Groucutt Gazette 2025

Greetings, Groucutts!

Hope this issue finds you well. We'd like to dedicate this issue to the following family members, who will all be sent a copy, care of Saint Peter, Pearly Gates General Delivery 👼

Noah and Kathleen Groucutt

Dorothy and Bob Schell, Baby John Schell, Mary Kay Martz, Phil Martz, Patty and Jim Koenig, Jimmy Schell, Brian Schell

Ruth and Joe Callahan

Virginia and John Naples, Pamela Naples

Kathleen and Bob Sullivan, Bill Sullivan, Mary Ann and Frank Kinney, Bobby Sullivan

Jean and Chuck Lowry, Michael George Lowry, Margaret Lowry, Greg Lowry, Mickey Vath, Mike McCaffrey

Barbara and Dave Roberts, Baby Mary Beth Roberts, Pat Roberts

Dick Groucutt, Elizabeth Groucutt

We love and miss you all! 

Clockwise, seated: Mother Groke, Virginia Naples, Kathleen Sullivan, Jean Lowry, Bob Sullivan, Barbara Roberts; standing: Daddy Groke, Bob Schell, John Naples, Dorothy Schell, Dave Roberts

(Who took the photo?)

Left to right, Chuck Lowry, Daddy Groke, Mother Groke, Bob Schell

Virginia Naples, Dick Groucutt, Barbara Roberts, Ruth Callahan, Kathleen Sullivan

Seated, Dorothy Schell, Ruth Callahan, Virginia Naples, Kathleen Sullivan
Standing, Jean Lowry, Dick Groucutt, Barbara Roberts

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Memory Musings

In this issue, we have the good fortune to have some memories shared by Tommy Schell.

But first some photos

Tommy Schell

Jimmy Schell and Davey Roberts at 81 Saranac, circa 1956

Tommy Schell in the driveway of the Schell home, 1952

Left to right, Wendy Martz, Kathleen Schell, Becky Schell holding Cindy Martz

MY NAME IS TOM SCHELL AND I WAS BORN ON THURSDAY JULY 15,1943 AT 6:32PM IN NORTH SIDE HOSPITAL YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. MY MOTHER, DOROTHY CATHERINE GROUCUTT SCHELL WAS 28 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS BORN. MY FATHER ROBERT SAUNDERS SCHELL WAS 29 YEARS OLD. WE LIVED AT 150 CHARLES AVE IN BOARDMAN, OHIO AT THE TIME.

I WAS THE 3RD CHILD AFTER MARY KAY SCHELL BORN THURSDAY 6-17-1937 AND ROBERT EDWARD SCHELL BORN FRIDAY 4-21-1939.

I WAS BAPTISED IN ST CHARLES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BOARDMAN AND MY GODPARENTS WERE MY AUNT VIRGINIA GROUCUT NAPLES AND UNCLE JOHN R NAPLES. AUNT VIRGINIA WAS MY MOTHER'S SISTER.

ON MONDAY 8-14-1944 MY SISTER PATRICIA ANN SCHELL WAS BORN ALSO IN NORTH SIDE HOSPITAL. 

IN 1947 MY FAMILY PURCHASED A HOME AT 81 SARANAC AVE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF YOUNGSTOWN.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER WALKED ME TO MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON KENSINGTON AVE ON MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN, AND INTRODUCED ME TO MY TEACHER NAMED MRS. BROWN. FROM THAT DAY FORWARD I WALKED ALONE, TO AND FROM MCKINLEY SCHOOL ALL THROUGH KNDERGARDEN. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY HALF MILE FROM OUR HOME ON SARANAC TO THE SCHOOL WHICH WAS THE CORNER OF BISSELL AND KENSINGTON AVE.

I REMEMBER WE HAD A BLACK DOG NAMED BLACKIE (LATER WE WOULD HAVE A WHITE DOG NAMED WHITEY) MY FATHER ALWAYS HAD FUN NAMES FOR OUR DOGS.  ONE DAY OUR BLACK DOG LEFT OUR BACKYARD ON SARANAC AND RAN TO KENSINGTON. A NEIGHBOR, EDDIE ANDERSON, WHO LIVED ON KENSINGTON AND ALWAYS WAS SPEEDING IN HIS CAR,  RAN OVER OUR DOG AND KILLED IT. I REMEMBER CRYING ALONG WITH MY TWO SISTERS AND BROTHER AND OUR FATHER 
WENT DOWN AND PICKED HIM UP AND BROUGHT HIM HOME AND WE BURIED BLACKIE IN OUR BACK YARD.

ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28,1950 WE HAD A HUGE SNOW STORM AND ALL ROADS WERE MOSTLY IMPASSABLE. AS A RESULT MY MOTHER WAS TAKEN BY SLED TO A WAITING AMBULANCE ON KENSINGTON FOR HER TRIP TO ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITAL TO DELIVER OUR NEW BABY BROTHER JAMES MICHAEL SCHELL. BY THIS TIME WE ALSO HAD A NEW DOG NAMED WHITEY.

JIMMY SCHELL WAS A JOVIAL AND FUNNY PERSON AND I WOULD OFTEN TEASE HIM SAYING JIMMY,YOU ARE MESSED UP AND I THINK BECAUSE UNCLE DAVE AND UNCLE CHUCK HIT TOO MANY BUMPS WHILE TAKING MOM FOR YOUR DELIVERY. LOL

DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME I REMEMBER MANY NEIGHBORS WOULD ASSEMBLE EVERY OTHER FRIDAY AT EACH OTHERS' HOMES AND WE WOULD RECITE THE ROSARY. I CAN STILL TO THIS DAY HEAR MY MOTHERS VOICE BEHIND ME PRAYING THE ROSARY, PRIMARILY AT THE DIANA RESIDENCE DOWN THE STREET AT 54 SARANAC. WE HAD SEVERAL PROTESTANTS AND ALSO TWO JEWISH FAMILIES WHO ATTENDED OUR RECITATION OF THE HOLY ROSARY. 

ALSO ON FRIDAYS DAD WOULD SEND US KIDS TO THE ELM BEVERAGE SHOP 1620 ELM ST WHICH WAS AT THE TOP OF SARANAC. WE WOULD PURCHASE POP AND POTATO CHIPS, AND DAD WOULD ALSO POP POPCORN ON THE GAS STOVE AND WE KNEW IT WAS ABOUT TIME WHEN WE HEARD THE POPPING SLOW DOWN LOL. WE WOULD THEN ASSEMBLE IN OUR LIVING ROOM AND MY MOTHER WOULD PLAY THE PIANO AND MY FATHER THE HARMONICA AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL FAMILY EVENING.

AN ELDERLY COUPLE NAMED MR AND MRS HAMILTON LIVED AT THE TOP OF OUR STREET SARANAC AND CORNER OF ELM ST. I OFTEN SHOVELED THEIR SNOW FOR THEM AND IF THERE WAS THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF SNOW MR. HAMILTON WOULD CALL OUR HOUSE (RI 71279) AT 5AM ASKING MOM TO HAVE ME CLEAR THE SNOW FROM THEIR SIDEWALKS ON BOTH ELM AND SARANAC SINCE THEY LIVED ON THE CORNER. AS A RESULT MOM WOULD THEN COME UPSTAIRS AND WAKE ME FOR MY WALK UP THE STREET TO SHOVEL THE SNOW THEN ONTO SCHOOL AT ST. EDWARD ELEMENTARY, ON THE CORNER OF OHIO AND BENITA AVES. THIS COUPLE WAS IMPRESSED WITH MY WORK AND RECOMMENDED ME TO MR EDWARD ULRICH AT 1621 ELM ST. HE OWNED AN ANTIQUE AND JEWELRY STORE. AFTER A WHILE HE SAID TO ME, "TOMMY, YOU HAVE SUCH A PLEASANT DISPOSITION. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE THE GREETER FOR MY CUSTOMERS." 

SO I THEN STAYED IN HIS BUSINESS AFTER SCHOOL AND THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT ANTIQUES THAT I HAVE BOUGHT AND SOLD ANTIQUES TO THIS VERY DAY. MR ULRICH WAS VERY GOOD TO ME AS HE WOULD OFTEN TAKE ME TO GENEVA ON THE LAKE WHEN HE WOULD GO FOR A CONVENTION OF JEWLERS. ONE DAY HE PURCHASED FOR ME A CUSHMAN MOTOR SCOOTER THAT WAS NORMALLY RENTED AT THE LAKE. HARD TO BELIEVE BUT MY FRIEND BILLY AGNONE WHO LIVED ON THORNTON AVE BELOW COSTAS GROCERY STORE WAS WITH ME AND WE DROVE THAT DAMN SCOOTER FROM GENEVA ON THE LAKE BACK HOME TO YOUNGSTOWN. 

(More from Tom in our next issue.)

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Something Old and Something New 

                                        By Barb Tyndall

This picture Gigi recently posted of my grandparents and my mother, made me think of a story my mother shared with me a long time ago. Although the photo wasn’t taken at at the time of this story, it could reflect the mood of the three people involved that day! 

My mother Barbara,  known to many as Babs, once told me about a disagreement she had with her parents, Mother and Daddy Groke, over one of their household rules. At the time, she was a student at Ursuline High School and wanted to attend an after-school activity, maybe a dance or a sporting event. The Groucutts lived on Ford Avenue and, therefore, were within walking distance to Ursuline. Since my grandparents never owned a car, they either walked places or relied on public transportation or friends for rides when necessary. 

Mom was given permission to attend this event with the understanding that my grandparents would meet her at UHS after and walk her home. Babs was pleased to have been given permission to attend the event and looked forward to spending the extra time with her friends. 

When the activity concluded, Mother & Daddy Groke showed up as planned, prepared to walk  their youngest daughter home. My mom wanted to remain  with her friends but was reminded of their agreement. 

Mom admitted she reluctantly left, but walked AHEAD of them for the trip home. By the time the three arrived home, Daddy Groke didn’t raise his voice or deliver a long lecture. Instead, he spoke quietly, but firmly,  telling her how DISAPPOINTED they were that she had shown such disrespect to them by walking ahead of them, instead alongside them. 

It was a surprising story,  

as I had rarely heard about conflicts in the Groucutt  household, other than the usual ones involving 6  sisters arguing over clothes, doing chores and trying to scrounge up enough money for bus fare. That story made me realize that my grandparents, along with their six daughters and son, didn’t always lead such a peaceful and ideal existence!

My mother‘s remorse, so many years later, really touched me. Her admission of regret showed  me so much about my mom’s character. Her honesty and humility, along with her courage and faith, have been  evident to me throughout my  life. 

That story reminded me that  even in loving families, people make mistakes, but conflict can bring us closer. (It  also reminded me that you never really know what’s going on in someone else’s house!)

The Roberts kids, then and Now

Front row, Tommy, Barbie, and Pat
Back row, Kathy, Davey and Michael

From left, Davey, Kathy, Tom, Barb, Michael

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Congratulations and Best Wishes, Tom Roberts!

(Excerpt from Tom's retirement event program in Las Vegas on May 23)

Deacon Tom Roberts served as the President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada between 2013 and 2024. Under his leadership, Catholic Charities invested more than $329 million into the community through its programs and services. During his time as CEO,   Deacon Tom also served on the Executive Committee of the Southern Nevada CEO Exchange, which is a group of leaders for the largest not-for-profit organizations in the community focused on enhanced communications and collaborations. 

Deacon Tom is also a member and past chair of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas Diaconate Council.  He and his wife Karen are also Knighted Members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, a Papal appointment that support Christian and human development projects in the Holy Land. When the tragic 1 October shooting happened in Las Vegas in 2017, Deacon Tom was asked to serve as the Vice Chairman for the Las  Vegas Victims Fund, a not-for-profit organization established to distribute funds to the victims and their families.

Deacon Tom was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada in 2011 by Bishop Joseph Pepe. He previously served as a Permanent Deacon at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Las Vegas and has been assigned to Holy Spirit Roam Catholic Church since 2021.

Before coming to Catholic Charities, Deacon Tom had more than 27 years of executive management, operations and leadership experience in his private sector career.  He was the Founding General Manager of the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace the former Vice President of Development & Leasing for the Rio Suite Hotel and Casino (Caesars) Entertainment and Boyd Gaming. He has also served as the Corporate Vice President of Development for Station Casino and Fertitta Entertainment (Red Rock Resorts)

Deacon Tom graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Youngstown State University, and has attained a Master's Degree in Business Administration with High Honors from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. He has also earned the Certified Property Manger's designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), based in Chicago.

Deacon Tom and his wife Karen reside in Las Vegas and are the parents of three children.

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Thanks for reading! Hope you've enjoyed this issue.  More to come soon.  Please send updates about what your family is up to now, as well as memories of the olden days. And tell other family members about the Gazette, as I don't have everyone's email address yet.  

You can always log on at 

gazette2025.blogspot.com 

Last but not least, this was an item in Esther Hamilton's column, "Around Town," in the Vindy!

Thanks to Barb Tyndall and Tom Schell for their contributions.  Also thanks to Suzanne Moorman for proofreading and Kay Wuske for photo editing.