Community Leader Garnett Steele Remembered Two Board Members
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DatelineDateline January 2012 Published by the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities “Helping people to live, learn and work in our community” Two board members calling it quits FCBDD board members Lito Lito Ramirez, a Dublin resident, Ramirez and Leah Reibel have opted began board service in 2009. A health not to continue service on the board. care consultant, he has been very active in advocacy efforts on behalf They are ending their service of persons with Down Syndrome. He due to extremely busy schedules. In is the father of a 5-year old boy with addition to their volunteer service on the Down syndrome. board, both have been highly involved in professional, community and family During the past year, Mr. Ramirez activities. served as Chairman of the Human Resources Committee. Leah Reibel, an attorney in private practice in Worthington, began serving on the board in 2010. She is the mother of a son in the Worthington Public Schools’ special education program. Lito have been highly dedicated board members who have provided Ms. Reibel has served on the invaluable leadership for our agency. Human Resources Committee for the Our community owes them its gratitude. past two years. I’m very sorry to see them go, but at Superintendent Jed Morison the same time I can understand their summed up his reaction to the board reasoning.” members’ departures: “Leah and Community leader Garnett Steele remembered Garnett Steele, a longtime leader in Franklin County’s developmental disabilities community, died on November 23rd. She was 86. Until her death, Garnett served as the Executive Director of the Council for Retarded Citizens (CRC), a post to which she was appointed in 1978. Before that, she had been a teacher at West Central School. She had worked as a teacher in the special education field for 17 years. Among her many accomplishments, Garnett started Camp Breezewood, a summer camp located in Delaware County. This program allowed children with developmental disabilities to enjoy a break from their routines during the summer and experience nature. Garnett also started a latchkey program that continues to serve Franklin County families. “ I think Garnett packed several lifetimes into one, “ said FCBDD Superintendent Jed Morison. “She was a great lady, and certainly made her mark as a strong supporter of people with disabilities.” Garnett is survived by her son, Randy Steele. New board members named Two new members of the Franklin The new members will succeed Dateline will provide background County Board of Developmental Lito Ramirez and Leah Reibel. Their information on the new board members Disabilities have been named. They terms are set to begin on January 26, in its February issue. are John Bickley and Beth Savage. 2012. Board members’ terms last four years. Staff members retire Eight long-serving FCBDD staff Millie and her husband of 27 years, family who live in Kentucky. She will members retired in December, bidding Maurice Jones, have 6 children, also continue to care for five dogs, four a fond farewell to the agency and 15 grandchildren and 9 great- of whom live outside. coworkers. grandchildren. She is looking forward to spending more time with her family. “We will miss Kathy very much,” The retirees are: Millie Jones, said Annick Parker. “She will always Accounting Officer, Administration; At 82 Millie held the accolade for be in our hearts.” Kathy Wallen, Habilitation Specialist, being the agency’s oldest employee. Hague Living Skills Center; Alice She was also one of the most Talley, Instructor Assistant, Northeast energetic. “I loved my work,” she School; Scott Buffington, Safety said. That positive feeling went both Coordinator, Transportation; Dan ways said her supervisor, Jennifer Espinoza, Alternative Transportation Schueneman. “Millie has made an Coordinator, Transportation; Phillis outstanding contribution to the agency’s Jaccaud, Assistant Training Specialist, fiscal operation,” she said. “Millie will ARC South; Homer Green, Instructor certainly be missed.” Assistant at West Central School; and Judy Snedaker, Instructor at West Central School Commenting on the retirements, Superintendent Jed Morison said, “We’re saying goodbye to some outstanding staff members who have Alice Talley served our agency well. Certainly we wish them the very best.” Alice Talley started with FCBDD in 1979 after a five-year stint at the Columbus Developmental Center. She has worked as an Instructor Assistant Kathy Wallen during her entire 32-year career, mostly at Northeast School, though she did Kathy Wallen joined FCBDD in stints at both Bexley High School and 1988 as a Residential Specialist at the Reynoldsburg as well. Dierker Road residential facility. After a decade of service, she switched to the Alice greatly enjoyed her work, and Hague Living Skills Center. According describes her feelings as “bittersweet.” to Hague Director, Annick Parker, She explained that she looks forward “Kathy has displayed a kind, gentle to retirement, but “will miss the kids” spirit.” and her coworkers. Maury and Millie Jones. Kathy organized an annual “Hee Alice is particularly looking forward to spending more time with her 13 Millie Jones joined FCBDD in 1979. Haw” film festival for participants. year-old grandson. “I will enjoy that,” She was responsible for receiving She also became well known for her she declared. all revenue coming to the agency spaghetti dinners and delicious “Kathy as well as processing staff mileage cake.” reimbursements. A resident of New Straitsville, Kathy plans to spend more time with her large 2 12 - 2012 Another late December retiree from FCBDD’s Transportation Department is Dan Espinoza. He began employment at the agency in September, 2000. After serving as a flex bus driver for five years, Dan was promoted to Alternative Transportation Coordinator, a post he held for 11 years. Dan’s short-term plans are to take some short trips with his wife. Down the road, he hopes to travel to sunnier climes to find an “active retirement community we would move to,” he said. Scott Buffington Asked for his parting thoughts, Homer Green Scott Buffington of the Dan simply replied, “Best wishes to Transportation Department began his everyone!” Homer Green, an Instructor FCBDD career in 1979. Initially he Assistant at West Central School, was a mechanic and then became Transportation Director Paul worked 30 years with FCBDD. He has Parts Manager. In recent years, Scott Chenderlin commented, “Dan was experience working with all ages of has served as Safety Coordinator much admired for his hard work. There students, and most recently has been in the Transportation Department. will never be another Dan.” working in Room 156 with Dale Pugh, Unfortunately, he experienced some Teacher and Kathy Ahlers, Instructor health problems in recent months. Assistant. Homer has worked on the Combined Charities and Operation A highlight of Scott’s career was the Feed committees. He is certified in agency’s success in passing annual delegated nursing and van driving. Highway Patrol inspections of the bus He has provided behavior support fleet. “We used to have a cookout to throughout his career with no injuries. celebrate a successful inspection,” he Homer is married to Virginia Green recalled. and they have recently moved to Scott’s hobbies include organic Pickerington. He is looking forward to gardening and raising bees. He is “Sleeping in, and taking it easy for a also a car racing buff, and for years, while.” drove a race car competitively on Judy Snedaker has worked for weekends. Appropriately enough, over 30 years in the developmental Scott customized the car to look like a Phillis Jaccaud disabilities field. She worked fourteen mini-school bus. years with the Scioto County Board “Scott was a fixture in the Phillis Jaccaud has served as an and then moved to Columbus and vehicle maintenance department,” Assistant Training Specialist at ARC joined FCBDD in 1990. Judy was a said Transportation Director Paul Industries South since 1996. During classroom teacher with FCBDD for Chenderlin. “His experience and ability her 15-year tenure, Phillis contributed five years and then took the vocational will definitely be missed.” to the agency’s services in a variety of position at West Central School. ways. Judy was married for 19 years to Among the accomplishments Ed Snedaker, who passed away in of which she is most proud are: 2010. She has a daughter, son and developing lifelong relationships with two grandchildren. Judy plans to spend many consumers; teaching some more time with her family and would like consumers to tell time; teaching a to travel. Judy is thankful she stumbled course on sign language; and creating on to FCBDD when she moved to a game (“Body Bingo”), that helps Columbus. “It’s been wonderful and teach personal hygiene. the years have flown by,” she said. Phillis is looking forward to traveling, downsizing and moving to the country. Dan Espinoza 3 1 - 2012 A stroke of luck? by Martin Kerscher I looked at the lunch offerings in the patients’ dining room Ten days later, at Mt. Carmel’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Center -- where they I moved to the have been helping people recover from a variety of illnesses Rehabilitation Center since 1987 -- and pondered two questions: at Mt. Carmel West. Shortly after arriving there, I A fish sandwich or grilled cheese? And, what the heck looked into a mirror for the first am I doing here? time since my surgery and noticed The grilled cheese turned out to be tasty, but my presence that the left half of my head had been in the Rehabilitation Center makes for a more interesting completely shaved. I thought I resembled tale. an extra in a late-night horror movie, but my loving wife, Maribel, assured me otherwise. Much to my surprise, I had a stroke on the morning of July 16th.