  021 2172112. Don't be surprised if you get her VoiceMail. This is one busy broad! 

8-28-14 report from Cathy:

Disneyland was soooo fun with granddaughter Katie Belle. From tomorrow is family get-together in Leavenworth, zip lining, river tubing, lots of nattering -- with Ann Hays, Ian Equality Hays, Sally Bryan, Penelope Pint ,John Wayne Pint and long long time friend Jim Hackett.

Carol Biliczy Levandoski

Carol Biliczky joins exodus from BJ

Carol Biliczky Levandoski is retiring from the BJ at the end of this month.

Carol says: “I’m looking forward to entering the next frontier.” Then she posted a smiley face.

When I wrote “You are going to LOVE retirement! I sure do,” she responded: 

“Glad to hear that you do. I'm looking forward to so many things that I've been

unable to do, from travel to hobbies. Excellent that you feel the same way.”

I emailed Carol after I saw former BJ political reporter Abe Zaidan’s Facebook post:

“Alas, ABJ's Biliczky is leaving.

“The word from the ABJ is that another top reporter ls leaving an already skeletal staff. Carol Beliczky is packing up after 24 years on the local staff plus two in the Columbus bureau and will be gone in two weeks.

“Her departure, folks, is a major blow to the paper. Her coverage of higher education as well as the Tressel epic at the University of Akron was at the highest level of professional journalism and one of the few bright spots of local reporting.

“The decision didn’t come easily. After extended consideration she applied for a buyout during the staff churn – and was turned down by the front office.

“A university town can’t afford to lose her, but it will too soon.”

Kent State and Medina High graduate Carol has won national awards for her education articles during her years at the BJ. She was higher education reporter and contributed to Sunday community news.

Her husband, Robert C. Levandoski, who died Sept. 8, 2008 at the age of 59, was a Medina novelist who was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for "Fresh Eggs," a 2002 book written under the name C.R. Corwin. It was among the six books he wrote. Bob once was a Medina Gazette reporter, a public relations representative for Brunswick city schools and a trade magazine reporter. He also taught writing classes at the University of Akron.

Carol and Bob met at a book release event for his "Going to Chicago," published in 1997, and were married in 2003.

Carol has had to deal with the deaths of her sister, Joyce Biliczky, in 2003; her husband, Bob, in 2008; her father, Charles Biliczky, in 2010; and her mother, Rose Mary Biliczky, in 2012.

So BJ management gets rid of another body without paying a buyout fee of a year’s pay, as it did for Jewell Cardwell, Jim Carney, Bill Lilley, Dave Scott and Olga Reswow in May.

The steady forced march out the door has reduced a newsroom that once had more than 200 to 60 or fewer, getting Ol' Blue pretty close to being a haunted house.

Dancing Jimmy passes away

Dancing Jimmy Eliadis, who could be seen dancing at venues all around the Akron area, from Happy Days to Cuyahoga Falls amphitheater, waltzed into eternity.

Dancing Jim Eliadis

The guy who brought a smile to those who saw him enjoying the moment under his hat in Gene Kelly mode passed away on his 89^th birthday, Aug. 15.

Dancing Jimmy’s obituary:

James "Jimmy" Eliadis

1925 - 2014 | | 

James (Jimmy) Eliadis

James Eliadis, 89, surrounded by family, love and prayers, passed away on his birthday, August 15th. He officially became the new "House Dancer" for Heaven.

He was born in Piraeus, Greece August 15, 1925. He graduated from Canton Timken High School and The University of Akron. He served in the United States Navy. Jimmy married the love of his life, Helen Caruso. He retired from Babcock and Wilcox in 1991 with nearly 40 years of service.

Jimmy's joy in life was dancing. He used to say, "I live to dance" and dance he did. He was featured by several articles in the Akron Beacon Journal and entertained people of all ages at numerous prominent venues including Red Fox, Benito's, Pro Football Hall of Fame Parade, Rockin' on the River, Rusty Nail, Stow Library, Happy Valley Center and was a guest dancer for Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet. He also served as the president of the EarlyJas Society.

He was a charter member of Immaculate Heart of Mary church and led the "Mother of Sorrow Funeral Choir" succeeding his wife Helen.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen of 47 years and parents, Elias and Sophia Eliadis.

He is survived by sons, Mark, Luke and devoted daughter-in-law, Kim; loving granddaughters, Brooke and Kelly; brother, Gust Eliadis; sister, Betty Yaghoot; brother-in-law, Burton Wilfong; niece, Marianne Marzano (Philadelphia); and great-nephew, Charles Anthe.

We would like to thank Dr. Atul Giswomi for his wonderful care for Jimmy over the last year. We would also like to thank Doug Green and the Redfox family.

Family and friends will celebrate the man, the myth, the legend, at Cirello and Carr Funeral Home, 810 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, on Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, followed by Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mother of Sorrows Benevolent and Grief Fund, c/o Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1905 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Words of condolences may be shared with the family at: cirielloandcarrfh.com .

To read the BJ’s story on Dancing Jimmy, which finally showed up 8-21-14, click on

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/dancing-king-james-eliadis-dies-at-age-89-1.515232  

Why is it that Bob Dyer and hot air seems to be natural companions?

My long-time Blue Room lunch laison, still a BJ columnist despite all the draconian cutbacks at Ol’ Blue, will read from his book, "Blimp Pilot Terrorizes Akron (And Other Hot Air)" on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, which has survived worse since its 1924 beginning.

Here’s the puff piece on the library web site:

Since joining the Akron Beacon Journal in 1984, Bob Dyer has earned 51 regional and national writing awards. In 2008, he was voted Best Columnist in the Nation and in 2013 he was voted Best Humor Columnist in the nation by the National Society of Professional Journalists. A native of suburban Cleveland, Dyer was one of the lead writers for "A Question of Color," a year-long examination of racial attitudes in Akron that won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994.

"Blimp Pilot Terrorizes Akron (And Other Hot Air)" was released in November of 2013. In this collection, Dyer nearly crashes the Goodyear blimp, drag races in a '64 Plymouth Barracuda, drives a 126-ton locomotive, examines the "Great Wall of Fairlawn" and provides unsolicited advice to LeBron James. Enjoy Dyer's fast-paced commentary during this free program. 

Registration begins Aug. 11. To register, call 330- 688-3295 ext. 4 or visit smfpl.org .

If you dig Dyer, and who doesn’t since he’s about the best that’s left at Ol’ Blue, hustle over to the Stow Library (Munroe Falls is just a piggyback name).

If you want to watch Dyer’s performance at Hudson Library for this same but, of course, humorous self-promotion, click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDM2jMHIc5M

Listen to the Babe from Bombay

Thrity Umrigar

Former BJ reporter Thrity Umrigar is interviewed about her sixth novel, “The Story Hour,” on National Public Radio. It’s about the relationship between a psychiatrist and a patient.

To hear the 6 minutes + podcast, click on

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/340669847/an-unlikely-psychologist-patient-friendship-unfolds-in-the-story-hour

Previous Thrity novels, all set in her native India (she’s a babe from Bombay), are “Bombay Time” (2002), “The Space Between Us” (2007), “If Today be Sweet” (2008), “The Weight of Heaven” (2010) and “The World We Found” (2012), and her memoir, “First Darling of the Morning”  (2008). 

Thrity is an associate professor of English at Case Western Reserve University.

Bill Schlemmer’s widow passes away

Wanda Schlemmer, widow of former BJ managing editor Bill Schlemmer, passed away Monday, Aug. 11.

Her flowery and enthusiastic obituary:

Wanda M. Schlemmer, the youngest 87-year old you have ever met, passed away peacefully August 11, 2014. She was loved by all and never met a stranger.

She was the very best mother and grandmother and GiGi. Our lives are forever changed. We are blessed that she enjoyed great health all of her life.

She was fun, loving, sweet and so kind. She set fine examples for her family on how to live a great life. Wanda loved to exercise with her aerobics group, play Bocce, hit the casinos and eat out (1/2 glass of wine with lots of ice) with her "kids" and friends.

She was renowned for her mashed potatoes and sauerkraut balls and we only hope that the recipe she left with us can be reproduced.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, William D. Schlemmer, and her daughter and son-in-law, Roberta and Harold Goldblatt.

She is survived by daughters, Cheryl Cannatti, and the son she never had Jim Cannatti, and daughter, Pamela Vineyard; grandchildren, Hallie Goldblatt, Holly and Chris Wedding, James and Julie Cannatti, Kelsey and Danny Smith, Josh and Stephanie Vineyard, Zack and Marisa Vineyard; great-grandchildren, Poppy, Chloe. Connor, Daniel and Everett, Mikayla, Caleb and Madison.

She is also survived by sisters, Shirley Fedrigon and Lois Hanna; dearest sister-in-law, Darlene Schlemmer, and many loving nieces and nephews, especially Cindy, Brady and Kim Marks; dearest friends, Carm and Steve Kramer and Magda Reiter; her companion pet, Romeo (that damn dog that she loved dearly).

There are so many other friends and adopted family that thought of Wanda as GiGi or grandma or Wanda or Mom. She loved each one of you dearly.

While we are heartbroken to lose her, we know that she will go on in our hearts and the hearts of all those she has touched. In her own words just last week, "I had a great run."

The family would like to thank the entire staff of Summa Western Reserve Hospital, especially the nursing staff on Floor 3 and the physicians who treated our mother with such dignity and respect.

Calling hours will be Friday, August 15, 2014 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ciriello & Carr Funeral Home, 810 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Interment to follow at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Turners Syndrome Foundation, P.O. Box 726, Holmdel, NJ 07733 or Cancer Research, Summa Western Reserve Hospital, 1900 Twenty Third St., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223.

(Sometime in the next week, please raise your glass and toast this wonderful woman who made our lives richer.) 

Krause wheels into old times, old friends

Ken Krause, former BJ sports editor who lives on Mystic Street in Medford, Massachussetts, has been taking a trip down memory lane in Ohio.

He visited old friends and long-ago places, in Cleveland and Akron. Tasted the food of Slavic Village again. Bicycled through Amish country in Holmes County.

Ken Krause (right), wife Maura (inset), John Olesky

Ken, one of seven siblings, has a covey of nieces and nephews in the Akron area, including a golfer on the St. Vincent High School team.

His wife, former BJ reporter Maura McEnaney, was with him.

Since leaving the BJ, Ken has been free-lancing for civic causes and charities, notably WalkBoston, a group that puts the pedestrian on a pedestal of protection as a non-profit pedestrian advocacy group.

Medford isn’t that much of a walk from Boston if you’re in good shape. Even quicker by bicycle.

Ken received the Ripple Award from the Mystic River Watershed Association for his efforts in protecting the integrity of the Massachusetts river. He’s also involved with Friends of the Mystic River, Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance and the Communications Committee of WalkBoston.

Ken is a man on a mission and on a bicycle. 

While visiting in Ohio, he and Maura rode bikes in Holmes County behind Amish buggies.

While Ken is free-lancing, Maura works for Fidelity Investments, headquartered in Boston, which should give her and Ken some insights into managing their money into a retirement of travel and fun in another decade.

Ken and Maura also are into dogs. Former BJ Features editor and pet columnist Connie Bloom, a quilt art guru in Ohio circles, did an art quilt for Maura as a Christmas gift for Ken of the late and lamented Belle, a lab mix that Maura found tied to a fence in Firestone Park in Akron years ago.

It was the first Christmas in 20 years without a dog in the Ken and Maura household.

Maura received her first royalty check for her  book, “Willard Garvey: An Epic Life.” Garvey built homes in the USA, South America and Asia for people with low incomes, is owner-operator of the “world’s largest” grain elevator, is the “largest private landowner in Nevada” and builder of Kansas’s tallest building—the Epic Center with its slanted copper roof.

Maura knew the family through friends and, after a half-decade of research and other prep work, put the book together. 

You can watch Maura's 33-minute appearance at the Wichita, Kansas Rotary Club, talking about the Garvey book,  by clicking on http://www.independent.org/multimedia/detail.asp?m=2452

Syracuse graduate Maura’s more than three decades as a business writer and editor include being on the BJ team that won a Pulitzer Gold Medal for its “A Question of Color” about race relations in the Akron area. She left the BJ for Boston in 2000 and later worked for Bloomberg News.

Ken and Maura wound up in Medford because Maura has a lot of family in the Boston area, which is convenient for Maura’s skiing in New Hampshire and their jaunts to other New England landmarks, particularly those accessible by bicycle.

When BJ legend Harry Liggett passed away in January, Ken and John Olesky put their heads together with the authority that Harry had given them and kept this BJ Alums blog you are reading going as a tribute to Harry – and Pat Englehart and Fran Murphey and Ben Maidenburg and John Knight, all of whom were mentioned in the two-hour reunion/recollections by Ken and John at the Longhorn Restaurant on Howe Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls.

We lassoed the good times and good memories.

K & M will head back home Thursday, with tourist stops along the way.

Betty Joan Perske, who was born in Brooklyn to Polish immigrants from Poland and Romania, died at 91.

Who?

The woman who made these movie lines famous:

“You know how to whistle, don't you? You just put your lips together and . . . blow.”

Lauren Bacall oozed that to immortality in “To Have and Have Not,” her movie debut with Humphrey Bogart, her future husband and father of two of her children -- Stephen Bogart, named after Bogart’s character in the film, and Leslie Bogart, a daughter named after the actor Leslie Howard.

Lauren and Humphrey were married at the Malabar Farm home of Bogie’s friend, writer Louis Bromfield, in Lucas, Ohio. Bogart was 45, Bacall 20.

The last of their five movies together was “Key Largo” in 1948, the title of Bernie Higgins’ 1981 song with the famous lyrics: “We had it all, just like Bogie and Bacall.”

After Bogart died in 1957, Bacall married and divorced Jason Robards.  They had a son, actor Sam Robards.

To read the New York Times obituary of Lauren Bacall, click on http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/13/movies/lauren-bacall-sultry-movie-star-dies-at-89.html

Robin Williams, Pam Dawber

Robin Williams commits suicide

Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams, 63, committed “suicide due to asphyxia” at his Northern California home Monday, law enforcement officials said.

"He has been battling severe depression of late," his media representative Mara Buxbaum told CNN. Williams had substance abuse and alcohol problems for decades.

Williams married graphic designer Susan Schneider in Napa Valley, California, in 2011.

Williams, a genius at improvisation comedy, burst into the American consciousness as the alien Mork from Ork in the Mork & Mindy TV series co-starring former model Pam Dawber, actor Mark Harmon’s wife. 

The Mork character made his first appearance on “Happy Days” before spinning off into his own series on ABC.

In the movies, Williams won an Oscar for “Good Will Hunting” and was nominated for “Dead Poets Society,” “The Fisher King” and “Good Morning, Vietnam.”

In 2014, Dawber reunited with Williams on his comedy series, “The Crazy Ones,” as a love interest of Williams' character.

For an incredible video of Robin Wiliams' meeting with Koko, the gorilla who understands English and American sign language, click on http://www.reshareworthy.com/robin-williams-meets-koko/#IPe39FkqQJSpJThK.01