Otis Ralph Heldman

Boardman - Otis R. Heldman, Sr., 102, of Griswold Drive, passed away at his residence Sunday evening on November 20.

He was born April 1, 1914 in Struthers, the son of Otis W. and Eva Warner Heldman and was a direct descendant of Ezra Warner who helped found Petersburg in the 1840's. He was a 75 year member of the Struthers United Presbyterian Church until it closed.

Otis was a 1931 graduate of Struthers High School and attended the College of Wooster and Youngstown College, later Youngstown State University.

In 1936, while picking up his date at the Southside Hospital Student Nurse's Dormitory, he was introduced to another student nurse, Phyllis Purnell, and met the love of his life. He pursued her for a year before they were married August 28, 1937.

They enjoyed 71 years of marriage and raised three children. The couple moved to Boardman in 1965. They played bridge and traveled throughout the USA. They also spent part of the winter in Fort Myers until 1999 and attended "Youngstown Day" in Bradenton every year. His wife passed away in October 2008.

Otis began his career in the iron and steel industry with Republic Steel. In 1942, when FDR nationized large steel mills, Republic Steel went 100% defense. As a foreman of the Blast Furnace Department, he was labeled critical to operations and worked 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week, for the duration of the war. In 1947, he was hired by Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, later Lykes Youngstown, and retired as general turn foreman in 1977 when the company closed.

He was a member of the American Management Association--Yo-Tub chapter, the Struthers Athletic Club, VFW Post 3538, and the Youngstown Maennerchor Club.

In 1948, a group of Struthers citizens persuaded him to run for the school board. He was elected to two four-year terms and chosen as president of the board. The high school was in dire need of a gym for boys' basketball, but he had a different vision: a large multi-function facility that would benefit not only more students but also the community. Years ahead of his times, as a passionate believer in the value of sports and music, he wanted a gym for girls sports and for boys not on varsity teams, for intramural competition. For non-athletic students, the facility also included a large Band Room and individual practice rooms.

In 1951, his dream came true when he presided over the dedication of Struthers Memorial Field House Field. The Guest List included Gov. Frank J. Lausche, Congressman Michael J. Kirwan, Ohio State Rep. George D. Tablack, and many local dignitaries. He also instituted a policy that the concessions at all events be given to the Struthers Band Mothers, so that all proceeds be dedicated to band students' new uniforms, rather than have students go door-to-door for funds.

Mr. Heldman was a 32nd degree Mason. He was inducted into the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Western Star Lodge No. 21, as a member of the John W. Bricker 33rd Degree Class. In a special ceremony at the Masonic Hall on Wick Ave., the Ohio Lodge honored him for 75 years of service. He was also a member of the Aut Mori Grotto and was honored as a 75 year member. He worked to put on the Aut Mori Grotto Circus held at the Struthers Field House for over 25 years to raise funds for children with muscular dystrophy.

Although Otis loved all sports, his favorite was baseball. He was a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates and attended games at Forbes Field, Three Rivers, and PNC Park. A die-hard Ohio State fan, he attended every Ohio State-Michigan game in Columbus in the 1940's and 1950's, including the 1951game when the Big Snow hit. He was in Ann Arbor in November 1963 awaiting the game when it was cancelled due to President Kennedy's death. He was totally committed to the Big Ten Conference. The proudest moment of his life was when his grandson and namesake, Matthew Otis Heldman, the senior point guard on the University of Illinois Basketball team, won the Big Ten in 1998.

Otis loved cards and travel, and believed the U.S. was the most beautiful country in the world. Starting in the 1930's, he visited every state, except Hawaii, and was most enthralled with Taos, NM and Ketchikan, Alaska. He played almost every card game, but his favorite was bridge. In 2011, he played every week at the Martha Lupse Bridge/500 Card Club in Poland, and also bi-weekly at the Mahoning Valley Cribbage Club, until both dissolved in 2014.

Otis was an avid golfer until 2008, served as president of the Grotto Golf League, and was also a member of the USSX Golf League. His only hole-in-one was at the Terreverde Golf course in Fort Myers.

Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his brother Howard W. ("Howdy") Heldman, his son Otis R., Jr., and grandson Matthew Otis Heldman.

Otis is survived by his daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Heldman, with whom he made his home, and daughter Rachel (Doug) Duennes of Philadelphia; four grandchildren Atty. John (Leisha) Rego of Cleveland, Dr. James Rego of Bend, Or., Amy (Joe) Tibert of Sunland, CA., and Phil Duennes of Philadelphia, and four great-grandchildren, Emily and Brian Rego of Cleveland and Ethan and Ashley Tibert of Sunland.

In his final years, much attention and kindness was bestowed on Otis by his Masonic friends, "Slim Jim" Giles and the late Evan Butler, with monthly luncheons and by close friend Jim Reese with Friday card games as well as by his private caregivers Dave Gigee and Amy Leskovac.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 25, at 11:30 AM at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland with Mr. Heldman’s niece, the Rev. Joan Purnell officiating.

Friends may call Friday from 9-11:00 AM followed by a Masonic service at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Otis wished that any memorial tributes take the form of contributions in his name to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 1645 W. 8th St., Erie, PA 16505.