ALLIANCE Family coping with loss of four

The men loved their families, sports and the outdoors.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- In the next few days, the Common family will bury four of its men.
Michael Common, 66, of Goshen Township; his brother, Richard Common, 61, of Alliance; and Richard's son, James, 24, of Tampa, Fla., were found dead Saturday in a remote cabin near Gogama in northern Ontario, Canada.
Family members said police there don't suspect foul play, and believe the men may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a propane refrigerator.
The Associated Press reported Gogama is north of Sudbury, in an area known for fishing, hunting and other outdoor sports. Authorities believe the men died sometime between last Wednesday evening and Saturday.
Provincial police constable Marc Depatie told the Akron Beacon Journal police found a digital camera with pictures dated from Wednesday.
Michael's son, Christopher, said Michael, Richard and James were on a weeklong fishing trip and were to arrive home Saturday evening. Instead, local police called to notify the family of their deaths.
Then, as the family was beginning to grasp the reality of three losses, Frank, 76, a brother of Richard and Michael, died Monday of cancer.
"It's horrible," Christopher said. "They all just loved their families. It's a great loss. We just keep going back and forth, visiting each other."
Services
Services for Frank will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Alliance, with calling hours 7 to 9 tonight at Sharer-Stirling-Skivolock Funeral Home in Alliance.
Memorial services for Richard and James will be at 7 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church, Alliance, with calling hours 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, Alliance, and one hour before services in the church.
Arrangements for Michael's services are pending at Stark Memorial Funeral Home in Salem. Christopher said the family would like to have calling hours Sunday and the funeral Monday.
Loved the outdoors
Christopher said Michael, Richard and James made the same fishing trip each summer for the past four years. The family is close-knit and enjoys sports and outdoor activities, Christopher said.
"They never caught much, but they had a lot of fun," Christopher said. "I'm sure they were probably not catching fish and then laughing and lying about what they almost caught."
The men left for Canada on Sept. 10. Christopher said his father called to let him know they arrived, then called Sept. 11 to find out the results of the Ohio State University football game the day before. The discussion of the OSU-Texas football game was Christopher's last with his father.
Christopher said they have no new information from Ontario police. They are waiting on the results of autopsies and word on when the men's bodies will be sent home.
Richard was a delivery driver for a food service company and was contemplating retirement.
James was a 1999 graduate of West Branch High School and was in graduate studies at the Minnesota School of Theology. His goal was to become an Anglican priest.
Survivors
Michael retired from the GM Assembly Plant at Lordstown in 2001. Christopher said his father was a widower, but he remarried 13 months ago. Christopher said his mother, Judy, died three years ago. Christopher has a brother, Jason, and a sister, Michelle.
Richard's surviving children are Katie and Jennifer. His wife, Karen, is a longtime art teach at West Branch High School and Beloit and Knox elementaries.
Dr. Scott Weingart, West Branch superintendent, said the Commons are "a good solid family and very committed to their children."
James was well thought of as a student, and there has been an outpouring of support for Karen and the family by the West Branch family, he said.
"This is a series of overwhelming events to process," said Weingart. "It's the kind of news that leaves you in absolute shock, and you hope you heard it wrong."
tullis@vindy.com