Remembering a public servant, champion of youth

Opinion: July 9, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

EDITOR:

I write in honor and remembrance of Mrs. Edna Pincham — public servant, professional volunteer, champion of youth.

The city of Youngstown has lost a true leader of the community. As a young leader growing up in Youngstown, I made a mistake and made some public comments regarding the leadership of Mrs. Pincham. When I started working as a volunteer organizing the Youngstown Youth Council Office of the mayor, Mrs. Pincham never approached me about these comments. After about two years working with her we had a conversation about it because I wanted to apologize to her for making those comments.

She treated this young man with the same respect, care and kindness that she shared with each person that came through the doors of City Hall each day. As a matter of fact she became the biggest advocate of the Youth Council and myself.

She tried to get city council to see the wisdom of the city investing in the revolutionary ideal to engage young people in civic engagement, youth leadership development, community service and public service. I can’t help but think where Youngstown would be in terms of national leadership regarding youth development had they listened. We had a national foundation ready to invest $100,000 had the city council gone along.

Many of the young people saw her as the protector of the council, an advisor and a cheerleader of their successes and a coach when it did not work out on the field of play.

I know God has a special role for her in heaven.

KEVIN A. TARPLEY

Boston

A man among children

EDITOR:

On July 5, our grieving family lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather. A man of deep devotion for his family, his God, and our country, John Bleacher, MD, was larger than life with a gentleness beyond description. He served the Mahoning Valley for close to 40 years as its only pediatric surgeon.

He loved the countless babies and children that came into his life, and he was dedicated to saving them. He took great pride in serving a community that he loved and was fortunate to call home. He practiced medicine in an era when sound medical judgment and not politics dictated patient care. Doctors were respected for saving lives rather than made to deal with punitive decisions made by insurance companies.

I am so indebted to the medical community who tried to save him. The names of these wonderful people are too numerous to mention, but they know who they are. The Forum Health family will always have my gratitude. I hope the community will salvage their integrity and maintain their commitment to quality medical service.

It would be too painful if Forum Health should follow the same fate as Tod Children’s Hospital.

I hope my husband will always be remembered as the big man with the big hands and the gentle heart who dedicated his life to taking care of children.

NICOLETTE BLEACHER

Youngstown

Just buy American

EDITOR:

I recently read an article about American cars in The Vindicator.

Dennis Sullivan, a Miami University economic professor, said he tells his students that they can buy American cars made by Honda in Marysville and by Toyota in Georgetown, Ky. I think this professor better wake up and tell the truth. These Hondas and Toyotas are foreign cars. They are made here, but they are foreign. The profits of foreign car sales go to the companies in Japan or other countries.

I know that to try to buy anything made in America is very difficult today. Clothing, appliances, tools, almost everything, include some American flags, are made in China. It’s a foreign market on our soil.

ROBERT E. WOLF

Canfield