10-year-old Leetonia Elementary School boy, dad drown during Father’s Day kayaking trip

Staff report

LISBON

J.R. Straley of Salem has spent “his whole life” fishing and wading through Little Beaver Creek at Willow Grove Park.

But the creek’s currents can be tricky – and sometimes deadly.

“It can be overwhelming,” he said.

Straley visited the creek Monday afternoon “to see the water” that killed his friend Todd C. Vadino, 44, of Leetonia, who drowned Sunday along with two boys, including Vadino’s 10-year-old son, during a Father’s Day kayaking trip.

Lisbon Police Chief Michael Abraham said the boys – Garrett Vadino, 10, and Carson Bonar, 14, of Beloit – were at Willow Grove Park rinsing their shoes at the creek’s spillway when the current swept the younger boy under.

The teenager went into the water to try to save his friend and also got pulled under. Todd Vadino jumped into the creek to try to rescue both boys.

Police were called about 6 p.m. Sunday and pulled the adult Vadino and Carson from the creek; Vadino was dead. Officers performed CPR on Carson, who was then taken to Salem Community Hospital and flown to Akron Children’s Hospital, where he died.

Authorities found Garrett Vadino’s body about 2:40 a.m. Monday.

On Monday, the current was not so bad with the water level up by a foot, said Straley, who studied with Todd Vadino at Kent State University.

“I’m sure the flow was greater [Sunday],” he added.

Straley said Vadino was a man who was always “easy going,” who “constantly had a smile” and was great in the community.

Counselors will be available throughout this week for Garrett’s classmates at Leetonia Elementary School.

“They’re a great family,” Leetonia Superintendent Rob Mehno said. “I’m still shocked.”

Abraham said the creek is a popular site for kayakers, and the water flows fast at the spillway.

“With all the rain, the water was just that much faster and that much stronger,” he said.

Mehno said counselors will be at the school district’s campus for kindergarten through 12th grade from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout this week.

Garrett had just finished fourth grade at Leetonia Elementary School and was headed to the middle school in the fall.

Garrett is one of four Vadino children in the school district. He has a twin sister, Miranda, and older siblings, Blaine, who will be a freshman this fall, and Helena, who is going into eighth grade.

“The father was a very active parent,” Mehno said. “He was very energetic and always positive.”

Vadino attended all of the school functions in which his children were involved, the superintendent said.

Garrett was active in his Boy Scout troop.

“I remember I would buy tickets off of him for the spaghetti dinner,” Mehno said.

Ed Ridgeway, Leetonia Elementary School principal, described Garrett as a student who always had a smile on his face.

“He was always happy, always respectful,” he said, adding, “We’re really going to miss” him.

Todd Vadino was a two-year Salem High School teacher who taught machine trades to juniors and seniors, Superintendent Joe Shivers said.

“He was outstanding, enthusiastic – one of the most enthusiastic teachers I’ve ever worked with,” Shivers said.

Vadino also was generous. The superintendent recalled a student who couldn’t afford work boots. Vadino bought boots for him.

Vadino also scoured garage and yard sales, buying tools and then selling them at cost to the students. That allowed them to enter the workforce with complete tool kits.

“He was optimistic, optimistic about what students could achieve.” Shivers said. “That was grounded in a vision of what he could do to help students achieve.”

Vadino’s positivity infected students as well as other staff members, the superintendent said.

“He’s going to be greatly missed,” he said.

Counselors will be at the school until 2 p.m. today and at calling hours, Shivers said.

Roger Kitzmiller, principal at West Branch Middle School, where Carson had just completed eighth grade, said Carson was a great student. “At the end of the year, he received the Damascus Ruritans Award for Community Service,” Kitzmiller said.

Carson participated in community-service projects both with his Boy Scout troop and with his church.

Carson also was one of five nominees this year for the school’s Good Student Award.

“It’s a combination of character and good grades,” the principal said.

The boy was nominated by his teachers.

Carson routinely made the honor roll or merit roll for his good grades.

“He was very well-respected by his peers,” Kitzmiller said.

A gofundme site, “Vadino Family Fund,” has been started to assist the Salem family, and $1,600 had been pledged by Monday evening. To donate, go to http://www.gofundme.com/x2ad2jf4

Contributors: Staff writers Denise Dick and Brandon Klein