Saxon Club honors Man, Woman of Year

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

At its annual benefit goulash dinner March 21, Youngstown Saxon Club honored its Man and Woman of the Year.

The Ladies Lodge Branch 22 of the Alliance of Transylvanian Saxons honored Darlene Nischwitz.

The Men’s Lodge Branch 30 honored Walter Benesch.

Making the ladies lodge presentation was Bonnie Baker, Branch 22 president and mistress of ceremonies.

Presenting for the men’s lodge was Dr. John Boehm Jr. a past president.

The Rev. Mark Bell of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church gave the invocation, and the Saxon Culture Band provided music for dancing.

Nischwitz grew up surrounded by music, married into a musical family and has lived a life filled with music. The South High graduate also attended YSU, where she met and later married her now-late husband, Robert E. Nischwitz.

She spends many hours greeting and socializing with dinner guests who visit the Saxon Club. She listens and shares, whether its at the club picnic, the ladies lodge meeting or activity or kitchen duty for the pork and kraut dinner, she’s always willing to help and donate.

She attends Christ Church Presbyterian, where she has been a deacon and sings in the choir. When the Salvation Army calls for help, she’s there, too.

Nischwitz and her late husband both received the Saxon Honor Pin from the national Saxon organization for meritorious and exemplary service.

Her son, Robert Jr., and his wife, Ann, have blessed her with three grandchildren.

Benesch was born and schooled in Youngstown. He graduated from South High and attended Choffin Vocational and Career Center.

He worked in the Texas oil fields for five years, then returned to Youngstown, where he worked for Compco Metal Products 28 years until he retired in 2008.

He is a lifelong member of Branch 30 of the Transylvanian Saxons, a fraternal benefit society. He has held various elected and nonelected offices, including financial secretary and president.

As a youngster, he was a member of the children’s choir and band, as well as the cultural dance group.

He later joined the adult dance group and is still active.

He has traveled and performed musically with the group in Germany, Austria and Canada.

Benesch resides in Austintown and enjoys living near his sisters, Hilda, Heidi and Helga, and their families.

Benesch and Nischwitz are members of the Alliance of Transylvanian Saxons, a fraternal benefit society.