The magic of not-so-ordinary people

People like to size up the job of working at a newspaper and often think it must be cool to report tough bad-guy stories.

While it’s certainly a rewarding activity when it serves to protect the community, it’s far from cool.

And often, it’s the least-fun part of the gig.

The best part of the job is always meeting the great ones in our community and showcasing their achievements and contributions.

When we traditionally pause at year’s end to reflect, sure, I size up my chances to right a wrong.

But I pause longer and savor more the chances to showcase Valley residents at their best.

And 2014 was no different.

The Butch family in Pennsylvania displayed tremendous courage amid grief in 2007 when they donated the organs of their dad/husband, Frankie, who died young via a fluke accident at home. This year, they finally met the man who received Frankie’s heart. It was rewarding to sit with them on that special day.

Brulinda “Bru” Turner and her Northwood Golf Academy are magical testaments to will and determination. On Youngstown’s East Side, amid abandoned homes and neighborhoods, Bru’s golf vision has blossomed to the benefit of some 70 or so city kids.

This summer, I was able to chip a few balls there and share her dream. Upon writing about her, the Valley golf community responded, and all summer, golf merchandise flowed into the program.

I like the wide open, and a chance to meet Evan Coombs gave me a bucket-list item.

Evan, a Liberty High School grad, and a buddy set out to walk the 2,186-mile-long Appalachian Trail. It started in a March snowstorm in the mountains of Georgia. In late August, they reached their Maine destination.

Changed men?

Evan weighed in this week with the benefit of some time away from the walk:

I don’t feel that I’ve experienced any kind of radical transformation of character based on the experience. But I have come to appreciate certain things a lot more.

I’ve already mentioned food and water, and the satisfaction of living with few worldly possessions.

Being willfully unemployed in order to complete the hike showed me that who we are is not what you do for a living. I doubt that I’ll ever feel defined by a job again.

I also gained an appreciation for how many good people there are in the world. The trail by itself is just a walk through some woods with a few good views. It’s the people along the way that make it what it is. I have never experienced such an outpouring of support and friendliness from complete strangers who were fully aware that we would never cross paths again.

I told a friend after I came home that if he ever felt like he’d lost hope in humanity, to go thru hike the AT. I will never believe someone who tries to tell me that ordinary good people are hard to come by these days.

Evan’s words set up another one of my special moments of 2014 — the class of Sister Martha Reed at Potential Development.

She’s an ordinary, good person doing amazing things with autistic teens.

I officially met her with a handshake at the front door.

But I truly met her when she sprawled on her class floor to tend to a student having an outburst on the floor. Calm ensued, and I got to meet the real Sister Martha.

They’re all in high school now, and here’s an update from Sister:

I believe God places us where he needs us to be.

This is a new challenge for me and my boys. Now I can be proud of the young men and ladies that I teach.

I have learned plenty from my students as they are learning from me.

Such are the lives that make up the best part of working at a newspaper.

As Evan said — they are out there.

And I’m eager to meet more in 2015. Back to work ...

Todd Franko is editor of The Vindicator. He likes emails about stories and our newspaper. Email him at tfranko@vindy.com. He blogs, too, on Vindy.com. Tweet him, too, at @tfranko.