This week, we become better acquainted with Barbara Brothers, whose passion for education continues beyond her career. She loves the Youngstown of today and shares great stories about the Youngstown of her childhood, including trolley car rides into downtown.
Name: Barbara Brothers
Years in Rotary: 5
Resident of: Park Vista Senior Living
Hometown: Youngstown
How long have you lived here? Moved into the city in 1979 from Austintown/Canfield.
What brought you here, or kept you here? I love begin able to walk to work and so many events and places.
Education: B.A. Youngstown University; M.A. Western Reserve University; Ph.D. Kent State University
Occupation: Retired Professor of English and Dean Emeritus of College of Arts and Sciences at Youngstown State University.
Who is in your family circle? 3 siblings, 10 grandchildren, 2 children and 2 stepchildren.
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time? Board member of YWCA; secretary of Garden Club of Youngstown; volunteer for social services; WYSU advisory committee; reading and participating in reading groups; walking and hiking; listening to music.
Why did you join Rotary? To serve the community and enjoy the company of other people who put service above self. Rotary funded a program the League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown held on public education. I found them to be a group of people informed and concerned about the threats posed to the system of public education by the use of tax dollars to fund charter schools and vouchers.
Why do you remain a Rotarian? It provides opportunities for meaningful service here and throughout the world. Also, because of the youth exchange program.
Which Rotary Project resonates with you and your understanding of our community's needs? Put Kids First mentoring program.
What does Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" mean to you? Giving of time and money.
What would you be doing on Wednesdays if you didn't attend the weekly luncheon meeting? Reading and listening to music.
Which type of Rotary socials do you prefer - black tie affairs or casual attire? Both.
What's a story of yours that you don't get to tell often enough? I lived on Burkey Road until I was in 9th grade. On a rare occasion my mother, younger sister and I would ride the trolley into town (John Slanina did not know there was ever such service). My mother bought my piano music at Warner's on the second floor of what is now the Doubletree. We bought shoes at Lustig's, a malt in Strouss’ basement, shopped in McKelvey's and perhaps had lunch at Hollander's. My grandmother Hoover and her sister (my great uncle had a butcher shop down town that delivered meat to Mrs. Fellows) lived on Marshall St. My aunt was particularly lovely and some of her things, such as a beer barrel clock, were given to the Youngstown Mannerchor Club, though it was her grand piano I loved and owned for a time. Another great aunt on my mother's side of the family lived on the corner of Glenwood and Falls, taught at Youngstown College and the Rayen School, and hosted wonderful family parties at holidays. Another great aunt and uncle owned a house on Norwood, although they lived in the South until he retired. Both my mother and father and myself and all my siblings graduated from Austintown Fitch, which makes our family boring, as my daughter commented when she met a Rotary Exchange Student while in the Canfield schools.