Mike Williams in Ecuador for 75 days this time

Apparently BJ Advertising Art retiree Mike Williams (BJ 1968-2012) likes Ecuador because he’s there again, this time for 75 days (Mike and wife Jane were there in early 2013 including a trek up the Andes Mountains). 

Blissful Mike Williams in Ecuador

Apparently the troubles that Mike and Jane had with the altitude didn’t keep them from going back. Jane is Mike’s interpreter for the Spanish because “she speaks it much better than me,” Mike said.

Reports Mike:

John - looking at 75 days or so. May visit Peru, but there is plenty to see here in EC.

Mike is in Cuenca, Ecuador in the photo. That's an altitude of 8,400 feet and looking at scenery that's up to 13,000 feet.

The average January temperature in Ecuador is highs in the 60s, much better than in Northeast Ohio.

Mike and Jane, married 25 years, 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 Williams, John Olesky
discuss travels in 2013

Mark started in Advertising part-time in 1968 after bugging Ben James for a job during visits home from a freshman year at Ohio State. Retail Ad Mgr. Jim Muckley hired Mike full-time in 1971 in the Ad Services department. 

Mike’s sister, BJ information technology retiree Linda Williams Torson, is married to Akron-Summit County Metroparks retiree Tim Torson. Linda was with the Beacon Journal for 42 years.

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.

Linda started in the Beacon Journal classified phone room in the summer before her senior year in high school (1969). She was 16 then (her birthday is in early August).  Helen Becton, manager in the phone room at the time, got a two-fer:  Linda's twin Cindy Williams started at the same time.

If you have travel news about your trips, preferably with jpeg photos, email the information and the jpeg photos to John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com Thank you.

Composing retiree Don Reppart dies

Donald E. Reppart 1937 - 2013

Donald E. Reppart, age 76, of North Canton, passed away Monday, December 30, 2013, at Aultman Compassionate Care Center. He was born on July 10, 1937, in Cadiz, Ohio to the late Charles and Mary (Lyle) Reppart.

Don Reppart

He was retired from the Akron Beacon Journal after thirty-five years of service. Donald was a dedicated and hardworking employee who was loved by all of his fellow employees for his sense of humor and quick wit.

Although he was deaf, he worked twice as hard to keep up in the hearing world. Donald had a passion for life and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was also a diehard Ohio State and Cleveland Browns fan. Donald loved the outdoors, a good meal, and his Chihuahuas Petey and Chiara. His smile and laugh were infectious and would light up a room.

Donald formerly attended Wooster Nazarene Church of the Deaf.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Davis and Leafy Bohon of Elkins, W. Va., and sisters-in-law, Nelda Reppart and Beverly Reppart.

Donald is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy (Bohon) Reppart; children, Douglas Reppart of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Darrell (Brenda) Reppart of Grove City, Pa., and Susan (Paul) Dorando of Green, Ohio; grandchildren, Jessica Reppart, Samuel and Cianna Dorando, Jayson and Jared Reppart; brothers and sister, David Reppart, Larry Reppart, Joe (Pauline) Reppart, Janet (Jim) Kennedy, Phillip (Cindy) Reppart, and John (Rochelle) Reppart; and many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.

The family would love to extend a special thank you to the staff at Aultman Compassionate Care Center for their extraordinary care that they showed to Don and his family.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Donald's name to the Aultman Compassionate Care Center (2821 Woodlawn Ave. NW, Canton, OH 44708). 

Arrangements under the direction of Ohio Cremation and Professional Services (330-438-1745), Mark R. Vrabel Funeral Home, North Canton. 

34 obituaries in BJ Alums blog in 2013

There were 34 obituaries listed in the BJ Alums blog in 2013, which is the most in at least five years as the BJ population ages.

There were 24 deaths reported in 2012 in the BJ Alums blog, 33 in 2011, 21 in 2010 and 16 in 2009.

If you know of any other BJ deaths in 2013, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com with the details and I'll add the name to the list.

2013

Jan. 12 – Art Yengling, retired Circulation driver, in Clearwater, Florida.

Jan. 18 – Mary Ahern, former BJ ad employee, founder/director of Decker Family Development Center in Barberton.

Jan. 22 – LaVonne Crawley, wife of Circulation retiree Richard Crawley.

Jan. 23 – Don Fermoyle, retired copy editor and reporter.

Jan. 24 – Bill Aylward, who retired in 1991 as assistant circulation director after 50 years at the BJ.

Jan. 28 – Ed Furcsik, Composing retiree, of Barberton.

Feb. 5 – Russ Bendel, Composing retiree, of Wadsworth.

Feb. 7 – Thomas Monachino, Jr., formerly in BJ Circulation and Accounting.

Feb. 10 – Frank Reeves, Composing retiree, of Franklin Township.

Feb. 14 – Arnold Miller, former BJ assistant city editor and retired Elyria Chronicle-Telegram managing editor.

Feb. 19 – Pat Lynch, former BJ secretary and widow of former BJ General Advertising Manager Ed Lynch.

Feb. 20 – Edna “Eddi” Parker, former BJ editor and reporter.

March 6 – Donald Burgett, father-in-law of former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen.

March 6 -- Madelyn A. Arbogast, wife of Tascarawas County news photographer Ed Arbogast.

April 4 – Roger Ebert, Pulitzer-winning movie critic.

April 9 – Paul Stone, father of former BJ State Desk reporter Paula Tucker.

April 12 – Retired printer Ed Hanzel, of Barberton.

June 11 – Retired photographer Ted Walls, of Lake Township.

June 18 -- Author Michael Hastings, in Los Angeles. He reported Gen. McChrystal’s rant about Obama.

June 21 – Former BJ publisher John Dotson, in Boulder, Colorado.

June 27 – Aaron Burr, BJ Human Resources director.

July 3 – Retired BJ News Editor Dave Boerner.  

July 7 – Retired printer Eunice Collins.

July 20 – White House correspondent Helen Thomas.

July 27 -- Ohio native David "Kidd Kraddick" Peter Cradick, who had a nationally syndicated morning radio show, in New Orleans.

Aug. 13 – Accounting retiree Lillian Holm Clark.

Sept. 10 – John Hambrick, former WEWS-Channel  5 news anchor, in Round Rock, Texas.

Oct. 13 – Paul Dunphy, brother of former BJ reporter John Dunphy, in Cincinnati.

Dec. 5 – Kay Reeves, widow of BJ printer Charles “Red” Reeves.

Dec. 29 – Helen Cullison, widow of BJ newsroom retiree Art Cullison, in Erlanger, Kentucky.
Dec. 30 -- Composing retiree Don Reppart of North Canton.

2012

Jan. 2 – Jack McDermott, retired Plain Dealer sportswriter.

Jan. 19 – Rose Mary Biliczky, mother of reporter Carol Biliczky, in Medina County.

Feb. 11 – Faye Stoyer, wife of retired assistant managing editor Lloyd Stoyer.

March 11 – John Rice, brother of retired Features Desk editor Joan Rice, in South Carolina.

March 17 – Jane Stone, mother of former State Desk reporter Paula Stone Tucker.

March 19 – Gene McClellan, composing retiree.

April 2 – Nicholas Reswow, father of copy desk’s Olga Reswow Griffin.

April 26 – Donna Furman, widow of composing retiree Larry Furman.

April 30 – Betty Iula, widow of promotion department retiree Ralph Iula.

May 8 – Ron Edwards, mailroom retiree.

June 16 – Howard Wood, Loomis Electric & BJ pressroom production equipment electrician.

July 3 – Dave Allbaugh, former BJ reporter, in Dayton, Ohio.

July 11 – Donna Giffels, former BJ columnist David Giffels’ mother, in Bath.

July 25 – Composing retiree Cal Deshong, at 93.

July 26 – Art Cullison, copy desk retiree, in Erlanger, Kentucky.

Aug. 21 – Stephen Froelich, brother of former BJ reporter Larry Froelich.

Sept. 14 – Jane Herbert of Green, BJ retiree after 20 years at paper.

Sept. 15 – Henry Ruppel, former BJ financial editor, Goodyear corporate communications manager.

Sept. 21 – Lloyd Long, BJ Retail Ad retiree.

Sept. 27 – Joe Kovach, Babcock Publications, Auto Week Magazine.

Oct. 12 – Former BJ reporter and Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Ricci’s mother, Cecelia Ricci.

Dec. 3 – Dave White, retired Composing foreman, in Venice, Florida.

Dec. 21 – John Spencer, pressroom retiree.

Dec. 31 – Bob Kendall, Composing retiree.

2011

Ralph E. Norman, widow of former BJ reporter Pat Norman, Jan. 3.
Jack Patterson, former BJ sports writer, Jan. 22.
RoseAnn Schleis, BJ reporter Paula Schleis’ mother, Feb. 6.
Guy F. Limbacher, former BJ reporter Jolene Limbacher’s former husband, Feb. 12.
Dennis ``Denny' O'Neil, former BJ circulation department, March 1.
Lloyd S. Leadbetter, Composing retiree, Feb. 12.
Frank William Pantages, father of BJ's Larry Pantages, March 14
Donald Lee Bandy, BJ rewrite man, March 20.
Michael Ryan Tople, grandson of BJ photographer Paul Tople, May 17.
Anne Louise Henry, former BJ correspondent, May 28.
Luella D. Cordier, retired Record-Courier editor, June 8.
Linda Golz, BJ reporter, June 11.
James Kirby (Jim) Farrell, former BJ ad director, July 1.
Richard H. Backderf, 84, father of former BJ artist John "Derf" Backderf, July 3.
Charlotte Ruth McCarthy, former BJ reporter Pam McCarthy’s mother, July 28.
Harry Dunphy, father of former BJ reporter John Dunphy, July 31.
Philip Hegenderfer, 66, BJ astronomy column, Aug. 9.
Creed C. Black, former president of John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Aug. 16.
Theodore J. Mellow, former PD editor/slotman, Aug. 21.
Danny Hess, son of retired BJ reporter Dave Hess, Aug. 23.
Dr. Evonne H. Whitmore, Kent State journalism professor, Aug. 25.
Harold Ray McElroy, BJ business retiree, Sept. 5.
Bob August, former Cleveland Press columnist, Sept. 9.
Lisa Katz Pagel, daughter of Marv Katz, PR and BJ, Sept. 21.
Leonard Arthur Burkhard, father of Sharon Loentzen, Sept. 22.
Robbie Stillman, PR and former BJ reporter, Oct. 4.
Evelyn Ruth (Gretta) Pantages, mother of Beacon Journal business editor Larry Pantages, Oct. 5.
James E. Dancy, Sr., retired engraver, Oct. 14.
Elizabeth Hallowell, former BJ reporter, Nov. 9,
Terry Oblander, former BJ and PD reporter, Nov. 13.
Leo V. “Vern” Osmar, 83, Composing retiree, Nov. 24.
Ethel Rita Aspell, wrote for the BJ before 1970s, Dec. 14.
Brian Usher, former BJ Ohio Statehouse reporter, Dec. 23.


2010

Joan Morris, 73, retired chief artist Bud Morris' widow, Jan. 22.
Ann Deskovich, 88, maintenance department retiree John Deskovich's widow, Feb. 19.
Mary Elizabeth Swartz, 87, former BJ reporter, March 7.
Charles "Chick" G. Lipford, husband of accounting retiree Martha, March 26.
Ruth Kenny, 85, in the BJ accounting department in the 1970s and 1980s, March 31.
Mary Ohlinger, 90, retail ad retiree and sister of the late retired BJ printer Jerry VanSickle, in March.
Terry Lieberth, husband of Maribeth Lieberth, Accounts Payable (previously Human Resources and the Newsroom), April 11.
Steven Spragg, 38, of Middleburg, Virginia, retired printer Sid Sprague's son, May 4.
Nettie Evans Skeens, 75, retired printer Bob Skeens' widow, June 12.
Helen C. Liggett, 79, wife of newsroom retiree Harry Liggett, June 26.
Michelle LeComte, former BJ enterprise and features editor, Aug. 3.
Carol F. Guregian, mother of BJ staffer Elaine Guregian, Sept. 2.
William "Bill" James Carney, father of BJ staffer Jim Carney, Sept. 7.
BJ Circulation truck driver retiree Raife Woodall, 69, Sept. 12.
Arleen Louise Durst, 88, widow of former BJ printer Gene Durst, Sept. 26.
Carlos ``Carl' Anderson, 85, Nov. 11.
Theresa Ann Osmar, 78, wife of composing retiree Leo Osmar, Nov. 16.
Elizabeth Margaret Harvey, 95, former BJ food editor, Nov. 25.
Dick Shippy, 83, BJ staffer, Dec. 6.
Robert A. Coudriet, 87, retired circulation manager, Dec. 10.
M. Elaine Schoenleb, widow of former BJ News Editor Edwin Schoenleb, Dec. 30.

2009

Cleveland Phillips, maintenance, Jan. 20.
Barbara Patterson, wife of sports retiree Jack, March 17.
Robert Kamenar, freelance photographer, March 22.
Watson Blanton, printer, March 25.
Robert Cull, father of reporter Mike, April 4.
Nancy (Lile) Wise, May 27.
Bill Kennedy, July 20.
Armand Lear, printer, June 5.
Virginia Berger, wife of promotion's Bill, Aug. 5.
Kevin Jackson, son of Gary, Aug. 6.
Olga O'Neil, Aug. 22.
Stephen Schleis, father of reporter Paula, Oct. 11.
Terry Dray, printer, Oct. 25.
Trammel Hogg, printer, Nov. 15.
Kevin Vest, sports statistician, Nov. 18.
Bob Nold, sports writer, Dec. 20.

Art Cullison's widow dies

The widow of retired copy editor (and assistant state editor and TV, movie and night club reviewer) Art Cullison and his bride of seven decades, Helen Louise Hagen Cullison, passed away Sunday, Dec. 29.

She was living in an assisted living community in Erlanger, Ky., near their son, Dick, who resides in Fort Mitchell, Ky. Another son, Robert, lives in Hopkins, Minnesota.

Art, who retired in 1985 after 36 years at the BJ, died in 2012.

The Cullisons were avid bridge players.

Helen’s obituary:

Helen Cullison

Helen Louise Cullison (nee Hagen), formerly of Akron, died in Erlanger, KY December 29, 2013 at the age of 92. For many years, she was the president of the Akron Area League of Women Voters, where she arranged and moderated numerous candidates’ forums, which were frequently televised in Akron.

She taught American Government at Copley (Ohio) High School for 17 years. Her annual lecture on civil liberties was so well respected the school administration turned it into an assembly so the entire school could be involved. She was the faculty advisor to the student newspaper, the Copley Circle. Several of her students went on to careers in journalism.

In 1999, she was awarded the Judith Resnik Pioneer Award by the Women’s History Project for “a woman who has paved the way for others to follow.” While in college, she was the second female editor of Akron University’s newspaper, the Buchtelite.

She met her husband Art while both were working on the paper. They wed in 1942, while Art was on a weekend pass from the US Army Air Corps. He shipped out to Africa one month later.

Art and Helen Louise shared a room in a nursing home in 2012, the last year of his life. Helen Louise survived her parents, Hans and Adeline Hagen and her brother Robert.

She leaves her sister in law Keta Hagen of Phoenix, her brother Bruce (Joan) Hagen of Brecksville, two sons Richard (Veronica) Cullison of Fort Mitchell, and Robert Cullison of Hopkins, MN; grandchildren Robert (Renee) Cullison Junior of Copley OH, Steven (Lisa) Cullison, Jeffrey (Carrie) Cullison of Minneapolis, Andrew (Sarah) Cullison of Fredonia, NY, Rachael (Zachary) Fait of Fort Mitchell, and four great grand-sons.

Visitation will be at the Billow funeral home 85 N. Miller Rd., Akron OH from 1-2 PM Saturday, January 18, 2014. A memorial ceremony will follow. Contributions may be given to the Akron Area League of Women Voters 380 Mull Ave. Akron, OH 44320, or Summit County United Way 90 N. Prospect St. Akron, OH 44304-1273. 

Online condolences can be made at www.linnemannfuneralhomes.com .  

The BJ story on Helen’s passing:

By Carol Biliczky
Beacon Journal staff writer Helen Cullison, 92, longtime leader of Akron Area League of Women Voters, government teacher January 02,2014 03:20 AM GMT Carol Biliczky Beacon Journal Publishing Co. Copyright � 2014 Beacon Journal Publishing Co. Inc and Black Press. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of the Akron Beacon Journal is expressly prohibited.

Like many women’s organizations, the Akron Area League of Women Voters sniffed the winds of change in 1985.

“Now, we realize that every woman does not have time to sit down after work and pound out a letter to her congressman,” longtime league member Helen Cullison told the Beacon Journal at the time about why the group was sending pre-printed materials to politicians.

Mrs. Cullison, a former president of the local league of women voters, died Sunday in Erlanger, Ky., after a short illness. She was 92.

She was well-known in the Akron area for leading the league, moderating public debates and for 17 years as an American government teacher in Copley-Fairlawn schools.

When Akron Mayor Edward O. Erickson launched an interactive television series in 1962 to tackle the community’s biggest problems, he called on Mrs. Cullison to moderate the first forum on the city’s financial condition.

In 1986, Mrs. Cullison helped to negotiate the details of a league-sponsored debate between then-Akron Mayor Tom Sawyer and Summit County Prosecutor Lynn Slaby, who were in a contentious race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. John Seiberling.

She said that working out the many debate details — from who sat where, to who spoke first, to who asked the questions, to how many tickets each candidate got — was becoming increasingly tedious for local organizations like the League.

“My experience goes back to the 1950s,” Mrs. Cullison told the Beacon Journal. “In those days, the candidates either accepted or rejected the invitation.”

In 1999, Mrs. Cullison received the Akron Women’s History Project’s Judith Resnik Pioneer Award for paving “the way for others to follow.”

Born in Akron, she graduated from Buchtel High and the University of Akron, where she was the second female editor of the student newspaper, the Buchtelite.

She was preceded in death by her husband, former Beacon Journal drama, movie, radio and TV critic Art Cullison, 92, in 2012.

The couple’s survivors include sons Richard of Fort Mitchell, Ky., and Robert Jr. of Hopkins, Minn.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours at the Billow funeral home in Fairlawn will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 18. A memorial ceremony will follow.

Contributions may be made to the Akron Area League of Women Voters, 380 Mull Ave., Akron, OH 44320 or to the United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., Akron, OH 44304-1273.

Ray Habyan's Pacemaker experiences

BJ Maintenance retiree Ray Habyan discusses his experiences with his Pacemaker, in response to the post about John Olesky getting a Pacemaker Jan. 2 at Akron General Hospital.

John,

  Good luck on your pacemaker implant.  I am surprised that you need to stay in the hospital for the procedure, it is usually done as an out patient with a local.  Perhaps you have some underlying issues that need to be addressed.  

I have had mine now for 2 years with only one side effect.  The reason I have one is not for normal use.  I have always had a low heart rate, around 42 bpm.  I started passing out and having seizures and it was determined that my heart rate was going down to around 32 bpm.  My pacemaker keeps me pacing at a constant 50 bpm about 60 percent of the time.  

The one side effect it has caused is Afib, so now I have to be monitored for the possibility of a blood clot forming.  So far everything looks good.  

I am sure you won't even know the pacemaker is even there, once the incision heals.  Good luck and have a fast recovery.

Ray Habyan (hay-bee-un)  

Ray, who lives in Sedona, Arizona, is in computer networking.  

Harry Liggett in hospital again

BJ newsroom retiree Harry Liggett, founder of the BJ Alums blog, is back in the hospital, although it took his son, Bob, a while to find out WHICH hospital they took Harry to this time.

Son Bob's Facebook post:

Bob Liggett

Saw dad Sunday and he looked pretty good. Yesterday was a different story. This morning dad was admiited to ER akron general main campus or I thought he was. Went to AG.after lunch and they have no record of him. Called rehab place and they said dad went to AG. Here I later find out AG was too busy so they sent him to St Thomas. Sure glad the communication at AG is top notch. NOT!!!!

Harry has been in an out of hospitals and nursing homes since his August surgery involving cancer. 

Harry's wife, Helen, passed away in 2010.

Harry and Helen have two sons, Bob and Tom. 

Tom Liggett is Community Pregnancy Center director of development and a graduate of Hoban High and the University of Akron. He is married to Susan and lives in Akron.


Bob Liggett works at KeyCorp. He also is a Hoban and University of Akron graduate, in accounting. Bob lives in Akron. 

Happy New Year !!!!

Happy New Year !!!!

to BJ alums

everywhere !!!!!

Put the pedal to the floor
in two thousand four-
teen

Pacemaker time for John Olesky

BJ newsroom retiree John Olesky will have a Pacemaker implanted Jan. 2. 

I'll stay overnight in the hospital.

But I should be available for BJ Alums posts if anyone has information to be posted.

Just email me at Jo4wvu@neo.rr.com with the information. 

If you have advice about or experience with a Pacemaker, email me at the same email address. I will appreciate it.

Thank you.

Front pages popular even as newspapers fade

Newspapers are dying. But their front pages aren’t.

At a time when print advertising revenue continues to decline and publications are laying off staff in droves, newspaper covers are increasingly being shared digitally — helped along by the ease of posting on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.

But why? More than anything, these A-1s are seen as an encapsulation of a historical event, to be seen and filed away for a distant time when we want to remember how much something mattered in its day.

Sharing a front on Twitter — or saving a digital copy as a PDF — is the modern-day equivalent of cutting out and saving a page from a significant edition, or just a funny New York tabloid front.

To read the entire article, click on http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/234395/as-fewer-people-read-newspapers-more-share-their-front-pages/

Oops moments for careless newspapers

Sometimes the juxtaposition of stories in newspapers can create unintended and even red-faced situations.

Buzzfeed rounded up a group of them, including one where someone inserted the F-bomb into a story, mindful of the time a BJ linotype operator pounded out "Stick this slug up your ass" and it wound up printed in the Beacon Journal.

Check out the poor judgments in newspaper layouts and story juxtapositions at  http://www.buzzfeed.com/lukelewis/newspaper-and-magazine-layout-disasters

Hopeful news about Harry Liggett

Harry Liggett, John Olesky in 2012
Former BJ State Desk editors

There's encouraging news about BJ newsroom retiree Harry Liggett, founder of the BJ Alums blog, from his son, Bob Liggett.

Bob's response to my inquiry:


Dad is at Copley Health. More coherent. Starting slowly to eat real food. Still weak though. Needs to keep up with the rehab. 

Harry has been in and out of Akron General since his August surgery and has spent recuperating time at Copley Health Center and Select Speciality Hospital on West Market.

Ohio State graduate Harry attended his Dennison High School reunion in July before the cancer surgery. He was assistant news editor at the BJ and was part of the crack 1970s State Desk team run by the late Pat Englehart, who died in 1995 in Florida. 

Bob Liggett is a University of Akron accounting graduate who works for KeyCorp and lives in Akron.

Hugh & Sharon Downing and the remarkable The Villages

By John Olesky (BJ 1969-96)

Paula and I just returned from a two-week visit to The Villages, Florida and retired BJ printer Hugh Downing and wife Sharon, who live in a place like no other I've seen in my travels to 52 countries and 43 states.

It's the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States, with more than 100,000 residents and a median age of 66. Every village within The Villages has a recreation center, swimming pool and golf courses (about 70). 

The amenities are built before the first home is constructed in each new village. The recreation centers are huge, with several rooms handling 300 to 400 people apiece. Shuffleboard is almost a religion. There's even a Polo Club. 

Some 40,000 golf carts are a preferred method of transportation by Villagers. The carts have their own lanes on the streets and roads. 

Paula and I rented in the Orange Blossom Village, where this amazing collection of homes for those 55 or older began in earnest in the 1980s by Michigan businessman Harold Schwartz after a 1970s attempt fizzled. 

The Villages is northwest of Orlando and northeast of Tampa in Sumter, Marion and Lake counties. 

There are several town squares, which have music and dancing outdoors every night of the year. There are hundreds of clubs for a multitude of interests. Villagers are big on charity work, including sending thousands of packages to the military overseas with an assembly line that would make Henry Ford proud. 

When we watched the Christmas parade on the Polo Club grounds the belly dancers, cheerleaders and twirlers were in their 70s, give or take a decade.

Every resident of The Villages is part of a de facto Chamber of Commerce. They all enthusiastically tell you that it's a lifestyle, not just a place to live. 

The photo montage with this article provides just a glimpse of life in The Villages. 

Printers Club's 'Kay' Reeves dies at 85

Anyone who had lunch at the Printers Club across the street from the Beacon Journal in the 1980s and 1990s would remember the congenial Kay Reeves, who with her husband, Red, frequently served customers food and drink.

Kay, whose given name was Rita, passed away on Thursday, December 5, at age 85. Her husband, Charles “Red” Reeves, died in 2006. He worked in the Beacon Journal Composing Room for 32 years.

Rita C. (Harned) Reeves was born on March 22, 1928 in Grayson County, Ky. She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Judith Lee Hartman.

Kay is survived by her sister, Christina Miller of Indiana; her remaining children, Thomas Reeves, Robert Dornbush, Roger Hartman and Phyllis Limberg; as well as her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Kay was active in her community as an auxiliary member of American Legion Post 611 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #555. She worked for the Printers Club for over 20 years.

Per her request, there will be no viewing hours. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2603 Benton Ave., Akron on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013 at 2 p.m. Refreshments immediately to follow at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 89 E. Waterloo Rd., Akron.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Summit County Children’s Services, 264 S. Arlington Street, Akron, OH 44306 or St. Matthew Parish School, 2580 Benton Ave., Akron, OH 44312. Adams Mason Funeral Home & Crematory, 330-535-9186.

Information from Legacy.com obituary in the Akron Beacon Journal.

Reconnecting in Florida

Ever reliable BJ Alums correspondent John Olesky (left) sends warm greetings from Florida where he and Paula Tucker paid a visit to Composing Room retiree Hugh Downing (right) and his wife, Sharon.