Former BJ correspondent Wilma Kollert passes away

Wilma Kollert, a BJ Summit County correspondent in the 1960s/1970s, passed away on Monday, December 24.

Wilma covered Richfield, Bath Township and Boston Heights.

She covered meeting by Richfield zoning board chairman Richard Backderf.

She also wrote for the Richfield Community News and Calendar newsletter along with Mary Anne Backderf.

Thanks to former BJ sports editor Ken Krause, who lives in Medford, Massachussetts, for that information.

In case you’re wondering, Richard Backderf and Mary Anne Backderf are the parents of John “Derf” Backderf, the brilliant “My Friend Dahmer” cartoonist married to another BJ escapee, reporter Sheryl Harris who joined the parade to the PD.

Derf’s dad was a Goodrich research chemist in Brecksville for 36 years. Both parents were Akron South High graduates who winterized in Hilton Head, South Carolina. University of Akron graduate Richard passed away in 2011.
 
Advertising Art retiree Mike Williams, like Ken my Retirement Reference Library source, added:

She must have been a writer, because her first mention was as a Beacon
Journal winner in an Ohio journalism contest in 1969.  She was a definite competitor because she was runnerup to Maxine Johnson in the
Ladies Bowling competition in 1968.

 Wilma’s obituary:

Wilma Kollert

Wilma J. Kollert, 78, of Richfield, died Dec. 24, 2018 at her home.

Wilma was born Sept. 22, 1940 and graduated from Norwayne High School in 1958. She had been a resident of Richfield since 1964 and had worked at the Beacon Journal and at the former L& K Motel. Wilma enjoyed doing crafts and had set up at many area craft shows.

Surviving are her husband, Carl who she married Sept. 28, 1957; her children, Cynthia (David) Rogers and Curtis (Barb) Kollert and five grandchildren and one greatgrandson.

Private family services will be held with burial in Burbank Cemetery. Tributes may be shared at www.Murray-Funeral-Home.com