Valley grocer Henry Nemenz, 76, dies

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Henry P. Nemenz Sr., president and CEO of H.P. Nemenz Food Stores Inc., died Friday evening in St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Tom Gilmartin, a business partner of 10 years, said Nemenz died after a sudden illness. He was 76.

Nemenz was perhaps best known for his local chain of grocery stores. He owned three IGAs and seven Save-A-Lot stores in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

His father, Gustav, established the first Nemenz store in 1930 during the Great Depression, according to information provided by his family.

In 1956, he began working in the family business as a meat cutter. In 1976, he opened his first store, Nemenz Valu King in Boardman.

Over the years, he built and remodeled numerous grocery stores.

His children plan to continue in the Nemenz IGA and Save-A-Lot grocery business.

Nemenz prided himself on his stores’ customer service, he told The Vindicator in 2008. He said that and treating employees the way you would want to be treated yourself are key to having a successful business.

He worked hard, Gilmartin said, and it was a joke that his favorite song was “Eight Days a Week.”

He injured his hip while he was at work unloading a truck, Gilmartin said. Complications from that injury led to his hospitalization.

“For 10 years, we’ve attended seminars and religious events and sporting events,” Gilmartin said.

“He’s a season ticket-holder for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” he continued. “His entire office is packed full of Steelers memorabilia, and his house is worse. If you have any aversion to black and gold, don’t hang with him!”

Nemenz favorite saying, Gilmartin said, was “Don’t forget where you come from.”

“Not, came from,” he emphasized. “ ‘Come’ is present tense; it means it’s still with you.”

“Henry loved his family,” Gilmartin continued. “He loved people. He loved the little guy. He never met someone he didn’t like.”

Nemenz served on the board of the Youngstown Grocers Association and previously on the Ohio Grocers Association, and was a member of the National Grocers Association. He was named to the Ohio Grocer’s Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the Ohio Grocers Pinnacle Award in 2012.

He was a member and past president of Poland Rotary Club, for which he was past chairman of the annual Chili Open Golf Classic.

Poland Rotary honored him with the Paul Harris Fellow.

Nemenz was past chairman of the American Cancer Society, past co-chairman of the Celebrity Celebration for the Heart Association, past member of the board of the Millcreek Learning Center, Hospice of the Valley, First Federal of Youngstown Bank, Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross and Youngstown State University Penguin Club.

For his contributions, he received the Small Business Person of the Year Award in 1987, was named Citizen of the Year in 1989, Outstanding Individual Philanthropist in 1992, Mahoning Valley Fabulous 20 Award in 1994, Channel 33 Entrepreneur Award in 2004, Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce Chamber Person of the Year in 2008, received the H.O.P.E. Award in 2014, and the St. Vincent DePaul Presidents Award for Outstanding Service this year.

Nemenz is survived by three daughters: Judy (Don) Gabriele of Poland; Elaine (John) Kawecki of Salem; and Joyce (Chris) Herubin of Salem; one son, Henry P. (Sheree) Nemenz Jr. of Poland; one brother, Gustav A. (Theresa) Nemenz of North Lima; and 10 grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Frederick Nemenz; sister, Elizabeth Flohr; and one grandchild, Casey Nemenz.

Calling hours are Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cunningham-Becker Funeral home, 270 N. Main St., Poland, and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at Good Hope Lutheran Church, 12030 Market St., North Lima.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the church, with Pastor Ralph Edwards officiating. Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery in Leetonia.

His family requests contributions be made to the donor’s favorite charity.

Condolences may be sent to www.beckerobits.com.