Interviews and Research

I hesitate to make judgments on the basis of the few projects I've done, but I enjoyed interviewing Jim Callen, Jack Wendle and Pat Ungaro yesterday for my Don Hanni post that's upcoming today. I researched a number of articles (wish Maag was open so I could have done more) and wrote until 3am. I wonder if I could get used to a job in journalism, or is that just overkill?

I finally realized that my post was going to be too long to post both the full text of Bob Fitzer's "The End of the Hanni Machine" commentary as well as my own post, so about 1:30a I put it up on its own so it would have some time to be out there. Then, this afternoon or tonight, I'll unleash my own article, which I'm feeling pretty good about, though nervous. After the vitriol that's been poured out on Bertram de Souza for what was four paragraphs of fairly harmless ribbing, I can only imagine the wrath that will descend on me.

Hopefully I've presented things evenly and respectfully. One never knows with the Vindy crowd. My real goal is to avoid a defamation suit from any of the countless Hanni family lawyers.

At any rate, despite the knowledge that it's computer generated, it's still cool to see one's name on Google News.

The Day Hanni's Party Ended

As valley politicians and leaders fall all over themselves to honor Don Hanni Jr., I thought we'd take a little journey down memory lane. Stay tuned for my sure-to-be controversial Monday Vindy column. (Of course, it will be hard to top the thirty-four comments on my current post.)

In the meantime, enjoy this article from the Plain Dealer archives.

Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH) - May 5, 1994
Title: Tossed Reformers Put End To Political Era
Author: THOMAS OTT
Mahoning County voters received a lesson in civics during the campaign, then turned around on Election Day and taught county Democratic Chairman Don L. Hanni a lesson in politics.

The reform-minded Mahoning Democrats for Change exploded Hanni's political base Tuesday, with its candidates for precinct committeeman or woman apparently winning in about 275 of the county's 409 precincts.

That would leave the 68-year-old Hanni, an iron-fisted, old-style political boss who has run the party for 16 years, far from the majority he would need to remain chairman when the Democrats reorganize later this month.

Hanni did not even win the race for committeeman in his downtown Youngstown precinct, losing 89-55 to Otis W. Connel Jr., an activities coordinator at apartment buildings for the elderly.

"It was as if a huge weight was lifted off the shoulders of the community," rebel leader Michael Morley said yesterday. Morley, a 37-year-old lawyer from suburban Boardman Township, said he will be a candidate for chairman.

Hanni's opponents had pledged to put a term limit on the chairmanship and to scrap endorsements in primary elections, which they said had a chilling effect. They also promised to end political influence in government and clean up a community image they said had been soiled by Hanni.

Hanni, a lawyer and former Youngstown Municipal judge, apparently could still be a candidate for chairman. He hung up when called for comment yesterday.

Hanni had presented himself as unvarnished, the other side as hypocrites with political aims. He refused to apologize for dealing bluntly with Democrats on the state and federal levels, saying he was trying only to gain favor for the
county.

Democrats for Change, hoping to capitalize on perceived voter disgust with machine politics, combined neighborhood appeals and electronic media advertising. The campaign, which Morley said cost $80,000 to $90,000, emphasized to voters that their precinct representatives determine who leads the party.

Dr. William Binning, chairman of the Youngstown State University political science department and former head of the county's negligible Republican Party, termed the election a "brilliant" triumph of modern campaign techniques over Hanni's fliers and lawn signs. He said some last-minute advertising by the Hanni camp came too late.

A poll that Binning had taken for the Youngstown Vindicator the week before the election had indicated Hanni was in trouble. Of 300 Democrats surveyed, 55% said they would prefer Morley as chairman; 17% chose Hanni. The poll also allowed respondents to pick "someone else."

In the comments below, please name your vote for who is more worthy of being laid in state in the courthouse rotunda than Don Hanni.

UPDATE 7/21: Here is Bob Fitzer's 1994 Speed of Sound commentary.
And my article was published this afternoon.

TONIGHT: Downtown Architectural Tour

Don't miss tonight's architectural walking tour of downtown Youngstown. Your host is The Metro Monthly publisher and editor, Mark Peyko. Mark knows what he's talking about; he has a Master's from Eastern Michigan University in historic preservation planning, focusing on architectural history, preservation and American settlement. He has written extensively on the architecture and history of Youngstown's downtown and, as The Metro Monthly's maestro, he knows the ins and outs of whats going on.

The architectural tour is free and will be presented in memory of local musician and political activist Robert D. Fitzer, who died last year after an extended illness. The tour begins at 7pm from the Civil War monument on Central Square.

Teddy Pantelas remembers Bob Fitzer

In our final podcast in the Remembering Bob Fitzer series, local guitar great Teddy Pantelas talks Bob and Youngstown. And if you haven't yet caught Teddy at Cedars, you're missing the best jazz in the valley.

Ron Gould remembers Bob Fitzer

Dr. Ron Gould was an important mentor and collaborator to me at YSU. He has the unique perspective of knowing Bob's parents when they were teachers and of having watched Bob grow up and shares musical insights from Bob's performances through the years.

Mark Peyko remembers Bob Fitzer

Up next in our series of interviews about Bob Fitzer, Metro Monthly publisher Mark Peyko remembers their friendship, starting back in 1991.

If you haven't visited Metro Monthly online, check out the videos, vintage home photos, downtown photographs and store!

And if you didn't catch it in the first interview post, here's the link to Mark's interviews with Bob.

[Please forgive the soft background chatter. We found the quietest corner we could, but there were many people over that night, and it was bound to bleed over into the mix.]

This just in...

Public memorial concert for Robert D. Fitzer set for Friday, July 27

A public memorial concert celebrating the life of Robert D. Fitzer will occur at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 27 at the Ford Auditorium in the DeYor Performing Arts Center, located at 260 W. Federal St. in downtown Youngstown.

Fitzer, an instructor of clarinet at Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music, died on May 16 following an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

The program is open to the community and will include musical performances, remembrances and a slide presentation recounting Fitzer's life. In addition, Fitzer¹s uncle, Vincent Severino of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., will discuss the recently established Fitzer Family Scholarship in Music. The July 27 event will be the first in a series of annual concert fund-raisers for the scholarship fund.

Fitzer was born in Youngstown, Ohio on July 27, 1956 to James Robert Fitzer and Dolores Elvira (Severino) Fitzer, who were Dana School of Music faculty members.

Fitzer was widely known in Youngstown for his political and community activism. He served on the faculty of the Dana School of Music since 1996 and was director of the Clarinet Studies program.

Fitzer began musical studies with pianist Gene Rush (Tennessee State University) and with pianist Harold Danko (Eastman School of Music) and began clarinet studies at age 10 with Carl Marks Jr. He graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor of arts in performance. Fitzer undertook additional academic and performance training at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria and at the International Festival-Institute in Round Top, Texas. He studied with Chicago Symphony Orchestra clarinetists Clark Brody and Larry Combs.

From 1987 to 1994 Fitzer was a feature writer and senior consultant for Speed of Sound magazine. He was a founding member of Easy Street Productions' Little Big Band and served as co-host and producer of the WYSU-FM political radio show "Commentary Café" from 1995 to 2001.

Aside from his work as a musician and educator, Fitzer was active in community and civic affairs. He was president of the Citizens' League of Greater Youngstown; served as a Mahoning County Democratic Party Executive Committee member; and was a chairman of the Wick Park Model Neighborhood Project.


Contact: Vincent Severino, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 702-501-5082.

Mark C. Peyko
Publisher
The Metro Monthly

Holly Burnett-Hanley remembers Bob Fitzer

Continuing in our tribute to Bob Fitzer, journalist, politician, birdwatcher, agitator... Speed of Sound publisher Holly Burnett-Hanley took time to share her memories of working with "Bobby" on the legendary issue pictured here.


I also talked with Holly about the status of the river today and will share river-related info in an upcoming post. Enjoy the podcast. There's a link to the right to subscribe to the series, if you are an iTunes kind of person like me.

[Edit 7/19, 8:27am; if you were unable to get to the audio earlier, this has been fixed. Please try again. Thanks!]

Bill Slocum remembers Bob Fitzer

After Bob Fitzer's private memorial service in May, I invited several of his friends and colleagues to record remembrances. In anticipation of the upcoming public memorial concert at the DeYor, I am posting these interviews as podcasts.

The first interview is with my teacher, YSU professor and former New York Philharmonic and Cleveland Orchestra hornist, Bill Slocum. He generously shares memories of Bob as both precocious youth and conscientious colleague.

Please also find interviews with Bob by his friend and Metro Monthly publisher, Mark Peyko, at http://www.metromonthly.net/bob/BobFitzer/BobFitzer.html.

Bob's 10 Rules of Living

I've been in Virginia this week on business, so I apologize for going silent. I've been wanting to share something, so I'll take this opportunity.

We were driving home from the recent Summer Festival of the Arts and decided to make a detour into east Youngstown. We don't know the area well, so we were prepared to get somewhat lost. As we were driving through, my wife said, "This really is like the city Youngstown forgot." Separated geographically somewhat, the area has its own distinctive feel to it--almost rural even.

As we encountered a new street or interesting house, we pondered aloud about its past. As we did, we knew there was one person who, if we could only call him, would have had the answers.

Bob Fitzer knew Youngstown like perhaps no one else. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of its boundaries, buildings and history. We wished he were with us on that drive instead of only in our hearts as we anticipate his public memorial service on July 27. Some of his wisdom remains behind, however, and that's what I want to share.

Bob (aka "Bobby", aka "Bobbo") Fitzer's 10 Rules of Living:
1. Get Involved
2. Be Kind
3. Never Give Up
4. Rejoice in the Success of Others
5. Take Chances
6. Be Humble
7. Embrace Chaos
8. Take Time
9. Trust in Your Intuition
10. Don't Move to the Suburbs

About this site

Youngstown Renaissance will host a series of posts and podcasts celebrating the history and exploring the future of Youngstown, Ohio. You'll read about activities and ideas that promote the area and hear interviews with prominent citizens, dedicated activists and compelling artists. Together, we'll promote the culture and vitality of Youngstown, as the city makes its way, beaten and bruised perhaps, but proud and passionate nonetheless, in the 21st Century.

This effort is sincerely dedicated, with eternal gratitude and love, to Robert Fitzer. Perhaps more than any other individual, Youngstown's current renaissance is possible due to his efforts. He fought tirelessly against the corruption that effectively killed the city's chances for renewal after the steel bust. Furthermore, he made the city beautiful through his efforts to preserve its historical sites and his contributions to the arts, through his incomparable clarinet artistry and pedagogy.