Alumni Connecti N - St. Vincent-St. Mary High School

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to extend a thank you to a wonderful lady
who helped us to stay focused on our
commitment to ASJ. Jerry Kelly has given
me personally, the drive and
encouragement to forge ahead. She taught
our board that “no” is unacceptable, “just
good enough” is non-existent, and “if you
are gonna do it, do it right and no turning
back!”
At Annunciation from 1982 to 1991,
Jerry performed in and was director of nine
productions - musical spoofs - written by
Fr. James Berardi, and put on by the drama
guild there known as A.C.T.O.R. (Akron
Catholic Thespians of Renown.)
Jerry began actively volunteering at
St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in 1976
when her daughter Teresa was a freshman
and has remained a volunteer for 32 years!
She began as mailing chairman, followed by
Irish Items Editor and today still proofreads
and writes articles for the school’s
monthly newsletter. She was a member of
our Board of Trustees from 1991 to 1999, a
member of our Endowment Board since
1984 (currently serving as secretary), a
member of SEC (Secondary Education
Commission), first serving a six-year term
and now as School Volunteer Coordinator,
a Parents’ Club member since 1976, Athletic
Booster Club and 200 Club member and
former chairman of the Hall of Fame
Committee. She has worked on many
fundraisers for Parents’ Club, Athletic
Boosters, and the school, including chairing
Showcase in 1998, and co-chairing with
Jennifer Ringer in 2007 and upcoming
2008. She was a member of the committee
that wrote our school’s Mission Statement.
Jerry answers the phone in the front office
two or three days a week or helps wherever
else there is a need. She established the Jim
Kelly Memorial Scholarship of the
Endowment Fund in early 1989 and has
helped at least 88 incoming Freshmen with
scholarship assistance since that time. She
hosts the Jim Kelly Memorial Scholarship
Reverse Raffle every year. She is a member
of the Shamrock Society, a member of the
steering committee of our Capital
Campaign, and a member of Boarman
Backers, recently donating $25,000 for
naming rights to our stadium press box to
honor the memory of her late husband Jim
Kelly V50. It is no wonder that Jerry was
selected as the STVM Volunteer of the Year
for the Cleveland Diocese Southern Region
in both 1991 and 1997.
There isn’t a whole lot that Jerry Kelly
hasn’t done for St. Vincent–St. Mary High
School and it’s all for the love of the Irish!
Jerry was fortunate to have been able to
experience the Eddie Wentz era, the John
Cistone era, and now the Dan Boarman era
as he carries on the tradition. She knows
the old St. V spirit and she knows the new
STVM spirit. She knows it is a feeling deep
down in your heart and that you have to be
willing to give and to serve, for that is
where the real Irish joy is – in serving
others. Although Jerry wouldn’t trade her
Texas friends or “growing up years” in Texas
for anything, she has developed a true love
for STVM.
Hank Mancino
Hank Mancino is a lifelong resident of
the Akron area. He grew up in Akron’s
North Hill and graduated from North High
School. He entered basic training in the
Army at Ft. Barkely, Texas, before being
volunteered to drive troops to locations
throughout the United States by
Greyhound Bus. After WWII, he joined
Ohio Edison in a career that spanned 45
years. Later, he attended The University
of Akron.
As a claims investigator for Ohio
Edison, Hank traveled all of Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia working
with landowners to compensate them for
damages caused during construction of
power lines. He made many friends and
always brought home fresh fruit and
vegetables from grateful farmers. As a
special assignment, Hank was also
responsible for the employee driver’s
training for Ohio Edison. To drive a
company car, every person had to be
trained and tested by Hank. During this
time, he also served as Chairman of the
Ohio Edison Credit Union and President of
the Akron Claims Association.
Volunteer work has always been a part
of Hank’s life. In the 1960’s, Hank began
volunteering at St. Vincent High School
under Coach Eddie Wentz as the official
timer for both football and basketball
games. This work led to driving the team
bus for the away games under John Cistone
and Ned Endress, football and basketball
coaches for STVM.
Soon Hank turned his efforts to the
rebuilding of Green Street Stadium. He
made sure the football field had new lights
and a new press box. Later, he worked on
building a medical training center and
painting and rebuilding all of the lockers
for the football team.
Not to slight any other team, Hank
worked on rebuilding, painting and
installing bleachers and another medical
training room for the basketball team. He
also helped to rebuild the softball field
installing new fencing and a new backstop.
Away for STVM, Hank volunteered as
the radio announcer for the Akron Vulcan’s,
a semi-professional football team. He also
worked diligently at Camp Christopher for
many years, served as a coach and
timer/scorer for CYO and volunteered for
the PGA Golf Tournament and the Akron
Soap Box Derby. He also served as an
official timer for The University of Akron
basketball games for many years.
As a member of the Shamrock Society,
Boarman Backers, STVM Hall of Fame and
Athletic Boosters, Hank is still deeply
involved at STVM. You can always find him
at every STVM football, basketball,
volleyball game and wrestling match selling
and taking tickets. Hank has enjoyed the
time in the ticket booth with the late Pete
Cistone, the late Jim Kelly, the late Dave
Wiolland, Mary Howard, Dick Lang,
Harold Jenkins, Al Letta, Kevin McDonald
and now Hank’s son, Tom, has joined the
ticket booth team during football and
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