BJ lunches died off as retirees died

BY JOHN OLESKY (BJ 1969-96)

Tom Moore may be right that it's time to retire the BJ retirees luncheon. The interest just isn't there. Too many of the regulars have passed away. 

There haven't been more than 10 show up at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at Papa Joe's Restaurant since 2008 when 23 attended a memorial lunch for Sandy Levenson and Bob Pell, who was a faithful attendee.

Gene McClellan, who had attended 87 out of 88 lunches before his illness, also passed away.

The last 13 months no more than 7 ever showed up. 

I confess that I forgot to put it on my calendar; if it's not staring at me on my calendar, I forget to go. 

It's too bad because I always enjoy myself when I do show up. There's plenty of laughter, some talk about the BJ going to hell since we left the building, and chatting about family and travel. 

Tom is away every fall in Florida to work with former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen's seniors baseball tournament. I'm away frequently with my travels to 52 countries and 43 states. 

It was a good time. A time whose value has passed for nearly everyone. Except Tom and I. And I forget to go too often. 

July 10, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    no one stayed

June 12, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2 (Mike Williams, John Olesky)

May 8, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

April 10, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2 (John Olesky, Don Roese)

January 9, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4

December 12, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . .   4

November 14, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . .   3 (Rosetta Blanton, Lonnie Thomas, Al Hunsicker)

October 10, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6 (Tracy McClellan, Rosetta Blanton, Lonnie Thomas)

September 12, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . .      7 (including Tracy McClellan, cousin Lonnie)

August 8, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       6 (including Tracy McClellan, Steve Mace)

July 11, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      3 (including Tracy McClellan)

June 13, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     3  (including Tracy McClellan)

May 9, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4

April 11, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10 (including Gene McClellan’s 3 

                                                                    children and 2 grandchildren)

March 14, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5

February 8, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     3

January 11, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6

December 14, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4

November 9, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4

October 12, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6 (including Rosetta Blanton)

Sept. 14, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4

August 10, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

July 13, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5

June 8, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6

May 11, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4

April 13, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6

March 9, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7

February 9, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5 including Denzil Parker

January 12, 2011 . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . 0 heavy snowstorm

December 8, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3

November 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

October 13, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . .  . 5 (including Cal Deshong’s daughter)

September 8, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

August 11, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

July 13, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7

June 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

May 12, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7

April 14, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

March 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12

February 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . 2 (Engraving’s Pat Dougherty, Composing’s

                                                         Gene McClellan)

January 13, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . .  5

November 11, 2009 . . . . . . . . .  4

September 9, 2009 …………….  8

August 12, 2009 ……………….   7

July 8, 2009 …………………….   10

June 10, 2009 ………………….  10

May 14, 2009 …………………..  8

April 8, 2009 …………………… 5

January 14, 2009 …………… 3

December 10, 2008 …………… 8

November 12, 2008 …………… 6

October 8, 2008 ……………… 8

August 13, 2008 ……………… 9

July 9, 2008 …………………… 23
(Sandy Levenson, Bob Pell memorial)

June 12, 2008 ………………… 8

May 14, 2008 ………………… 12

Feb. 13, 2008 ………………… 11

Dec. 12, 2007 ………………… 8

Sept. 12, 2007 ………………… 16

August 8, 2007 ……………… 7

June 13, 2007 ………………… 12

May 9, 2007 …………………… 14

April 11, 2007 ………………… 15

March 15, 2007 ……………… ??
(no story & photos no longer available)

January 10, 2007 …………… 14

December 13, 2006 ………… 18

November 8, 2006 …………… 13

October 12, 2006 …………… 11

September 13, 2006 ………… 12

August 13, 2006 …………… 15

July 12, 2006 ………………… 10

June 15, 2006 ……………… 12

May 11, 2006 ………………… 11

April 12, 2006 ……………… 11

March 8, 2006 ……………… 13

February 8, 2006 …………… 11

January 11, 2006 …………… 13

Traveling twosome only ones at BJ retirees lunch

BJ Advertising Art retiree Mike Williams (BJ 1968-2012), fresh from trips to Ecuador and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and newsroom retiree John Olesky, fresh from a trip to New Zealand and Australia, were the only people who showed up today at the monthly BJ retirees lunch at Papa Joe’s Restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

They discussed places that both have been, such as the Seneca Rocks and Blackwater Falls area of West Virginia, many of the countries of Europe and some in South America.

And people whose paths they have crossed, such as former University of Akron football coach and extraordinary fundraiser Jerry Faust. Mike ran across Jerry on a raft or small boat near Beckley, West Virginia. John, who’s known Jerry since Jerry’s father was athletic director at Dayton Chaminade High School, ran across Jerry a few years back at a doctor’s office while they were there for their female partners’ office visit.

Mike Williams (left), John Olesky
Elephant riding on front of shirt; tiger petting on back

Mike and Jane, who found the altitude in Ecuador difficult to handle, have two sons, independent trucker Nathan Williams (they keep track of where he is via SmartPhone’s locator) and chemical engineer Trevor Williams. Mike retired in December 2012 after 44 years, including coming under John Grimm’s wing in 1976.

Mike’s sister, BJ information technology retiree Linda Williams Torson, is married to Akron-Summit County Metroparks retiree Tim Torson. 

Another sister, former clinical dietician Cindy Williams Chima, worked in the BJ classified phone room in the 1970s and writes fiction novels for young adults.

Olesky wore his shirt with a scene from elephant riding alongside Paula in Thailand in 2012 on the front and petting an uncaged tiger in Chiangmai in northern Thailand on the back. The waitress took front and back photos for the lonesome twosome at the lunch.

The BJ retirees lunch, or what’s left of it, is 1 p.m. second Wednesday of every month at Papa Joe’s Restaurant in the Merriman Valley.

3 make it to May BJ retirees lunch

There were three people at the monthly BJ retirees lunch at Papa Joe’s Restaurant at Akron/Peninsula Road and Portage Trail Extension May 8. The lunches are at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month.

A report on the May lunch by Advertising Art retiree Mike Williams (BJ 1968-2012), fresh from trips to Ecuador and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Carl Nelson and Al Hunsicker from Composing were there this month. Plus me.

Mike Williams

Carl had his camera, took a photo of me with Al.  I had talked about sharing some photos via email with him, but Carl said he and his wife have an ancient computer that he hardly uses.  Will try to reach him to see if he can get a copy of the photo he took to you.

Shared some reminiscences of times past.  I kidded Carl about being a go-between when his daughter sold me a skunk -- yes, a skunk -- in 1978.  Rosebud the skunk had great fun with Jane and me for a couple of years until our first born became ambulatory, though our cat Gilda held a more jaundiced view.

It was fun watching these two old friends -- Carl, who retired in 1991 and Al, who retired in 1998 -- gently poke fun at each other, and bring me into their circle. The two of them have been regulars at the Wednesday lunches since the beginning. They'd love to see more attendance there.

No, I haven't made any trips since Ecuador this year, but for a quick trip to the Outer Banks to see my nephew Eric Chima get married.

-- Mike Williams

The Outer Banks are a 200-mile long string of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina and a small part of Virginia. It’s where the Wright brothers accomplished man’s first flight on Kill Devil Hills off Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Mike and wife Jane have two sons. Eric Chima is the son of Mike's sister, Cindy Williams Chima, who writes fiction novels for young adults.  Cindy worked in the BJ classified phone room in the 1970s.

Quality quartet quaff, quip

L-R: Rosetta Blanton, Lonnie Thomas, Al Hunsicker, John Olesky

                            

A quality quartet showed up today for the monthly lunch of Beacon Journal retirees at Papa Joe's restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

Hopkinsville, Kentucky native Rosetta Evelyn Sholdar Blanton, 87, widow of engraving’s Watson Blanton, was there with Lonnie Thomas.

Rosetta and Lonnie’s mothers were sisters who grew up in Kentucky before moving to Ohio. Rosetta and Lonnie live near each other in the Merriman Road and Palisades areas of Akron. 

Watson died in 2009 after 53 years of marriage to Rosetta and 23 years at the BJ.

Retired printer Al Hunsicker of Cuyahoga Falls was there.

So was Guild retiree John Olesky.

Rosetta and Lonnie and Lonnie’s wife Sharon go to Florida in the winter to visit Lonnie’s family in Miami, Orlando and Ocala, where Lonnie once worked.

Rosetta and Watson Blanton once owned 10 acres of land in Clearwater, Florida, where Watson was born, reared and attended his high school reunion every five years.

Retired printer Carl Nelson, a regular at the monthly lunches, is recuperating from hip replacement surgery.

Newsroom retiree Tom Moore, another regular, was on a toot – not the binge-drinking kind but the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Polar Express scenic railroad kind, where Tom is a conductor.

BJ retirees meet at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month, in case you want to join in on the laughter and good memories of the ol’ days at the BJ.

Traveling top retirees topic

Rosetta Blanton and cousin Lonnie Thomas are headed for Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Tom Moore is bound for Fort Myers, Florida; Tracy McClellan is hoping to return to Albuquerque, New Mexico; and John Olesky is preparing to fly to Paris, France.

All that came out of the conversation today at the monthly lunch for Beacon Journal retirees and their family members at Papa Joe’s Restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

Rosetta Sholdar Blanton will be visiting her birthplace. Lonnie’s mother also was born in Hopkinsville. Rosetta’s mother and Lonnie’s mom were sisters and Hopkinsville natives. Rosetta’s husband, BJ engraving retiree Watson Blanton, died in 2009. 

Rosetta and Lonnie live near each other in the Merriman Road and Palisades areas of Akron.

Rosetta will be visiting her brother, who still lives in Hopkinsville.

Rosetta told how she sold the last of the 10 acres that her and husband Watson owned in Clearwater, Florida. The buyer kept upping the price because it was the last land left that hadn't been developed and built on in that area. Rosetta kept saying: "Can't you give me a little bit more?" The buyer did, again and again, so Rosetta got thousands of dollars more than the original offer.

BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore will leave next week for former BJ Sports Editor Tom Giffen’s Roy Hobbs Baseball World Series for older guys in Fort Myers. The tournament, which has nearly 300 teams, lasts into November. Tom writes and publishes the daily newsletter for the players, plus whatever else Tom Giffen wants him to do. Giffen pays Moore for his skills and provides Moore with lodging.

Tracy McClellan, daughter of retired printer Gene McClellan, who died in March 2012, has sold Gene’s vintage cars and motorcycle but still is trying to dispose of the Mogadore home that Gene had. 

That’s where Tracy is living till she can settle pop’s affairs and return to her husband, Ken, in their Albuquerque home. They moved there while Tracy works on her law degree through the University of New Mexico.

Tracy’s sister, Erin, lives in California. Their brother, Dean, lives in Japan.

Newsroom retiree John and former State Desk reporter Paula will be flying to Paris for an Oct. 25-Nov. 2 stay (between WVU Mountaineer football games, of course), John’s 8^th anniversary present to Paula. While they’ve been to 50 countries together, it’s the first visit to Paris for John, unless you count a stop at Charles DeGaulle Airport on the way from Venice to New York City.

Retired printer Al Hunsicker also joined the lunch bunch.

The sextet provided the third-highest attendance at the monthly chat-and-chew events since August 2011.

BJ retirees, family and friends are welcome to join the party at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at Papa’s Joe Restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

Seven savor travel recollections

Travel and healthcare reimburse- ment forms were among the topics for the seven at Papa Joe’s restaurant today for the monthly Beacon Journal retirees lunch.

Rosetta Blanton, widow of BJ engraving retiree Watson Blanton (he died in 2009), at 87 still is enjoying Caribbean cruises. So does her cousin, Lennie Thomas, her companion as usual at the lunch.

Retired photographer Don Roese, 77, has been to Europe six or seven times and frequently drives to Alaska and Florida, where there’s a family home in Hollywood for snowbirds to escape Northeast Ohio winters.

Newsroom retiree John Olesky has been to 50 countries, and with Paula has signed up for a March 2013 three-week trip to New Zealand and Australia.

John and Don exchanged questions about their BJ lawsuit settlement forms. They are among Guild retirees who qualify for healthcare reimbursements and enrollment in medical coverage and $2 prescription co-pay that restores their retirement-day coverage.

The only Guild retirees identified by the BJ as eligible for the restoration of the $2 Rx card and medical coverage are Don, John, Dick McBane, Dick McLinden and Harold and Elizabeth Bailey.

There are far more retired printers and their spouses on the BJ’s eligibility list (some for Plan N, some for $5 prescription co-pay card, some for both):

David and Regina White, whose $2,500 check started the lawsuit ball rolling toward U.S. District Court Judge David Dowd’s landmark 2009 ruling against the BJ; Sid Sprague, Hugh and Sharon Downing, Isabel Watson, Janice Hogg, Bob and Linda Abbott, Russel and Marta Bendel, Lloyd and Claudine Bigelow, Joe Catalano, Eunice and Bonnie Collins, John Costello, Dick and Pat Fair, Larnie and Stephanie Greene, Dick Gresock, Marjorie Hanna, Ed Hanzel, Henry and Kathleen Heinbuch, Bob Kendall, Harriett Ledbetter, Norm and Naomi Mattern, Charles O’Neil, Denzil Parker, Fred Pollack, Francis and Rita Reeves, Don Reppart, Ron Sanderlin, Cecil and Josephine Santoferrero, Charles Stadelman, Josephine Thomes, Bob Walker, Ruth and Tom West, Tom and Thelma White, and Ray and Amaryllis Wolfe.

The retirees have till Sept. 21 to get their reimbursement and healthcare upgrade paperwork to the Beacon Journal Settlement Office. Otherwise, they don't get the settlement benefits.

Tracy McClellan, the late retired printer Gene McClellan’s daughter, also attended. She has disposed of her dad’s cars and motorcycle and is trying to sell Gene’s house before Tracy returns to her husband in New Mexico. Gene died in March.

Retired printers Carl Nelson and Al Hunsicker completed today's circle of seven.

The only time there has been more than seven at the monthly lunch since March 2010 was when Gene’s three children and two grandchildren showed up in April 2012 to swell attendance to 10.

The retirees lunch is at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at Papa Joe’s Restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension. It is open to current and former BJ employees and anyone who would like to visit BJ folks.

Steve Mace drives in from Las Vegas

Former Beacon Journal printer Steve Mace drove 36 hours and 20 minutes non-stop from his Las Vegas home to Akron for the monthly BJ retirees lunch today at Papa Joe’s restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

Well, Steve had help. There were seven family members in his van and five were drivers. Steve and his wife and adult children decided to drive from Vegas to visit old friends. They have four children and five grandchildren. 

Steve has lived in Vegas since 1978, after 16 years in the BJ Composing Room. He worked in construction – roads and streets, mostly – in and around Vegas. He left the never-ending casino construction to others.

Steve and newsroom retiree Tom Moore discussed Pacemakers. Both got their heart-assist equipment in 2006.

Steve played football for Springfield High School and the University of Akron and “softball forever,” as he put it. The University of Akron is where Steve met Marylouise Carroll, a St. Vincent High graduate in training to be a nurse. She married Steve instead and was a teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary Elementary in Cuyahoga Falls for a while.

Steve worked at the BJ with the late printer Gene McClellan, whose daughter, Tracy, also was at the lunch, still sorting out things since her Dad passed before she returns to New Mexico to rejoin her husband. 

On previous trips to Ohio, Steve had reunions with Gene McClellan and retired printer Mike Jewell and accounting retiree Mickey Dimeff at the Hiberian Club. 

Steve also talked on the phone with retired printer Sid Sprague, who moved to Loveland, Colorado after residing on Pawleys Island, South Carolina till Sid’s wife died and Sid remarried.

Steve’s brother, Jim, a Lakemore resident and General Tire retiree, passed in 2010.

Others at Papa Joe’s were retired printers Carl Nelson and Al Hunsicker and newsroom retiree John Olesky.

Steve said he checks the BJ Alums blog every day to keep up on his former co-workers. Some of the conversation today revolved around which BJ retirees were no longer among us. 

Too many, unfortunately.

BJ deaths in 2012 include Gene McClellan, March 19; retired printer Cal DeShong, July 25; Newsroom retiree Art Cullison, July 26; long-ago BJ reporter Dave Allbaugh, July 3; production equipment electrician Howard Wood, June 16; mailroom retiree Ron Edwards, May 8; and Adrienne Bosworth Chafetz, BJ Columbus bureau, March 6.

If you want to contact Steve or Marylouise, their email address is Microjo80@msn.com Their phone number is (702) 873-5071.
 

Their U.S. mail address is

Stephen H. Mace
6204 Obannon Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89146

Early BJ retirees lunch on Wednesday

The monthly lunch of Beacon Journal retirees will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Papa Joe’s Restaurant on Akron-Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension. Since the lunches are on the second Wednesday of the month, the 8^th is the earliest date it can fall on.

With the passing of regulars like Gene McClellan and Cal Deshong, the lunch is in danger of moving into a phone booth unless we can entice more BJ folks to show up. Give it a try. It’s mostly laughter and recalling BJ days.

Cal died July 25. Gene died March 19. They were the most faithful attendees for the monthly lunches. The biggest crowd in the past two years, if you count only BJ folks and not their family members, has been seven.

Art Cullison attended often before he moved to Erlanger, Kentucky to be near his son. Art died July 26.

Art and Cal probably will be the main topics of conversation on Wednesday.

Trio attends retiree lunch

 Carl Nelson, Tracy McClellan and Tom Moore

It's getting a bit lonesome at the retiree luncheon these days.

For the second month onlythree showed: Tom Moore, Carl Nelson and Tracy McClellan, daughter of the late Gene McClellan.

Tracy is still in town settling her dad's affairs. So far she's gotten rid of his cars and there's an open house Saturday for those interested in buying the house.

She expects to stick around for another month. Her husband will rejoin her soon.

She told us about her trip to Japan a few years ago. Her brother lives and works there.

We asked if she found any Japanese men that interested her? She said there was one good-looking fellow, but he was looking to marry an American so he could move to the states.

She talked about growing up in the area and going to Our Lady of the Elms school and some of her driving experiences after she learned to drive.

She said she and her mother made many trips to the Beacon to visit Gene at work...so many that the guard knew them by sight and they had no trouble getting into the building.

When Tom Moore mentioned the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway where he volunteers as a trainman, she said a ride on the train sounded great and she hopes to take the trip with her husband went he comes back into town.

Tom noticed Carl doing a bit of limping. Seems he's got a bad hip and will schedule a hip replacement in the next month or so.

Carl is always good for a good story.

And this week was no exception.

He told us about going through a tornado that hit the west side of Akron, I think he said in the 40s when he was a kid.

He was just getting ready to take a bath when things got rough. His mother and dad were in the basement in front of the fireplace. And the lights went out.

He made his way downstairs when the fury of the storm hit...knocking out windows, hitting the chimney and causing embers from the fire scatter all l over the carpet.

So the family spent the next few minutes stamping out the embers.

When the storm had subsided, he said he was glad he didn't try to take that bath....the bathtub was filled with glass and debris.

And the next day, on the way to school, he said a neighbor's car had been lifted off the ground and deposited in an upstairs room where it remained for a week or so.

Great story and I'm sure a lot of us has a few to share with our colleagues, so mark the second Wednesday of August about 1 p.m. at Papa Joe's in Merriman Valley on your calendar .

We'll exchange “war “ stories and any others we can come up with.

Gene McClellan's daughter at BJ lunch

Tracy McClellan, daughter of the late printer Gene McClellan, joined retired printer Carl Nelson and newsroom retiree John Olesky at today’s monthly BJ Retirees lunch at Papa Joe’s Restaurant at Akron/Peninsula Road and Portage Trail.

Tracy is living in Gene’s Mogadore home while she settles the details of her dad’s estate. Husband Ken is patiently awaiting her return to their Albuquerque, New Mexico home, although Ken plans to fly to Akron in July for a reunion with Tracy.

Gene died March 19. 

Tracy is trying to dispose of Gene’s cars, truck and motorcycle and settle other estate matters. And there’s a lot of transferring of stuff to various family members.

Tracy met her husband, Ken, when she left Ohio for better job opportunities in California. That was more than a decade ago.

Tracy’s sister, Erin, also lives in California. Gene’s son, Dean, lives in Japan. 

Gene’s three children and two grandchildren were at the April lunch for BJ retirees at Papa Joe’s.

Gene and wife Christine divorced in the 1950s, but the family maintains contact with each other. Gene had a long-time companion who died in 2005. 

BJ retirees meet at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at Papa Joe’s on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension. Anyone with a BJ connection, part or present, is welcome.

~ John Olesky

Muddy flight for Carl Nelson

Retired printer Carl Nelson, at the monthly BJ retirees lunch today at Papa Joe's on Akron/Peninsula Road, recalled the time he and his military buddies went flying through the air when their jeep overturned.

This happened in Germany. Carl and his military companions had, let us say, more than a few too many to drink. The driver imbibed way more than anyone else.

The Autobahn was covered with mud from tank tracks (this is World War II, remember). The jeep slid off the road and overturned.

"I thought I was dead," Carl said. "My duffelbag and I went flying. So did the guy sitting next to me and his duffelbag. We landed in the mud on our hands and knees.

"We knew we were OK, so we looked around for the jeep driver.  We heard a voice say, "Get me the hell out of here. We had a trenching tool in the overturned jeep, which we used to dig him out."

The monthly gatherings at Papa Joe's, at Akron/Peninsula Road and Portage Trail Extension, is a place to share memories.

BJ folks gather at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month.

Besides Carl, others in attendance were retired printer Al Hunsicker and newsroom retirees Tom Moore and John Olesky.

Only February 2012 -- with three -- drew fewer people to the monthly lunch since no one showed up during a January 2011 snowstorm. Maybe that's because Gene McClellan, who made 88 of 89 monthly lunches, died in March.

Tribute lunch for Gene McClellan

The late BJ printer Gene McClellan's two daughters, son and two grandsons joined Gene's former co-workers at the BJ for the monthly BJ retirees lunch at Papa Joe's on Wednesday, April 11.

Gene's daughters are Eric, from San Luis Obispo, California, and Tracy, from Albuquerque, New Mexico. His son is Dean, who has lived in Japan for 25 years. Dean brought along his two sons, Jacob and Arthur, who are Gene's grandsons.

Gene's former co-workers at the lunch were retired printers Al Hunsicker and Carl Nelson and newsroom escapees Tom Moore, Harry Liggett and John Olesky.

Gene's children told his former co-workers about the Gene they knew. Gene's former co-workers told his children about the Gene they knew. Pretty much the same guy, just from different viewpoints.

Tracy spent a few months in Japan living with Dean "during my free spirit years." Now she's a consultant for companies' Human Resources departments. Tracy's husband Ken is a chemical engineer.

Erin is the owner of Sprigs, a florist and floral designer business that she's been running for 12 years.

Dean is a civilian employee of a U.S. base in Japan. His wife is Michio.

Gene's wife of 30 years, Christine, survives. So do three brothers.

The children are hoping to sell the vintage Fiero, truck and motorcycle that Gene and brother Richard McClellan of Mogadore have revived.

McClellan died March 19. He was born Dec. 6, 1938. Gene had attended 87 of the past 88 monthly BJ retirees lunches.The only one he missed was in January 2010 when a snowstorm kept everyone away from Papa Joe's.

Click on the headline to see photos of the tribute lunch for Gene and earlier Gene appearances at BJ retirees lunches.

Only 5 attend retiree lunch

 By TOM MOORE
It was a beautiful “summer” day, but only five showed up for our retiree luncheon for March:. Tom Moore, Al Hunsickle, Gene McClellan, engraver Watson Blanton's widow with Lennie Thomas.

And with all these “young” folks at the table, the main topic seem to be past, present and possible future health problems.

Everybody had a tale or two. Gene said he's been having trouble with a pain in his arm, but he was sure it was just a pinched nerve. But he's going in for tests anyway, and we all stressed that it was nothing to fool with...have that heart checked.

His latest car project is restoring an old clunker he bought three years ago and cannibalize for parts to another car. Now he thinks it would be a good project to “keep me off the streets” to see if he can get that clunker chugging down the highway.

Al added a thing or two to the discussion and Mrs. Blanton related some of her problems and said she hopes to get back into some exercise when the top of the new Summa program of silver sneakers came up.

That's a program where you can attend exercise classes at various recreation centers and it cost you nothing if you have Summa Care medical coverage.

Tom came up with a story about his quad bypass of nine years ago. He had recovered and was in the dentist chair when the dental assistant asked who his surgeon was.

He replied: “Dr Lee.”

The assistant said to him: “You're lucky, he killed my grandmother.”

At least she said this AFTER the surgery.

The discussion turned to scams and Mrs. Blanton said she received a call that she had won a big prize, but she had to pay the shipping charge of $600.

When she said that sounded high, the caller offered to negotiate. Needless to say, she didn't fall for the scam.

She had another good story. The Jehovah Witness's came to the house and she let them in. They went into their spiel. She was holding her little dog. So after listening for awhile,she figured she's let the dog loose and maybe that would shut up the fellow.

But the dog just left her lap and laid down on the floor and continued to listen to the talking.

The newspaper came in from some criticism during discussions...especially how they failed to cover the Chardon school shootings which, somebody thought might win the Plain Dealer a prize.

And also mentioned was a Portage County story that carried a Columbus Dispatch byline.

The five decided that local news was no longer a priority.

Next luncheon is the second Wednesday of April ( April 11) about 1 pm at Papa Joes' in the Valley. Retirees, working stiffs and anybody associated with the BJ are welcome to come chew the fat.

Terrific trio turnout

While only three showed up today for the monthly BJ retirees lunch at Papa Joe's restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road, the lowest turnout since no one came during the January 2011 snowstorm, we found the conversation so interesting that we chatted for two hours.

Retired printers Dick Gresock and Gene McClellan and newsroom retiree John Olesky made it. McClellan has the longest attendance streak, at 13 and growing.

Since Dick and John joined Ken Wright in the same BJ room for years to coordinate electronics technology between Composing and the Newsroom, a big chunk of the chatter involved the BJ changes from linotypes to punched tape to APS-4 to computer terminals for every reporter and editor. And how the ITU negotiators tried not to show their glee as they accepted a John Knight-inspired offer for lifetime jobs in exchange for cooperation with computer expansion.

Since Dick and John have made the rounds of national parks in the West and Southwest, another chunk of conversation was devoted to the pleasures of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Bryce and other natural national treasures.

Gene wasn't left out of the conversation, though, particularly when the trio discussed their early days in the business and how they wound up at the Beacon Journal. Gene's Mom and Mr. Church, who hired him at the BJ, went to, ironically, the same church which led Gene from his railroad employment to the BJ. Dick bowled in the Printcraft League, while he worked in a job shop, where the BJ guy who hired him also bowled and persuaded Dick to switch to the BJ to put together ads. John wound up at the Beacon Journal because publisher Ben Maidenburg liked to help a difficult cause, such as being fired by the Dayton Daily News for union activities.

"When I walked through those double doors" to Composing, Gene said, "and heard all that noise, I knew this was where I wanted to be." And he was, for decades.

If you want to swell the crowd, and find something worth listening to and laughing about for two hours, show up at Papa Joe's -- where Akron/Peninsula meets Portage Trail Extension -- at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month.

Not many have recently, but those who do seem to enjoy themselves a lot. Or maybe they're just glad to get out of the house.

Pat Dougherty certifiable Best Man

BJ Engraving retiree Pat Dougherty will be the best man at the wedding of his grandson, the father of two of Pat's grandchildren.

Pat has eight grandchildren and a pair of great-grandchildren.

Pat discussed the upcoming nuptials at the monthly BJ retirees lunch in Papa Joe's restaurant on Akron-Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

Six showed up. Only two of the 16 most recent retirees lunches have drawn a larger "crowd." At one time 30 would be a normal attendance number, but the 1 p.m. second Wednesday of the monthly chew-the-food-and-chew-the-fat gatherings haven't hit double-digit attendance since March 2010.

Tom Moore discussed his annual trips to Florida to handle former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen's Roy Hobbs World Series for older baseball players, where Tom M. gets paid to write daily stories about the players for Tom G. every late autumn.

It all started with Giffen gave Moore a call, asking if Tom M. could do a few interviews for Tom G. over the phone. Moore did. Giffen liked it. And asked former copy desk makeup man Tom M., "How would you like to come to Florida?" That was the beginning of an 8-year alliance between the two former BJ co-workers.

Others at today's retirees lunch besides Tom Moore and Pat Dougherty were retired printers Gene McClellan, Carl Nelson and Al Hunsicker and newsroom retiree John Olesky, who was between his December trip to Spain, Portugal and Morroco and his Jan. 14-28 14th annual winterizing on Siesta Key (Sarasota), Florida, within a block of where the late printer Bill Gorrell had his Poor Bill's building of rental apartments that drew BJ personnel for decades. John and Paula will return from Florida in time to get ready for their trip to Thailand and Cambodia, Feb. 15-March. 2. That will bring John's countries-visited total to 48 since his 1996 retirement from the BJ.

Attendance totals for BJ retirees lunches in the six years that Olesky has been keeping track (and has no idea why he does):

January 11, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

December 14, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

November 9, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

October 12, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 (including Rosetta Blanton)

Sept. 14, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

August 10, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

July 13, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

June 8, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

May 11, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

April 13, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

March 9, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

February 9, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 including Denzil Parker

January 12, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 (heavy snowstorm)

December 8, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

November 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

October 13, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 (including Cal Deshong’s daughter)

September 8, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

August 11, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

July 13, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

June 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

May 12, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

April 14, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

March 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

February 10, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . 2 (Engraving’s Pat Dougherty, Composing’s
Gene McClellan)

January 13, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . 5

November 11, 2009 . . . . . . . . . 4

September 9, 2009 ……………. 8

August 12, 2009 ………………. 7

July 8, 2009 ……………………. 10

June 10, 2009 …………………. 10

May 14, 2009 ………………….. 8

April 8, 2009 …………………… 5

January 14, 2009 …………… 3

December 10, 2008 …………… 8

November 12, 2008 …………… 6

October 8, 2008 ……………… 8

August 13, 2008 ……………… 9

July 9, 2008 …………………… 23
(Sandy Levenson, Bob Pell memorial)

June 12, 2008 ………………… 8

May 14, 2008 ………………… 12

Feb. 13, 2008 ………………… 11

Dec. 12, 2007 ………………… 8

Sept. 12, 2007 ………………… 16

August 8, 2007 ……………… 7

June 13, 2007 ………………… 12

May 9, 2007 …………………… 14

April 11, 2007 ………………… 15

March 15, 2007 ……………… ??
(no story & photos no longer available)

January 10, 2007 …………… 14

December 13, 2006 ………… 18

November 8, 2006 …………… 13

October 12, 2006 …………… 11

September 13, 2006 ………… 12

August 13, 2006 …………… 15

July 12, 2006 ………………… 10

June 15, 2006 ……………… 12

May 11, 2006 ………………… 11

April 12, 2006 ……………… 11

March 8, 2006 ……………… 13

February 8, 2006 …………… 11

January 11, 2006 …………… 13

A foursome recalls the good old days

By TOM MOORE
There may have been only four us at the ChrIstmas luncheon of the BJ retirees, but we had a great time recalling the past...the good old days when those working at the BJ were family.

You enjoyed going to work because you weren't working for somebody, you were working with them...from John S. Knight down to Smitty in the maintenance department.

And we four bemoaned the passing of those days.

Al Hunsicker, Gene McCellan, Carl Nelson and me.

I brought along three old “Tower Topics” I found in my basement...articles on the long-gone 25-year-dinners, golf and bowling outings and the family picnics.

And one was the issue about John S. Knight's death.

Somebody brought up the subject of the Indianapolis Speedway. A couple of the guys had been there to witness races.

Which led me to add that I also had visited there and had a tour of the track compliments of the Indianapolis Newspaper Guild.

That was 1959.

I was Guild chairman of the Columbus Citizen Journal and attended the Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio district conference.

And there I first met Al Fitzpatrick, Craig Wilson and a young lady from the morgue, Sheila.

Got acquainted with the group and spent some time with them.

Little did I know that three years later I'd have a reunion with them when I joined the copy desk to begin my career at the BJ.

Only four of us at the luncheon, but, as I said at the beginning, a good time was had by all and we four wish everybody a great Christmas and a grand New Year.

Ol' reliables at monthly BJ retirees lunch

The usual trio showed up at today's BJ retirees lunch in Papa Joe's Restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road -- retired printers Al Hunsicker, Carl Nelson and Gene McClellan. Newsroom retiree John Olesky, between trips, made it a quartet.

That matches the year's lowest total of September and May.

The lunch is at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month.

BJ lunch: Time had come to talk of many things

Lunch bunch (from left) Gene McClellan, Al Hunsicker, Tom Moore and Carl Nelson

Rosetta Blanton and friend Lonie Thomas, joined the four regulars at the monthly BJ Retirees lunch at Pap Joe’s in Merriman Valley. She is the widow of BJ engraver Watson Blanton who died March 25, 2010,

She joined printers Al Hunsicker, Gene McClellan and Carl Nelson and news editor Tom Moore in discussing BJ topics.

Missing from the usual bunch was Cal Deshong, who will turn 93 next month. Calvin E. Deshong was born November 24, 1918 in Johnstown, PA. All agreed that they should send him birthday cards. And that led to a discussion of the cost of those musical cards and everything else. Moore had been sending him musical cards for a couple of years. Hunsicker said he liked one with an accordion that played a tune when you opened it up, but when he noticed the $8 price he shut off the music.

Moore had sent his cards from Florida where he is headed again Monday for another month of Hobbs Baseball working with Tom Giffen.

Somebody noted that it took the BJ a day to catch up on the obituary for former prosecutor James Barbuto who made lots of headlines a few years ago. Moore reminded printers that the classified obit crew had always sent up little green sheets on each obit to the morgue for checking to see if the person should rate a news story. Moore wondered if the morgue had been shut down.

Carl Nelson asked if anybody had been to the printers club lately. Nobody had. Nelson said the club is still open but the entrance on Exchange Street has been closed because of so many unsavory characters turning up.

And that’s a -30- for this month.

Quality quartet at BJ Alums lunch

Faithful four showed up today at the monthly BJ retirees lunch at Papa Joe's Restaurant on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension. They are retired printers Gene McClelland, Al Hunsicker and Carl Nelson and newsroom retiree John Olesky.

Al talked about his granddaughter -- daughter of Al's daughter Pam and her husband Don Coy -- getting an engagement ring.

Gene and Carl found out that they both worked for the AC&Y Railroad when they weren't at the BJ. Gene sold two of his vehicles that he likes to tinker with but still has four -- auto, motorcyle and truck.

John was back for the first time in three months because his travels coincided previously with the 1 p.m. second Wednesday of the month date for the BJ retirees lunches.

Since retired printer Calvin Deshong didn't show up, as he usually does, and the quartet was concerned, they called Cal. Not to worry, Cal assured them. Cal's joints became a problem, the Prednizone has helped, but not enough yet to make the monthly lunch. Cal will be 93 on Nov. 24.

The four who showed equalled the smallest attendance since no one showed up in January -- the quartet who dined in May.

If you work or worked at the BJ, you're welcome to attend the monthly lunch at 1 p.m. second Wednesday of the month at Papa Joe's on Akron/Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

Ramblings from BJ Lunch

Carl Nelson, Dick Latshaw and Tom Moore

Dave Boerner, Bob Craiglow, Al Hunsicker and Gene McClellan

By Tom Moore

Two old faces showed at the retiree luncheon this month along with one guy who showed up for the first time.

Old timers are Dave Boerner and Dick Latshaw. New is Bob Craiglow who worked in accounting. He retired in 1999.

And of course a few of those who rarely miss a luncheon.

Once again, a great time was had by all, trying to recall folks we worked with at the Beacon Journal. Of course, as we grow older, some names escape us until we “play 20 questions” and somebody comes up with the right answer.

Speaking of old timers, Tom Moore told about a party he attended Saturday night at Karen Lefton's in Copley.

He and his wife found folks he'd worked with over the years and had not seen for a long time.

Among them, Colleen Murphy and her husband Bob Tigelman, Sarah Vradenburg, Betsy Lammersding, Jane Snow, David and Beth Hertz , Dave Adams and Don Roese.

There were others, didn't take notes (too busy visiting and recalling old times) and, of course, that old memory could be slipping a bit.

One of the big topics among the crowd, their trips overseas and the adventures they had. It's sure great to see the folks having fun and enjoying life after the life they've devoted to the Old Beacon Journal.

Don Roese said he had lunch the other day with former BJ photographer Tom Marvin. He also said he'd love the make another trip to Alaska. He usually spends a couple of months driving around and seeing the sights. But for now, he's involved with an organization that makes sure the homeless get some food. (Peter Maurin Cendter) Yes, Akron does have homeless, but you'd never know it the way the media ignores it. Guess they think if there's no publicity, it'll go away.

But back to the retiree luncheon.

Dick is visiting his 94-year-old mother who still lives here. He's now in North Carolina. He says she “still gives me hell.”

Bob, who lives in the Cleveland area keeps busy helping AARP members with their income taxes. It's supposed to be for those low-income folks, but he says you'd be surprised at the number of “rich” folks who try to use the free service (maybe that's why they're rich.)

Don't know what brought it on, but Carl Nelson came up with an old Army story. (Course you don't need a reason to bring up anything.)

Seems his company had been on two-week maneuvers and they were packed like sardine in the back of a covered truck and it was hard to breath. Carl solved that problem by cutting a hole in the canvas top and sticking his nose thru it. (He's always been a resource sort).