Howard "Howdy" Heldman

Howard Wilson âa�A"Howdyâa�A� Heldman, 90 Boardman- Howard Wilson Heldman, 90, of 4018 Dover Road, formerly of Como Street and Creed Street in Struthers, died Wednesday morning at his residence. Mr. Heldman, also known as Howdy, was born December 21, 1916, in Struthers, a son of Otis W. and Eva Warner Heldman. He was a life-long area resident of Struthers. Howdy was a 1934 graduate of Struthers High School and received his BS in Education from Miami University in 1938 and his Masters in Education from Westminster in 1940. Howdy tried out for the Cincinnati Reds. He taught at Port William School from 1938-1939 and then became the Physical Education Teacher for Struthers High School in 1939. For 18 years Howdy was principal of Struthers High School retiring in 1980 after 40 years in the school district. After retirement, he served as Administration Assistant for Security at Astro Shapes in Struthers. He coached track at Struthers from 1941-1957 and was director of the Sectional and District Track Meet from 1947-1959. He was the Struthers High School football coach from 1947-1951 and basketball coach from 1947-1951 where he was director of its Sectional and District Tournaments from 1970-2001. Howdy also taught Physical Education at Youngstown State University. He directed the Class AAA and A Sectional and District State Basketball Tournament for nearly 30 years, directed the Sectional of the State Class A meet and volunteered for the State Special Olympics for 20 years. He was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989 for his contribution to athletics. He officiated football, basketball and track for more than 40 years. Howdy served on the Struthers Board of Education from 1982-1994 and served as Mayor of Struthers from 1983-1991. Howdy was a member of the National Education Association, Ohio Educational Association, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, Knights of Pythias, the Western Star Lodge #21, F&AM, and the Struthers Lions Club. He was also a member of the Struthers Presbyterian Church and attended the Brownlee Woods Presbyterian Church. Mr. Heldmanâa�a��s wife, the former Theresa Irwin, whom he married in 1940, died in 1974; he leaves his companion of 30 years, Joan Pochiro Basta, with whom he resided during his brief illness; one daughter, Marsha Ann (Ed) Kliem, of Toledo; one brother, Otis Heldman, of Poland; two grandchildren, Michele (Bryan) Hausner of Atlanta and Jennifer (Scooter) Stopera, of Toledo; and three great-grandchildren, Sydney and Wilson Stopera and Jackson Hausner; among many grandchildren on Joanâa�a��s side of the family, Howdy leaves four grandchildren whom he and Joan raised, Laurence Button, Joanna Button, Demetrios Chaparas and Niko Chaparas. Funeral services will be Monday, 11:00 AM at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home, Struthers, where friends may call Sunday from 2-6 PM at the funeral home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the Howdy Heldman Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Struthers Board of Education, 99 Euclid Ave., Struthers, OH 44471. Condolences may be sent at www.beckerobits.com .

---