Cellular One gives father free phone service

'I've been saying thank you so much lately,' Novak said.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF Writer
BOARDMAN -- The gifts just keep coming.
Cellular One announced Friday that Jeff Novak, the single father whose Arlene Avenue house was razed and a new, larger one built in its place through an ABC television show, would receive free unlimited lifetime wireless service.
The gift coincides with this weekend's grand reopening of the Cellular One retail store in the Huntington Woods Mall on U.S. Route 224. John Haberstroh, store manager, said it's a way for the company to give back to the community.
"Thank you so much," said Novak after accepting his new Motorola Razr phone. "I've been saying thank you so much lately."
Series of events
Novak's wife, Jackie, 28, died of a pulmonary embolism on Mother's Day. The last thing the couple did together was watch "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," family members have said.
Jackie's sudden death left Novak to care for their three daughters -- Zoey, 6; Harley, 2; and Presley, 8 months -- as a single parent.
Zoey and one of Novak's friends each wrote to the show, nominating the family for a makeover of its small, 76-year-old house.
Crews from the show arrived at the Novak home in October. TC Quality Homes of Canfield was the contractor, with help from many other companies and thousands of volunteers.
The old house, which saw sewer backup in its basement during periods of heavy rain, was demolished and a new, larger one built in its place in a week. The family enjoyed a Florida vacation while the work was done.
The episode aired Sunday.
Father's perspective
Novak said he watched parts of it but won't watch the whole program.
"I don't like to watch myself," he said shyly.
He agreed that his eldest daughter, Zoey, stole the show.
"That's what everyone says, first, how cute Zoey is and second, they say, 'How did you get such a cute kid?'" Novak joked. "That just goes to show how beautiful my wife was."
Besides the house and its amenities, a Harley motorcycle, wireless phone service and a 2006 Ford Freestyle, the family's mortgage was paid off; Youngstown State University and its foundation established scholarships for each of the girls, and the university also set up a scholarship in Jackie's name.
Jackie was a 2001 graduate of YSU's Beeghly College of Education. She had been a teacher in the Jackson-Milton School District.
Novak says he can't point to one part of his new house as his favorite.
"Asking me to pick a favorite room is like asking which is your favorite kid," he said.
He likes them all.
"The kids' rooms are great because they love them, and it's just nice that I have my own space," Novak said.