Class News
A Great Evening at The Eagles Added 14 April 2024
The BHS Class of 1970 had a great evening of love, laughter, and remembrance at our class get-together at the Bellaire Eagles on April 13, 2024. We had about 30 classmates and sigificant others attending, and I think a very good time was had by all. Here is a picture of the crew:
Outstanding Alumni Recipients - Kathy and Chad
Seated: Mary McMahon, Nancy Garloch, Nancy Williams, Karen Dobson, Jean Scott, Cheryl Badia, Cynthia Nelson, Judy Civin, Nancy Fraley, Roseann Lucci
Standing: Rick Smathers, Brenda Bella, Jeff Stolz, John Sikish, Jimmy Koonce, Joe Seszko, Ronnie Marling, Lynn Steele, Kathy Wallace, Dickie Johnson, Ed Pollock, Mike Marshall, Debbie Steed, Chad Balwanz, Ruthann Fitton, Mike Wallace, Susan Couture
Also attending but not pictured: Rodney Jenkins, Lester Biggs, Bob Travis
Another Classmate Lost
It is with deep regret that I inform you we have lost another friend and classmate, Harry Wines, Jr., who passed away on Monday, March 11, 2024. Please keep Harry's family in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with
his passing.
You can click on the following link to read Harry's obituary: Harry Wines, Jr. obituary
Another Classmate Lost
It is with deep regret that I inform you we have lost another friend and classmate, Tamara Parker, who passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Please keep Tamara's family in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with
her passing.
You can click on the following link to read Tamara's obituary: Tamara Parker obituary
Another Great Evening at the Eagles Added 3 October 2023
The BHS Class of 1970 had another great evening of love, laughter, and remembrance at our class get-together at the Bellaire Eagles on September 29, 2023. We had 27 classmates plus significant others attending, and I think a very good time was had by all. I forgot to get a group picture of the event, but I was able to get an individual picture of all the classmates who attended, and was able to create a "class" picture from these individual pictures (remember our old elementary school class pictures?). The picture is below, with each classmate identified:
Another Classmate Lost
It is with deep regret that I inform you we have lost another friend and classmate,
Vicki [DeFelice] Koonce, who passed away on Friday, May 5, 2023. Please keep Vicki's husband Jimmy (also a classmate) and their family in your thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with
her passing.
You can click on the following link to read Vicki's's obituary: Vicki Koonce obituary
A Great Evening at The Eagles Added 16 April 2023
The BHS Class of 1970 had a great evening of love, laughter, and remembrance at our class get-together at the Bellaire Eagles on April 14, 2023. We had about 30 classmates and sigificant others attending, and I think a very good time was had by all. Here is a picture of the crew:
Row 1: Nancy Fraley, Rita Husek, Georgette Teater, Cythia Nelson, Cheryl Badia, Peggy White, Kathy Swisher, Kathy Connolly, Judy Civin
Row 2: Debbie Steed, Brenda Bella, Kathy Wallace, Bonnie Telicak, Jerry Booth, Pam Budravich, Ruthann Fitton
Row 3: Mike Wallace, Chad Balwanz, Joe Seszko, John Sikish, Ed Pollock, Nancy Williams, Rick Smathers, Mike Marshall, Dickie Johnson, Lynn Steele, Dan Frizzi
Two more classmates lost Updated 16 Apr 2023
It is with deep regret that I inform you we have lost another friend and classmate,
Archie Angus, who passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Please keep Archie's family in your thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with
his passing. You can click on the following link to read Archie's
obituary: Archie Angus obituary
It is with deep regret that I inform you we have lost another friend and classmate,
Paul Hammond, who passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2023. Please keep Paul's family in your thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with
Paul's passing. You can click on the following link to read Paul's obituary: Paul Hammond obituary
Another classmate lost Added 8 Jan 2023
It is with deep regret that I inform you we have lost another friend and classmate,
Frank Paliswat, who passed away on Friday, January 6, 2023. Please keep Frank's family (Frank's twin brother Jerry is also a classmate) in your thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with
Frank's passing. You can click on the following link to read Frank's obituary: Frank Paliswat obituary
Another classmate lost Added 30 Oct 2022
It is with deep regret that I inform you that our friend and
classmate Ronnie Riser perished in an automobile accident on October 28, 2022. Please keep Ronnie's family in your thoughts and prayers for comfort at their loss.
Another classmate lost Added 23 Sep 2022
It is with deep regret that I report that our friend and classmate
Lou Dossie passed away Monday, September 19, 2022. Please keep Lou's family in your thoughts and prayers as they suffer the grief of their loss.
Another classmate lost Added 8 Jul 2022
It is with deep regret that I report that our friend and classmate
Paul Martin passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2022. Please keep Paul's family in your thoughts and prayers as they suffer the grief of their loss.
You can see his obituary by clicking on the following link: Paul Martin obituary
A Fabulous Weekend Added 24 May 2022
The BHS Class of 1970 had a wonderful weekend celebrating the naming of our dear Kathy Wallace by the BHS Alumni Society as the Outstanding Alumna for 2022. The weekend started off on Friday, May 20, 2022, with a 70th Birthday Party for the Class of '70 at the Sons of Italy. We had 30 classmates there to celebrate the event. Here is a picture of the crew:
You can find the names to go with these faces by going to the Reunion Memories
page.
On Saturday night, May 21, 2022, after a long two year wait due to COVID, Kathy received her award
as the Outstanding Alumna. You can find a link to her acceptance speech by going to the Related Links
page and clicking on Kathy's picture. It takes about 40 minutes or so to watch the
complete speech, but I think you will find it 40 minutes well-spent.
Another classmate lost Added 10 May 2022
It is with deep regret that I report that our friend and classmate
Linda [Hendershot] Probst passed away this past Sunday, May 8. Please keep Linda's family in your thoughts and prayers as they suffer the grief of their loss.
You can see her obituary by clicking on the following link: Linda [Hendershot] Probst obituary
Another classmate lost Added 9 May 2022
It is with deep regret that I report that our friend and classmate
Joe Staskey passed away last night after a battle with cancer. Please keep Joe's family in your thoughts and prayers as they suffer the grief of their loss.
A big thank you from Eddie Pollock! Added 9 May 2022
I want to send along my deepest gratitude to the Class of 70. I can't begin to tell you how much your positive thoughts, prayers, caring, cards, and emails lifted my spirits! I am truly honored, privileged, and blessed to be a member of such a terrific group of people, the Bellaire High School Class of 1970! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
Kathy's Prognosis Added 19 Jan 2022
I am happy to report that the results of Kathy's procedure were positive! The issue she was experiencing was due to diseased blood vessels, and can be treated with medication, without any need for further surgery.
Death of Joe Norden's mom Added 19 Jan 2022
Our friend and classmate Joe Norden's mom passed away this past Monday. Please keep Joe, his brothers, and their families in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with life without her. I had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Norden very well, and she was a lovely lady, and will be sorely missed.
Death of Larry Beltrondo's dad Added 19 Jan 2022
I just found out that our friend and classmate Larry Beltrondo lost his dad earlier this month. Please keep Larry and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve his passing.
Prayers for Kathy Wallace Added 15 Jan 2022
Our dear friend and classmate Kathy Wallace has been experiencing some medical issues lately. As a result, she will be undergoing a diagnostic procedure on Monday to try and determine exactly what is causing her issues. Please keep Kathy and the doctors in your prayers, first for a successful procedure, and secondly, that they can determine what is causing the problems and come up with the appropriate treatment regimen.
Jeff Stolz ankle replacement Added 12 Jan 2022
Just a brief note to let you all know that I spoke to Jeff this morning. He had a complete ankle replacement on Jan. 3rd, and I'm happy to report the surgery went well. Jeff is still not able to put any weight at all on the ankle, but he is able to get around using one of those little carts you put your knee on and roll. He says he wishes he had one of those when he was a kid because it can really move! Jeff is just looking forward to being able to walk out and get the newspaper, and maybe do a little bike riding.
Our friend and classmate Linda [Dunlavy] Wills is asking for our prayers Added 16 Dec 2021
Dear Ed and Classmates,
I have a few things to report. This past 2 years has been rough on us. I have had 3 major surgeries within 14 months on my back and hips.
I was actually walking around with a broken hip (the sacral/iliac joint), for how long we don't know. I had to have surgery for it,
but my left hip had to be replaced before I could have the S/I fusion done. Then I had to have a surgery on my back,
to remove hardware from a previous surgery, so they could do the new fusion above the old fusion. In between times, I did not have enough time to get over one surgery before I had another.
So now I have excruciating pain in my lower back down into both legs.
My husband fell off a roof in the summer and messed up his right shoulder and had to have major repairs on it. Then a couple months ago he was out picking up sticks and was bit by a baby ground rattler on the left thumb. He came through that without having anti- venom.
My mother Suzanne Solomon passed away on Nov. 30, 2021 (2 weeks ago). I couldn't make it back to Ohio.
So, my youngest son Wesley has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Liver disease (cancer/cirrhosis). He is doing real well with his regimen of care that the doctor gave him.
My brother has congestive heart failure, diabetes, gout, respiratory problems, and lots of other problems. He isn't doing well.
I have a procedure scheduled for Friday AM, they will be giving me a caudal injection through my tailbone, what it is for is to relax the nerves in the back and my legs.
Please pray for me and my family. I wouldn't ask, but I am overwhelmed right now. May God Bless All of You and Your Families. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Love, Linda Wills
Death of Karen [Dobson] Grady's mother Added 26 Nov 2021
I learned earlier this morning that our friend and classmate Karen lost her mom earlier this week. Please keep Karen's family in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn her loss. Losing a loved one during the holiday season is especially painful.
Death of Kathy Wallace's brother Bill Added 16 Nov 2021
Our dear friend and classmate Kathy Wallace's brother Bill passed from this world to the next yesterday, November 15, 2021. Please keep Kathy and her family in your thoughts and prayers for comfort and peace in this time of great sorrow.
Slide Show Created for 50th Reuniuon Now Available to Download Added 3 Nov 2021
If you want to view the slide show that was shown at the 50th reunion, click the following link: BHS 50th Reunion Slide Show. This will download a file called BHS Slide Show Chrono Color.mp4. The download may take 5-20 minutes (or more), depending on the speed of your network, but you only have to do it once. On either a Windows PC or a Mac, the downloaded file will be placed in a directory called Downloads. You can either leave it there, or move it to the directory of your choice. Once it is downloaded, you can watch it whenever you like just by double-clicking the file in your download directory. This will only work on a laptop or desktop computer (i.e. not on a phone or Ipad type device). Enjoy!
Recap of Bellaire High School Class of 1970 50th Reunion Added 26 Oct 2021
The BHS Class of 1970 celebrated its 50th class reunion the weekend of October 22-24, 2021. The festivities began on Friday, October 22, with a tour of the high school. About 25-30 classmates attended the tour. We visited all three floors (by the way, Room 225, the large study hall, is now several individual classrooms), and finished up the tour in the Archives Room. This room is jam-packed full of memorabilia from 120-odd years of Bellaire High School history, ranging from yearbooks to class pictures to sports and band artifacts, etc., etc. One could spend hours delving into this history. After the tour, we attended the big pep rally to rev up the juices to beat our old rivals the Martins Ferry Purple Riders. This was followed by a march to the stadium and bonfire which was attended by some of our classmates. The final event of the evening was an informal get-together at the Sons of Italy.
Saturday's festivities began with a large number of us attending the Bellaire vs. Ferry football game. All in all, it was not much of a game, with the Big Reds trouncing the Purple Riders 35-6. Ferry scored a meaningless touchdown very late in the game to avoid a shutout. At 6:00PM, the classmates gathered on the steps leading into the school by the gymnasium/cafeteria for our official class reunion picture. This was originally scheduled to be taken on the main steps across from the park, but there is a huge scaffold set up there currently as they do some maintenance work on the clock tower. The evening was capped off by a banquet/dance at the Sons, which was transformed into a formal dining room by the beautifully decorated tables. A disc jockey provided music through dinner, and then ramped it up for some dancing after dinner.
The reunion weekend concluded with a brunch at the Sons on Sunday morning. This final get-together provided the opportunity for some final goodbyes. The general concensus was we were sorry it was all over. It took so long, due to COVID, to get here, and then it was over in a flash. But, fingers crossed, in four short years, we will be doing it again. Also, watch your emails and the web site for intermediate get-togethers. Hopefully, we will be able to gather at least once a year to visit.
Another classmate lost Updated 16 Nov 2021
It is with deep regret that I report that our friend and classmate
Orphy Klempa passed away on October 11, 2021. Orphy had been fighting a
private battle with cancer, and unfortunately succumbed to the disease
this past Monday. Please keep his wife, Mary Jo, and his family in your
thoughts and prayers for comfort as they deal with Orphy's loss. Click
this link to read Orphy's obituary, which lists his many accomplishments:
Orphy Klempa obituary
Update on Laura [Duvall] Groux Added 13 Aug 2021
After an extended wait, Laura has finally had a consult with her doctor to discuss the results of the MRI that was done on her spine.They found nothing acute, but did diagnose spinal stenosis, and with the added arthritis and scoliosis, she will always have some pain to deal with. She has been improving under Wayne's care, so the doctor recommends she continue that regimen of using a walker and adding a scooter for extended periods of mobility. If there are further signs of compression, then surgery may be an option, but the good news is that surgery is NOT necessary at this time. Laura will be starting physical therapy up to the point that she can tolerate at this time.
Linda [Dunlavy] Wills back surgery Added 8 Aug 2021
Linda had her back surgery performed on July 26. The doctors fused her L1, L2, and L3 vertebrae, and removed hardware from L3, L4, and L5 from a previous surgery. She is in considerable pain, but says she can manage. She sends her thanks in advance for our prayers and good thoughts.
A Message to the Class from Linda [Dunlavy] Wills Added 18 May 2021
Hello Ed and all my classmates, I am writing to all of you to ask for your prayers, as I am having my second back surgery to have vertebrates fused. I have had so many surgeries in the past ten years you would not believe. But this one makes me feel more nervous. I believe Jesus will be there with me and the medical team. Just a little more nervous then usual.
A Message to the Class from Jeff Stolz Added 14 May 2021
No man is an island.
Those of us who had a class taught by Coach Cribbs will recognize one of his favorite
sayings. Being young and having our perspective colored by the immortality of youth, we failed to appreciate
the importance of these words. Now, as we've aged, and experienced may of life's woes, we have gained a better
appreciation of this quote.
My point is, you'll never realize how important your words of encouragement and care were to me during my illness. The phone calls, cards, and prayers always seemed to arrive when they were most needed. Thank you! Let us continue to support one another. You never know what impact your words of concern will have on another.
I love you all, BHS Class of 1970.
Jeff
Death of Classmate Don MajorUpdated 16 Nov 2021
It is with great regret that I inform you that we have lost another classmate. Our friend and classmate Don Major (6 Jan 1952 - 8 May 2021)
lost his battle with ongoing health issues early on the morning of May 8, 2021.
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