Beelens renew vows for 50th anniversary

CANFIELD -- Dr. and Mrs. George D. Beelen of Canfield renewed their wedding vows during a special 50th anniversary Mass on Nov. 26 at Sts. Peter & amp; Paul Church in Youngstown, where they were married Nov. 17, 1956.
A papal blessing was bestowed on the couple, who were further honored afterward at a dinner reception at the Youngstown Club.
Hosts were their children and their spouses, Lynn and Ron Roman of Canfield, George Jr. and Shari Beelen of Boardman and Gary and Patricia Beelen of Atlanta. Eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren complete the couple's family.
The Beelens were married while students at Youngstown State University. Mrs. Beelen, the former Betty Jane Kolmacic, worked as a legal secretary and as a licensed Realtor prior to retiring. She also served as office manager for the YSU Stambaugh Stadium fundraising campaign.
Her husband graduated from YSU with a bachelor's degree in history, and earned his master's at Western Reserve University and doctorate at Kent State University. He also was a John Hay Fellow at Northwestern University. A former Austintown Township trustee, he is professor emeritus at YSU, where he taught U.S.-Latin American history, served as chairman of the history department and was later a lobbyist for the university.
The Beelens are members of St. Michael Church and are active in numerous social, professional and political community organizations, including the Ohio Cultural Alliance, which Dr. Beelen founded 20 years ago.