Our Virtual Classmate, Tom Banchich
[Note: Our good buddy from childhood, Tom Banchich, and his family moved from Oak Harbor in 1965; therefore, he graduated with another bunch of folks. Our ties to him nonetheless remain very strong. He received his undergraduate degree from BGSU and married a Perrysburg, Ohio, lady. He was with us at our Silver Anniversary Reunion in August 1992 at the VFW Hall.
Excerpt from Tom's 05/25/2006 E-Mail
Dear Doug,
I very much enjoyed our [phone] conversation the last week. Below is a copy of the message I sent to Dick Martin [Class of 1967] and Roger Bloom [Class of 1968] about my visit. Dorothy, since you may have forgotten, is my mom. Since my dad's death well over a year ago, she had lived out here, only about 20 minutes from us. I told both Dick and Roger — the latter who soon will retire — that you would be interested in hearing from them.
Yours, Tom
I had more than my fill of nostalgia and rain on the recent trip to Oak Harbor and its environs. Dorothy and I left Buffalo on Sunday, made the sharp left as we approached what was the sight of old Municipal Stadium, crossed the Sandusky Bay [Thomas Edison] Bridge, stopped to visit Joe's [Joseph Banchich, Tom's father] grave in PC [Port Clinton, OH 43452], and then headed to Clyde [OH 43410], where I dropped Dorothy at her sister's, Audrey's. My Aunt Pam already had arrived from Cleveland.
After a couple hours, I took Route 6 to BG [Bowling Green, OH 43402], where I bunked at the home of one of my former professors. I had a pleasant evening there, then drove and walked around the campus the next morning as the rain continued. I took to back roads to O. H. [Oak Harbor, OH 43449] and, on the way, drove along the south side of the Portage [River] in order to pass the first house I had lived in and enter OH over the bridge. After business at the National Bank of Oak Harbor, I visited the hotel. I don't ever recall seeing any of the rooms in the Long Branch on the old Gunsmoke TV Show, but I imagine the real thing could not have been much different from the room I was booked into. I begged off, which really says something, and decided to look elsewhere. For the next couple hours I walked some of the old paths from Water Street to my old church — which looked great inside and out — the former high school, the library, and then back downtown. No bars, since I was not sure who I would see next or where I would stay. A nice lady who ran a shop next to the Oak Cafe recommended the perch at a place in PC [Port Clinton, OH 43452], so there I headed, fully intending to come back and call the Martins.
In PC I did have a good meal, then tried to visit the Ottawa County Historical Society, which was closed. At that point it was late afternoon, and I realized I'd better decide on a hotel. I drove back to OH and then, not having the nerve to call the Martins so late in the day, to Fremont via Route 19, taking a detour down Christie Road. Had another good meal in a restaurant near Fremont St. J's [Fremont, OH 43420, Saint Joseph Central Catholic School ], then headed for Clyde to stay at the Red Roof Inn. I called on Dorothy and Audrey that evening, picked up D. the next morning, and returned to Buffalo [NY}, where I learned that Doug Palmer had called. The next evening, Tuesday, 05/16/2006, I phoned him, and we had a long, interesting conversation, about which I'll write more [soon].
I am now in the office [Classics Department Chairperson, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208-1098], one of our pre-graduation ceremonies having just concluded. Tomorrow is the big ceremony. Sue should be here in a moment to give me a lift home. You'll hear more from me [in the future].
– Tom
Excerpt from Tom's 05/09/2006 E-Mail
Dear [Web Rocket 1967 ],I'll be passing through O. H. next Monday and plan to realize one of my childhood dreams by spending a night at the hotel [Oak Harbor Inn; formerly, Oak Harbor Hotel ]. I always wondered what was upstairs. Anyway, I wondered if you might be available for a visit. I'll probably be in mid afternoon Monday. Tuesday morning I head to Clyde [OH] and then back to Buffalo [NY].
– Tom Banchich
Excerpt from Tom's 05/31/1998 E-Mail
... Dick Martin may have told you that on my last trip to see my folks in Toledo I took my older son, Andrew (now [then] 11), over to Oak Harbor to fish. We shall probably make another visit in early July. I wonder if they still have softball, chicken, and fireworks at the park on the 4th?
I also have recently been in contact with a woman named Jane Beckett, the curator of the Ottawa County Historical Museum, who happens to live at 156 East Water Street, just a few doors from my old home at 130 East Water Street (formerly next to the Teagardens, now next to McDonalds Restaurant). I sent her the text of a manuscript history of early Oak Harbor written years ago by Mrs. Julia Sperling, who lived across the street from me in what was to become the McFessels' house. Beckett is currently engaged in a project on Oak Harbor history, and I thought Sperling's work might preserve some unique information. Shortly after the reunion, I pulled it from my files and entered the text into my computer. If you wish, I'll e-mail you a copy.
As for my move from Oak Harbor, we left for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1965, after I had finished my sophomore year. The closure of Erie Army Depot [EAD] forced our departure, which I now realize was quite an ordeal for my parents and my sister, Claire (now finishing her Ph.D. in Medieval Studies at UCLA after many interesting years in the musical instrument business in California). Our large black cat, Eric, and I seem to have come through in better shape, though Eric is no longer around to confirm or deny this.
I graduated from Chambersburg [PA] Area Senior High School in 1967 and attended Bowling Green State University [BGSU], my choice of universities being most influenced by Dave Martin, Chuck Ramsey, Howard Butch Komives, and the fact that BG's colors are the same as those of the Browns. I received my B.A. in history in '71. My Ph.D. in classics from the State University of New York [SUNY] at Buffalo came in 1985. I am now chairman of the Classics Department at Canisius College in Buffalo. I am married to the former Sue Hayward, a Perrysburg, Ohio, lady, and have two boys, Andrew and David (the latter to be 7 later this [that] month). Sue works in the publications office at Canisius, where she edits the alumni newspaper. My home address is 530 Delaware Road, Buffalo, NY 14223-1343 (Phone +1-716-876-0239).
My address at school is Classics Department, Canisius College, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208-1098 USA. The office phone is +1-716-888-2724.
I have indeed crossed paths with Charlie the Butcher several times in my years here. The next time I see him, I'll certainly mention ... {the Oak Harbor connection} ...
Again, I was very pleased to hear from you. Regards ... and here's hoping we meet again at the reunion or before.
Yours, Tom
Note: Charlie the Butcher is Charles W. Roesch, 1971 graduate of the University of Toledo, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, who shared an apartment with Doug Palmer (The Roesch-Palmer Empire ) in west Toledo from August 1970 to July 1971. His grandfather was mayor of Buffalo in the early 1930s.
He has greatly expanded his family's meat market business and, in so doing, has become a television personality, appearing as Charlie the Butcher on the Live with Regis and Kathie Lee morning show, pre-Super Bowl culinary "shoot-out" shows where his meaty cuisine represented The Bills, and many statewide and local spots.
Charlie has been to Oak Harbor on several occasions. He was kidnapped, hog-tied, and dragged from his U. of Toledo dormitory room (Carter Hall East) to the 1968 Sadie Hawkins Dance by Sandy Palmer (Ciolino). He returned to Oak Harbor, on his own volition, to the crazy Herbie Awards Night in Spring 1968. On several occasions thereafter, he enjoyed drinking Ol' Fash'n's, Perfect Manhattans, and [Canadian] Cinci Beer with Friendly Uncle Tom , (then) Mayor of Oak Harbor, at Uncle Tom's Cabin on Townline Street.
Doug spent a week with Charlie and his family in June 1968 and had the privilege of going to the slaughter house with Charlie as he inspected the steers, sheep, and goats going in one end of the plant and the sides of meat being selected for the family business on the output end. Many interesting sights in-between, indeed! As college freshmen-turning-sophomores in a then Age 18 legal-drinking New York State, it was great fun and a rite of passage to explore the Buffalo and Crystal Beach , Ontario, Canada areas and Niagara Falls with Charlie and his buddies, Bill, Brian, et al. Doug went back to Charlie's wedding in 1972 and a stop-in visit in 1974 while passing through on a return trip from Boston.
Charlie became a very good friend to many of our classmates who frequented The Roesch-Palmer Empire , near Cinemas 1-2-3 [now closed; Secor Road, Toledo, OH 43606], back in the good ol' days of 1970-71. Charlie invites classmates in the Buffalo area and those passing through to stop in and say hello:
| Establishment | Telephone | Address | Map Hyper Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie the Butcher's Catering | +1•716•626•9722 | 446 Cayuga Road Cheektowaga, NY 14225-1310 USA |
map Catering |
| Charlie the Butcher's Express | +1•716•855•8646 | 295 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14203-2408 USA |
map Express |
| Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen | +1•716•633•8330 | 1065 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221-7725 USA |
map Kitchen |
| Charlie the Butcher's Office | +1•716•565•1495 | 372 Ellen Drive Cheektowaga, NY 14225-1323 USA |
map Office |
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A Cut Above: As Charlie the Butcher, Charlie Roesch Has Carved Out a Tasty Career as a Restaurateur and Goodwill Ambassador of WNY's Unique Cuisine — from The On-Line Edition of After 50 Newspaper for Western New York's Young @ Heart, March 2006 |