Monongah High Lions

                               TOM COLANERO WITH JOHN OLESKY AT 2018 MONONGAH HIGH ALUMNI BANQUET  Tom Colanero passes away   Tom Colanero, Class of 1968, who was married to Julie Khuri Colanero for almost 40 years, passed away Wednesday, September 20 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Tom graduated from West Virginia Tech in 1972 an embarked on a 45-year career in the chemical industry. His parents were Elizabeth Milush and Philip Colanero.   Tom and Julie’s son is Christopher Colanero, married to Rose Colanero.   Tom’s siblings are Paulette Colanero O’Connor, Annette Colanero Davis, Cathy Colanero Johnson and James Colanero. I had a reunion with Tom at the 2018 Monongah High Alumni Banquet. It was the 50-year anniversary for Tom's Class of 1968. John Fazio , Class of 1970, who lives in Charleston, West Virginia, posted: “Tom represented Monongah and MHS very well. He was a role model for me. An outstanding multi-sport athlete. His Grandmother and my Grandmother were siste

                              RICHARD HUFFMAN               DOTTIE GUTHRIE HUFFMAN Richard Huffman, who built furniture for Marion County schools, passes away Richard Huffman of Monongah, who served in the Navy (1952-56), passed away Tuesday, September 26. He had been married for 59 years to Dottie Guthrie Huffman, who passed away in 2017. His parents were Mable Elizabeth Huffman and Ted “Tig” Huffman of Monongah. Richard is survived by children Richard Warren Huffman, Monongahfest vice president Roger Huffman, Thomas Huffman, Monongahfest secretary Diane Huffman Prunty and Rodney Huffman, who all live in Monongah. Son Christopher Huffman predeceased Richard. Siblings and Fern Sandy, Gretchen Stangle, Fred Huffman, and Warren Huffman predeceased Richard. Richard and Dottie have 11 grandchildren. Other Huffmans at Monongah High include:   James R. Huffman, Class of 1944.   Jack Huffman, Class of 1947.   Irene Mick Huffman, Class of 1947.   Jean Fullen Huffman

     Tribute gathering for Emily McDowell, Murv’s wife   Celebration of Life for Emily McDowell, who passed away August 29, 2-5 pm November 10.   At Highgate Carriage House, 830 Walnut Avenue, Fairmont.   Followed by meal and music by Bobby Nicholas and trio from 5-7 pm.   (304) 780-0101 by text if you plan to attend.   Murv McDowell’s late wife. I’m met Murv and sweet Emily in the Light Blue Lot before Mountaineer Field games.  

  Donna Long Mackey passes away   Donna Long Mackey, Class of 1963, passed away Thursday, September 14.   Donna McGinnis Suppa-Fullen, close friends at Monongah High and later with Donna Mackey, gave me the sad news.   Donna Mackey was born in Idamay but grew up in Four States while attending Monongah High. She married Charles Mackey in 1964, which means they were married more than 58 years!!!   They have two daughters, Julie Marinkovich and Laurie VanFossen, 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.   Her parents are Lester and Julia Long.   Donna’s sister is Brenda Mackey, married to Mike Mackey.   Donna out-lived her seven brothers and sisters. Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960, tells me “I was good friends with her brother, Lester.”  Dolores Edwards, Class of 1955, a friend for years with Agnes Larry DiLaura, Class of 1950, posted:  “The Long family was a wonderful family. We grew up together.”   Charles’ brother, Paul Mackey, passed away at the a

                      LINDA AND DAVE WILLIS WITH 2 SONS           DAVE AND LINDA WILLIS' SONS Dave Willis hospitalized   Dave Willis, Class of 1961, husband of Linda Willis, Class of 1964, has been hospitalized with “a couple of UTI’s (Urinary Tract Infections) causing confusion and he is weak but I can see improvement daily,” Linda posts. Later I was told that Dave got covid. But Linda says "Dave is doing much better" in recent days. Dave and Linda attended the 2021 annual Monongah High Alumni Banquet. They live in Worthington as Linda did while attending Monongah High. Linda’s parents are Virginia Minardi Nottingham and Russell J. Nottingham. Linda, who worked for State Farm Insurance after being a majorette and class officer at Monongah High, married Dave in 1965. Linda’s brother,  John Tommy Nottingham, Class of 1968, married Victoria Blocker Nottingham, Class of 1969. Linda worked at State Farm Insurance. Linda and Dave’s sons are Shawn Willis, who married the la

                     THE REV. MARK E. ALDRIDGE           DAUGHTER AMBER ALDRIDGE SLAGEL          BROTHER SCOTT ALDRIDGE  Multi-talented Rev. Mark ‘Hootch’ Aldridge passes away   The Rev. Mark E. “Hootch” Aldridge, Class of 1973, passed away. He lived in Rachel. Brother Scott Aldridge posted: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Mark E. Aldridge. Mark passed peacefully in his sleep at his residence.   Mark was a lot of things in his life, a Volunteer Firefighter, a Police Officer, Town worker and a preacher and who would help anyone.   “Mark was a lot of things to a lot of people. He loved God with all his heart, he was a loving Husband to Wife Donna, a proud Father and Pap to Amber and granddaughters Taylor and Bella, a fine Uncle to his nieces and nephews, a best friend to Dave (Mick) McDonald and most of all he was my BROTHER!!!   “My brother was a big supporter of Law enforcement and loved posting on Facebook so please feel free to share this.

         FROM LEFT: JAY'S SONS MICHAEL, JAY III AND ROBERT Jay Holman’s son Michael hospitalized Michael Holman, son of Jay Holman, Class of 1971, has been in United Hospital in Bridgeport since Saturday dealing with renal failure. Michael has been dealing with his health problems “off and on since April,” Jay told me. “He’s struggling” over his medical problems which include emphysema and is using a wheelchair and a walker. Michael, North Carolina’s Career and Technical Educations Teacher of the Year for 2017, lives in North Carolina but came to West Virginia to continue his medical care and be near Jay.   It’s not a good year for Holman family. His sister Demetrice Merriweather’s only son Gerry Merriweather passed away at the age of 38 in August.   Jay’s father passed away in 1997.   Jay and his wife, Fairmont West Margaret, will be celebrating their 50 th (!) wedding anniversary January 19, 2024. They were married in Fairmont in 1974. They have 3 sons, Micha

  Ronda Lee Colisino passes away Monongah High graduate Ronda Lee Colisino passed away Saturday, Sept. 2. She was living in Worthington and grew up in Clarksburg, the most Italian city in West Virginia, daughter of Carmen Colisino and Anna VanGilder Colisono, and sister of Larry Colisino, one of the five brothers in the military. Ronda once lived in Grafton. Ronda has also been known as Ronda Lee Colisino, Ronda L Pinnell, Ronda L Herron, Ronda L Colisino and Rhonda Herron. Davis Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory in Clarksburg is handling Ronda’s cremation. There were many Colisinos who graduated from Monongah High: Daniel Colosino, Class of 1935 . Michael Colosino, Class of 1946.   Felix Colisino, Class of 1947 , a fantastic table tennis player who was a master at putting a ton of spin on the ping pong ball. Louis Colosino, Class of 1945 , son of Felix and Constance Colosino. Freddie J. Colisino, Class of 1964. Harry James Colisino, Class of 1974, brother of Pat