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Warren G. Harding High School Panther Band Alumni and Friends
1951
**John Kobasiar Jr. WGH '51 Clarinet, Sax, WGH Assist. Band Director 1966-'69
1952
*John Vlad WGH ‘52 Saxophone
1955
Jacquline Flask WGH '55 Majorette
Richard Grate WGH '55 Clarinet
1957
Gerald (Jerry) Rassega WGH '57 Percussion
1959
Mary Ellen Hughes WGH ‘59 Snare Drum
1960
Rosemary Smith Sebring WGH '60 French Horn
1961
Pamela Lowry Bane WGH '61 Piccolo, Line, Head Majorette
David Craciun WGH '61 Tenor Saxophone
Deanna Shellhammer Davis WGH '61 Majorette, Clarinet
Patty Huff WGH '61 Majorette
1962
Patricia Vennitt WGH ‘62 Friend
1963
Michael A. Cantelmo WGH '63 2nd chair, 1st Trumpet, Orch
Anthony Germano WGH '63 Trumpet
Judy Lewis WGH '63 Majorette
Richard Marlin Hunter WGH '63 Oboe, Alto Saxophone
1964
** Rick Bartunek WGH ‘64 Alto Sax, WGH Band Director 1970-'82; 1995-'03
Karen Berger Bishop WGH '64 Family
John Bishop WGH '64 Trumpet
Stephen Ciulei WGH '64 Percussion
Bruce A. Evers WGH '64 French Horn, Baritone Horn
Sheri French WGH '64 Clarinet
Linda Hanick WGH '64 Clarinet
Tom Hodgson WGH '64 Baritone Sax, Oboe, WWR Band Director
Doug Johnson WGH '64 Trombone
Greg Lowry WGH '64 Drum Major, Tenor Sax (Dance Band), Bassoon (Concert Band)
**Anthony Marshalek WGH ‘64 Baritone Horn
Michael Principi WGH '64 Trombone
Richard Yerman WGH '64 Trumpet
1965
John Adaway WGH '65 Tuba
Diana Cox Bokone WGH '65 Flute, Piccolo
Karen Slagle Brown WGH '65 Trombone
Linda Diamondstein Crane WGH '65 Flute, Piccolo
Martha McFarland Dooley WGH '65 Flute
Janet Hrusovsky Dubasik WGH '65 Alto Sax
Gary W. Engstrom WGH '65 Clarinet, Sousaphone
Elaine Marshalek Ferguson WGH ‘65 Clarinet
Janice McGill Hodgson WGH '65 Flute, Piccolo
Jim Holmes WGH '65 Trombone
Carl Manofsky WGH '65 Trumpet
Rosalind Bowman Matthews WGH '65 Flute
Fred Mills WGH '65 Alto Saxophone, Oboe
James Nuzzi WGH '65 Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Joseph A. Nuzzi Jr. WGH '65 Tenor Sax
Stephen Russ WGH '65 French Horn
John Yurtin WGH '65 Percussion
1966
Robert B. Baxter WGH '66 Trumpet
Linda Bellan WGH '66 Majorette
Karen Ward Benko WGH '66 Majorette
Thomas J. Bonasera WGH '66 Trumpet
Jim Bufalini WGH '66 Friend
John Bugzavich WGH '66 Percussion
Jean Ledsome Engstrom WGH '66 Clarinet
Linda Fenton WGH ‘66 Choir, Friend
Lynn Cheryl Gadson WGH '66 Clarinet
Margaret "Peggy" Groves WGH '66 Flute, Piccolo
Colleen Lowry Latta WGH ‘66 Majorette
*Kathleen Tomlin Pace WGH ‘66 Majorette
Carol Lucarelli Patterson WGH '66 Clarinet
*Kay Iacozili Ralph WGH ‘66 Line and Head Majorette
Connie Murray Struble WGH '66 Majorette
1967
Russ Abruzzi WGH '67 Trumpet
Frank Barile WGH ‘67 French Horn, Trumpet
Carol June Ormsby Baxter WGH ‘67 Trombone
Donald Bryant WGH '67 Percussion
Cheryl Ciulei WGH '67 Friend
Suzanne Perrett Coggins WGH '67 Alto, Bar Sax
Michael Coons WGH '67 Percussion
Carol Simpson Eddy WGH '67 Flute, Piccolo
Dan Fiorino WGH '67 Alto Saxophone
Charles Hefling WGH '67 Clarinet
Burton Job WGH '67 Trombone, Baritone Horn
Maggie Ruckman Kiesow WGH '67 Clarinet
Larry Lytle WGH '67 Percussion
Judy Schultz WGH '67 Clarinet, Oboe
1968
Susan Adams WGH ‘68 French Horn
Betty Amos WGH ‘68 Baritone Horn
Doug Anderson WGH ‘68 Trumpet
Bonnie Bailey WGH ‘68 Friend
Patty Bash Ferchau WGH '68 Clarinet
Jeannie Iacozili Magri WGH ‘68 Majorette
*Tom Montgomery WGH ‘68 Percussion
**Darlene Hoffman Owen WGH ‘68 Majorette
John Radu Jr. WGH '68 Bb Clarinet
Kathryn Clark Snowball WGH '68 Saxophone
Cathy Young WGH '68 Friend
Ron Zelenak WGH '68 Saxophone
1969
Janet Pickup Anderson WGH '69 Friend, Chorus
Doug Blank WGH '69 Trumpet
*Lynn Brewster WGH ‘69 Percussion
Susan Griffin WGH ‘69 Cheerleader, Friend
**Jean Neidhart Hood WGH ‘69 Flute, Piccolo
June Fittipaldo James WGH '69 Majorette
Therese Marchin WGH '69 Majorette
**Joyce Ormsby Meyer WGH ‘69 Baritone Horn, Majorette
Mary Beth McDonald Morris WGH '69 Clarinet, Bassoon
Debra Ding Quinn WGH '69 French Horn
Bonnie Behrens Tandy WGH ‘69 Alto Sax
Gail Shepherd Vannelli WGH '69 Flute
1970
Fred Anderson WGH ‘70 Trombone
**James Brodell WGH ‘70 Clarinet, Saxophone
Gerald Canton WGH ‘70 Percussion, Cadet Band
Robin Clark Smith WGH ‘70 Bassoon
Martin Cohen WGH ‘70 Friend, Drums
Paula Eckenrode WGH ‘70 Alto Saxophone
*Colleen Tomlin Janis WGH ‘70 Line and Head Majorette
*Lynn Green Marlin WGH ‘70 Fr. Horn, WGH Band Director
Randi Palmer WGH '70 Clarinet, Majorette
Barb Parker WGH '70 Flute, Piccolo
Betty Shimko WGH '70 Clarinet, Majorette
Marty White WGH '70 Friend
1971
*Robert Brodell WGH ‘71 Saxophone
Jeff Ding WGH '71 Baritone Sax, Bass Drum
*Tony Ferderber WGH ‘71 Percussion, WGH Percussion Instructor
*Bill Forrester WGH '71 Trombone, Band Director
Pamela Custin Gray WGH ‘71 Saxophone
Rick Griffing WGH '71 Percussion
Nancy Neidhart Lewis WGH '71 Clarinet
*Bill Kush WGH ‘71 Clarinet
Randall Loos WGH '71 Clarinet, Trumpet
Lynn Miller WGH '71 Clarinet
Samuel Miller WGH ‘71 Saxophone
David A. Nuzzi WGH '71 Trumpet
**Michael A. Ognibene WGH ‘71 Percussion
Linda Rich WGH '71 Clarinet
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* Charter Steering Committee
** Founding Officer
1972
Margaret Parker Adamson WGH '72 French Horn
Patrick Aulizia WGH '72 Percussion
Randy Beardsley WGH '72 Percussion
*Neil Corsatea WGH ‘72 Percussion
Arlene Glass WGH '72 Flute
Joyce Hebberts WGH '72 Flute, Piccolo
Jim McFarland WGH '72 Trombone
Mark Minton WGH '72 Snare Drum
Jan Harris Moody WGH '72 Majorette
Mary Ellen Ognibene WGH '72 French Horn, Line and Head Majorette
Merry Lynne Ormsby WGH ‘72 Trombone
Deborah Capito Paully WGH '72 Majorette
Larry Sebben WGH '72 Percussion
1973
Pamela Tomlin Chapin WGH '73 Majorette
Joanne Cicero WGH '73 Band Musician, Majorette
Mary Beth Uhlir Hank WGH '73 French Horn, E flat Alto
Michael O'Brien JFK '73 Friend
Mary Sue Armambasick Prezioso WGH '73 Clarinet
Lois Stanley WGH '73 Line and Head Majorette
1974
Brenda Winter Antennucci WGH '74 Flute, French Horn
Valli Spahn Baba WGH '74 Clarinet
Joseph Bryant WGH '74 Percussion
Drusella Talkington WGH '74 Piccolo
1975
Chuck Ardingo WGH '75 Percussion
Mehmet Baharan WGH '75 Tuba, Sousaphone
Jerry Gania WGH '75 Percussion
Linda Heathman Garber WGH '75 Choir, Friend
Darlyn Jackson Gardiner WGH '75 Flute, Piccolo
Sandy Brodell Hilas WGH ‘75 Line and Head Majorette
Elizabeth Lewis WGH '75 Flute
Erin Dixon Petraites WGH '75 Clarinet
*Rich Rollo WGH ‘75 Saxophone, WGH Band Director
Mary Logan Titus WGH '75 Flute, Oboe, Sax, E flat Horn
1976
Bruce Brezinski WGH '76 Percussion
Joyce Klinger Hoffman WGH '76 Friend
Susan Lewis WGH '76 Trombone
1977
Sheri Dumire-Hamilton WGH '77 Flute, Piccolo
Karen Bellesis Kontras WGH '77 Baritone Horn
Kim Miller WGH '77 Alto Saxophone
Wayne Parks III WGH '77 Trumpet
Karen Lockovich Sampson WGH '77 Clarinet
Marietta Morris Stathis WGH '77 Flute, Baritone Horn
1978
Joyce Bland Brothers WGH ‘78 Flute, Piccolo
Tia Brunetti Ciferno WGH '78 Alto Saxophone
Sharon Smith Dyer WGH '78 Head Majorette
Stellie Glinatsis WGH '78 Majorette
Cathy Manus-Gray WGH '78 Clarinet
*John Reese WGH '78 Trombone
*Robert Rollo WGH '78 Trumpet, WGH Assist Band Dir
Lynn Rowley WGH '78 Baritone
Candy Stover WGH '78 Saxophone
Victor Tsimpinos WGH '78 Percussion
1979
Paula Williams Butler WGH '79 Oboe, Tenor Sax
Tom Ciferno WGH '79 Trumpet
Carolyn King Collazo WGH '79 Trumpet, Fr Horn, Elec Bass
Andrew Ellers WGH '79 Tuba
Sarah Hirt WGH '79 Flute, Piccolo
Kathy Sedlock Larson WGH '79 Flute, Piccolo
Kathy Lynn Prussey WGH '79 Majorette
1980
James Carducci WGH '80 Tuba
Michael Hatfield WGH '80 Trumpet
Jim Kerr WGH '80 Trombone
Anthony J. Payiavlas WGH '80 Friend
Tom Potjunas WGH '80 Trombone
1981
Renee D'Andrea WGH ‘81 Majorette
Glenn Hammercheck WGH '81 Trumpet
Gregory R. Maras WGH '81 Trombone
Darryl White WGH '81 Trumpet
1982
Tamara Brunetti WGH '82 Saxophone
Julie Conceller WGH '82 Clarinet
Karen Stiver Crites WGH ‘82 Clarinet
Julie Manofsky WGH '82 Flute
Tim Martin WGH ‘82 Tuba, Sousaphone
1983
Nanci Adkins WGH '83 Flute
Leslie Klingeman Dunlap WGH '83 Clarinet
Paul Hammercheck WGH '83 Saxophone
Richard Hockensmith WGH '83 Trumpet, Tuba, Guitar
Nina Longwell WGH ‘83 Clarinet
Mark Marvin WGH '83 Trumpet
Susan Stack WGH '83 Piccolo, Flute
1984
Janet Grammatas Aqueda WGH '84 Trumpet, Alto, French Horn
Joe Astolfi WGH '84 Trumpet
Lynnette Hillman WGH '84 Trombone
Jim Luonuansuu WGH '84 Trombone
Lynette Menendez WGH '84 Alto Saxophone
Kat Workley Pellegrino WGH '84 Altonium, Clarinet, Tuba
Kathy Shehane WGH '84 Flute
1985
JoAnne Stathis Baker WGH '85 Flute
Barbara Carducci WGH '85 Clarinet
Regina Conceller WGH '85 Flute
Brian Geist WGH '85 Trumpet
++Robert Hammercheck WGH '85 Trumpet
1986
Chrystal Rodgers Gallatin WGH '86 Clarinet
Stephanie Hammercheck WGH '86 Trumpet
Trevor Lang WGH '86 Alto, Tenor Sax, French Horn
1987
Jennifer Henrey Elliott WGH '87 Clarinet
Tim Welch WGH '87 Percussion
David Workley WGH '87 Tuba, Saxophone
1988
Deborah Bartlett WGH '88 Alto Saxophone
Michael Howard WGH '88 Saxophone
Tom Huff WGH '88 Percussion
Terry Kotsatos WGH '88 Head Drummer, Percussion
Shawn Marko WGH '88 Trumpet
Tonya Trunick Rollinson WGH '88 Flute, Piccolo
1989
Erica L. Brown WGH '89 Trombone
Patricia Martof WGH '89 Flute, Majorette
Christine Metzendorf-Bullard WGH '89 Clarinet
Kris Zickefoose WGH '89 Majorette
1990
Mary Knapp Farmer WGH '90 Majorette
Michelle Postiy WGH '90 Majorette
Julie McGann Howe WGH '90 Majorette
1991
Cindy Gillam WGH '91 Clarinet, Flag Line
Dawn Walton Boylan WGH '91 Trombone
1993
James Metzendorf WGH '93 Saxophone, Drum Major
1994
Amy Marshalek Smith WGH '94 Clarinet, Tenor Sax
2007
Andrew Agona WGH '07 Trombone
Friends of the Panther Band
Katie Foster Granddaughter of Ast Band Dir Clinton Foster
Les Foster WWR '71 Son of Ast. Band Dir Clinton Foster
Sue Kindelberger WGH English teacher 1965-1994
Larry Miller Niles graduate
Savannah Moss TCHS Representative
David W. Ready WGH Band Director
Kathy Kobasiar Robinson daughter of Mr. Kobasiar
WGH Raider Band Directors
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252 Registered Panther Band Alumni
*as of 12/28/2024
The Fleming Legacy Band Directors
The very special alumni on this list have performed in the WGH High School marching and concert band under directors Robert Fleming and assistants Clinton Foster or John Kobasiar Jr., or they studied music and performed in the Youngstown State University or Hiram College marching and concert bands under Mr. Fleming as director.
*John S. Kobasiar Jr. WGH '51, WGH Panther Band Assistant Director with Robert Fleming 1966 - 1969.
*James Bane WGH '61 Cleveland Heights HS Band Director
*William Leon WGH '63 Lakeview HS Assistant Band Director
*Richard Bartunek WGH '64 Warren G. Harding HS, Assistant, and Band Director
*Tom Hodgson WGH '64 Warren Western Reserve HS, Band Director
*Lynn Green Marlin WGH '70 Warren G. Harding HS, Assistant, and Band Director
*Bill Forrester WGH '71 Hubbard HS, Hubbard, OH, Band Director
*Tony Ferderber WGH '71 Warren G. Harding HS, Percussion Instructor, including Howland, Lakeview, Maplewood, and other area high schools.
**Dennis Bowers, WGH '74 -- Warren G. Harding HS, Assistant Band Director
**Richard Rollo, WGH '75 -- Warren G. Harding HS, Assistant, and Band Director
**Robert Rollo, WGH '78 -- Warren G. Harding HS, Assistant Band Director
**Daniel Carioti, WGH '80 -- Warren G. Harding, Assistant Band Director
Dr. Darryl White, WGH '81 -- University of Nebraska, Associate Professor of Trumpet
Ed Fabrizio, WGH '83 -- Girard HS, Girard, OH, Assistant Band Director
** Melanie Vlad, Hiram College '87 -- Music Specialist, Warren City Schools; Director of Music Ministry, First Presbyterian Church, Warren, OH; Top Notes 30 years.
Shawn Marko, WGH '88 -- Youngstown East HS, Band Director
Sean Jones, WGH '96 -- Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University, Professor of Jazz Studies
* Fleming Legacy Directors are WGH graduates who performed as high school students under the direction of Robert Fleming and Assistant Directors Clinton Foster or John S. Kobasiar, Jr.
**..WGH, YSU, or Hiram graduate who performed under Mr. Fleming, Fleming Legacy Assistant Band Director Rick Bartunek, studied under Robert Fleming at YSU or Hiram and returned to WGH as band director, or as Director of Music for Warren City Schools.
Other WGH band directors who were not WGH grads whom we would like to recognize for their service to the WGH Marching and Concert Band and Orchestra are: Clinton Foster, David Ready, Mark Hoffman, David Colella, Brenda Romack, Jessica Turner, Michael Westmoreland, Dr. Victor Markovich, Kevin Kifer, Angie Smith, R. Bayless, Beth Hargreaves, Reid Young, and Heather Sirney.
A message to our Panther band alumni ...
You are one of a highly select and unique group.
Only a small segment of humanity can say they achieved the pinnacle of an endeavor, they were the absolute best. Our 1960’s marching and concert bands under the direction of Robert Fleming were the first Panther bands to accomplish exactly that.
The ancient Latin phrase Discipuli Victoria, Magestri est Gloria (the achievement of the student is to the credit of the teacher) applies to us because it was Robert Fleming capably assisted by Clinton Foster and later, John Kobasiar, Jr., and the legacy directors in the two decades to follow, who guided WGH bands to greatness.
"Robert Fleming has been acclaimed one of the best directors in the nation and his band demonstrates why." -- Jim Brown, Tribune Chronicle, Aug. 4, 1967
Shortly before the band’s half-time appearance at the August 4, 1967 Green Bay Packers v College All-Star football game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Warren Tribune Chronicle reporter, Jim Brown, wrote, “Bob Fleming could give lessons to a Marine drill sergeant and his direction shows it. He has been acclaimed one of the best directors in the nation and his band demonstrates why. When he chews them out, they tremble, but they highly respect him, and when he barks, they know they deserve it. ‘He’s the greatest,’ is the common comment among band members, and the esprit de corps instilled by Fleming would be the envy of any Marine unit."
"... a band second to none in the nation. And they love Fleming for doing it." -- Jim Brown, Warren Tribune Chronicle, Aug. 4, 1967
Brown added, “They have been rehearsing twice a day, Monday through Friday, since June 26. They march on the infield of the Fairgrounds track. It’s dusty, dry, and hot. It’s march, march, march, but they have shown they can take it. It’s rough and once in a while one of them gets sick when it’s too hot, but they know they’re being molded into an organization of which they’ll be proud – a band second to none in the nation. And they love Fleming for doing it.”
The goal of The WGH Panther Band Historical Association: The Fleming Legacy, which consists of Mr. Fleming’s combined 1950s-1960s WGH bands and his legacy bands through the next two decades, is to preserve his memory and our hard-won artistic accomplishments for posterity.
Together, we achieved at a level beyond what many thought could be possible for young teenagers. Now, considerably older, and with a wealth of experience across a spectrum of endeavors, we unite once again with the common purpose of remembering and honoring our esteemed director and teacher, Mr. Fleming, and the talented legacy directors through the following decades, who so indelibly influenced our lives.
Above: Assistant Director Clinton Foster and Director Robert Fleming review marching plans on the field at Mollenkopf Stadium 1964. Photo credit: 1964 Echoes yearbook.
Above: Director Robert Fleming with Assistant Director John Kobasiar Jr., near the Panther scoreboard, Mollenkopf Stadium 1966. Photo credit: Tribune Chronicle, Warren, Ohio.
Contact us with your comments, questions, or suggestions!
The Warren G. Harding Panther Band Historical Association: The Fleming Legacy
Subject Line: WGH BAND FLEMING LEGACY
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