How many years have you been with Summerfair Cincinnati? This year was my 25th year. I was able to name all of the managing directors that I have had the pleasure to meet with Carolyn Mosely’s help. The list includes Linda Dietrich, Peggy Sambi, Kathy Horowitz, Carolyn Mosely, Kevin Reynolds, Christine Waddle, and of course, Sharon Strubbe.
Why did you join the organization? I was new to the area and I wanted to get involved in the community. My first two “meetings” found me playing on the Summerfair softball team in a CRC league at Withrow High School. I was invited by former member Kelly Loetscher whom I taught with at Schwab Middle School in Northside. After that, I attended a regular meeting at the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown. Since I had been playing softball, everyone thought I was a member and I continued coming to meetings and I was never voted in!
What’s your favorite thing about being a member volunteer? The friends that I have made and helping make the fair a success each year.
What Fair committee do you normally work on? The Gang Why? Originally this group was called the “Gang of Three” being named by former member Jim Dill. This group was comprised of Dill, the late Charlie Warburton and I. Years ago, we would hear unanswered calls on the radio that someone needed ice, a hammer, a booth moved or help carrying art and found this to be our niche working behind the scenes. The Gang of Three for awhile was its own “division” until being moved to Fair Support.
What’s one favorite memory you have from your green shirt experience at the Fair? I have had a lot of great memories over the years as a member. Some of those include: playing on the Summerfair Softball and coed Volleyball team, moving and building fair booths, tapping beer kegs (when Summerfair operated all the beer and wine sales), post-fair parties in Moonlight Gardens after eating, dragging port-o-lets to new locations with the golf cart, our first female member to the Gang of Three (Jayne Utter) of which we temporarily were renamed “Four No More”, meetings at the Old Spaghetti Factory, taking coolers of ice and wine coolers to the river after we closed on Saturday to listen to concerts at Riverbend, moving the food vendors from the square and making it work, finding new ways to remove water off the ground, Summerfair golf scrambles, pig roasts, Christmas parties, and celebrating 25 years of fond memories.
What’s your favorite Summerfair poster? I like all of the posters but my favorite t-shirt color was orange in 2003.
Tom grew up in West Terre Haute, Indiana with 1 brother and 3 sisters. He learned to love the outdoors working on farms and being in 4-H for 10 years. He played Football, Basketball, and Baseball in high school and turned down an offer to play baseball in college.
He now lives in Indiana in north central Dearborn County; and has been married 27 years to Nancy. They have 2 children: Jeff (23, one year left to complete a Doctor of Pharmacy degree) and Kris (19, in Christ Hospital Nursing program).
Where are you employed and what’s your role there? I have held many jobs in the area (K-Mart assistant manager in Oxford, Shillito’s Lead Sales in electronics, and Pete’s Photo World) but I am currently in my 21st year at East Central High School in Indiana. I teach 9th grade Physical Education having previously taught Math and Computer Science for 11 years. I also handle Sports Information duties for the athletic teams. I coached football for 19 years and continue to assist with Boys Basketball and Girls Fastpitch Softball.
When I “retired” from football a few years ago, I started a part-time job with Comair at the Cincinnati Airport where I continue during the summer and throughout the year.
Tom’s hobbies (besides Summerfair) include anything outside. The nearest he gets to making art / crafts is sealing the deck! His favorite vacation was his family’s trip last year in Cancun. And he enjoys having a beer while watching the Bengals. |
