Monday, January 24, 2011
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The late Sue Hernan of Youngstown
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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Norma Stevans serves her special recipe for chili to Joseph Belgrad, 16, of Boardman. Belgrad described the chili as having a "nice tang."
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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Zachariah Brewer, 18, of Boardman, tries several kinds of chili along with family members before casting his vote at the First Annual Sue Hernan Memorial Chili Cook-off.
By Sean Barron
BOARDMAN
Comforting. Selfless. Giving. Loving. Gentle. Friendly.
Those are the qualities Don Hernan of Youngs-town hopes people will remember about his late wife, Sue.
“She took the time to talk and listen to people,” Hernan said of his wife, who was 51 when she drowned Aug. 1 after diving into Berlin Lake to save her two grandchildren, one of whom fell off an innertube.
“She had lots of friends,” Hernan added.
On Sunday, she was not only fondly remembered by hundreds of friends and family members but also was honored during the first Sue Hernan Memorial Chili Cook-Off at Boardman United Methodist Church, 6809 Market St.
Eighteen contestants who used their own recipes to prepare chili dishes took part in the two-hour event, sponsored by the Boardman United Methodist Missions Committee.
Attendees were offered small samplings of each, and the contestant who received the most tickets won.
Sunday’s winner was Hernan, who received a white apron.
Sue Hernan served four years as chairwoman of the missions committee and organized various fund-raising events, including the annual cook-off started about 10 years ago.
This year, the committee decided to name the competition in his wife’s honor, Hernan explained.
Sue Hernan’s missions efforts included trips to Juarez, Mexico, where she delivered food and blankets to the poor, provided medical attention to the sick and helped rebuild a church in a poor section of town, he noted.
Sue Hernan, who was a nurse at St. Joseph Health Center in Warren, also assisted with rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, her husband recalled.
Other projects were concentrated in the Mahoning Valley and around Ohio, Hernan said.
Funds from Sunday’s gathering are to support mission projects around the world.
“We want to see her spirit alive in this church and increase missions work,” Hernan added.
Several first-place cook-off finishes belong to Dale Hawkins of Boardman, a 20-year Sunday-school teacher at the church who last took home top honors in 2009 for his recipe.
“I want everybody to know it’s good. I like to share it with everybody,” Hawkins said of his chili, which consisted of ham chunks marinated in honey and barbecue sauce added to the regular ingredients.
Helping Hawkins with his dish was his wife, Alice.
Among those who weren’t shy about sampling the flavor combinations were Kristine Brewer; her 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, a Center Middle School fifth-grader; and son, Zach, 18.
The number of attendees and camaraderie at the event, were testaments to Sue Hernan’s personality and spirit of giving, observed Brewer, of Boardman, a 15-year church member.
Her husband, Scott, served with Hernan on the missions committee, Brewer continued, adding that she also taught Sunday school.
As part of his Eagle Scout project, Zach Brewer, a Boardman High School senior, designed the church’s computer room to resemble a large ship and gave it a unique identity, she recalled.
Boardman United Methodist also is active in local missions and ministry work, noted the Rev. Ash Welch, pastor.
No definitive missions projects have been announced for this year, the Rev. Mr. Welch said, adding that last year’s cook-off raised about $700.
“She was always thinking of new ways to get people involved in missions work, not just with money, with your heart and hands,” he said of Hernan.