Students help build Joe Kaluza's new home

Students help build new home for Kaluza

By ELISE FRANCO

Vindicator staff writer

Four Mahoning County Career and Technical Center students are earning class credit while working for a good cause.

Seniors Dylan Smith and Eddie Estok, both of Lowellville, Shawn Ridzon of New Springfield and Gino Gentile of Canfield were chosen by their instructor to volunteer time and talent to the crew building Joe Kaluza’s new home.

Kaluza, the former manager of KFC on South Avenue, Youngstown, was shot by a robber March 24, 2008, as he left the restaurant to make a bank deposit. The injury left him a quadriplegic.

Kaluza’s sister Anna Fitzgerald and family friend Jim Phillips coordinated a fund-raising campaign to build the family a new house, and seven area businessmen are handling the construction. The new home is on Ivanhoe Avenue, just five houses from Kaluza’s current residence. Construction began Sept. 30.

Estok said the experience of working on a real construction site is invaluable.

“It’s such good experience compared to what we’re used to at the school,” he said. “It’s twice as fast here, and everything’s on a bigger scale.”

Gentile said not only do they gain hands-on experience, but they get to show off their skills.

“We get to watch the other carpenters,” he said. “And we get to show them what we know, too.”

Dave Smith, MCCTC building construction and remodeling instructor, said the students working on the house have an advantage over those still in the classroom.

“It’s hard for us to simulate in the classroom what they get to do out there,” he said. “They’re getting some extended experience of field application.”

Estok said that besides the experience and getting class credit, the cause is one that is worth the work.

“It’s definitely worth it,” he said. “I wouldn’t pass this up for anything.”

Gentile said he’s happy to be involved in the project.

“We all feel bad for what happened to him,” he said. “All of us think he deserves this house.”

The young men worked Thursday on a special handicap-accessible bathtub for Kaluza.

Estok said they’ve helped with everything from flooring to drywall, framing and siding.

Sam Pitzulo, one of the general contractors, said the students do as much work as the other volunteers.

“Having them here is terrific,” he said. “They did a lot of the work when the house was framed, and they’ve done all the carpentry work since then. They’ve taken a vital role.”

Pitzulo said their age doesn’t determine their treatment or workload while on the job.

“Other than their age, they’re the same as everyone else working here,” he said.

Estok said they know what Pitzulo expects from them on a daily basis.

“Sam expects us to carry our load,” he said. “He expects us to get the work done to the best of our ability.”

Pitzulo said the quality of the students’ work has been good.

“They’re learning,” he said. “Sometimes they have to do it twice, but that’s how you learn.”

The construction is on schedule, and Pitzulo said the crew is still planning to give the house to the Kaluza family Dec. 13. Until then, they still have several projects to finish, he said.

“We’re trying in the next two and a half weeks to finish up constructionwise so we can give it over to the decorators and painters,” he said.

efranco@vindy.com