Howard L Fesenmyer Jr., 94, of Bradford, passed away Wednesday (Feb. 3, 2021) at the Bradford Ecumenical Home. Born May 30, 1926, In Oil City, he was a son of the late Howard L. and Catherine Schmader Fesenmyer Sr.
He was a 1942 graduate of Oil City High School. Howard enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he attended Penn State University and graduated from Clarion University in 1949 with a degree in education.
On Aug. 19, 1950, in the St Bernard Church, he married Dorothea Gildersleeve Fesenmyer, who preceded him in death on Dec. 21, 2014.
In 1953, Howard began his career with Zippo Manufacturing Company. He started as assistant Sales Manager. Over the next 35 years, he was instrumental in expanding Zippo's worldwide sales including becoming a board member of the Isbrand Company in Denmark. In 1979 he was promoted to executive Vice President of Sale and Marketing.
After retiring from Zippo in 1991, Fesenmyer assumed the position of executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation. In 1991, the Holgate Toy Company announced Fesenmyer joined the company as vice president of sales.
On Jan. 5, 2002, Howard was recognized by the Bradford Exchange Club as the Golden Deeds Award recipient. This annual award is presented to someone who has contributed to the community, often quietly and without public fanfare. On July 8, 2008, the Oil City native earned the distinction of having his name attached to a dormitory at the University of Pittsburgh campus in Bradford on behalf of his fundraising efforts. Fesenmyer was also the recipient of the University of Pittsburgh Presidential Gold Medal of Honor.
On Jan. 1, 2016, Fesenmyer retired as executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation.
Mr. Fesenmyer was a trustee of the Bradford Family YMCA, the YWCA of Bradford, Guthrie Medical Center of Sayre, and the Bradford Area Public Library. He was also a member of the board of directors of Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, The Bradford Educational Foundation, the Bradford Exchange Club and the Friendship Table.
Surviving is one daughter, Susan (Michael) Carlson of Woodlands, Texas, and one son, David (Cindy) Fesenmyer of Imperial; one son-in-law, Jon Kirk of Olean, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Michael (Jackie) Carlson, Sarah (Matt) Shivers, Brian Kirk, Timothy (Veronica) Kirk, Catherine (Chris) Blocher and Jessica Fesenmyer; 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and one daughter, Judy Kirk.
Friends are invited to livestream a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jim Gutting, senior associate at St. Bernard Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery.
Published in The Bradford Era from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12, 2021.
He was a 1942 graduate of Oil City High School. Howard enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he attended Penn State University and graduated from Clarion University in 1949 with a degree in education.
On Aug. 19, 1950, in the St Bernard Church, he married Dorothea Gildersleeve Fesenmyer, who preceded him in death on Dec. 21, 2014.
In 1953, Howard began his career with Zippo Manufacturing Company. He started as assistant Sales Manager. Over the next 35 years, he was instrumental in expanding Zippo's worldwide sales including becoming a board member of the Isbrand Company in Denmark. In 1979 he was promoted to executive Vice President of Sale and Marketing.
After retiring from Zippo in 1991, Fesenmyer assumed the position of executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation. In 1991, the Holgate Toy Company announced Fesenmyer joined the company as vice president of sales.
On Jan. 5, 2002, Howard was recognized by the Bradford Exchange Club as the Golden Deeds Award recipient. This annual award is presented to someone who has contributed to the community, often quietly and without public fanfare. On July 8, 2008, the Oil City native earned the distinction of having his name attached to a dormitory at the University of Pittsburgh campus in Bradford on behalf of his fundraising efforts. Fesenmyer was also the recipient of the University of Pittsburgh Presidential Gold Medal of Honor.
On Jan. 1, 2016, Fesenmyer retired as executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation.
Mr. Fesenmyer was a trustee of the Bradford Family YMCA, the YWCA of Bradford, Guthrie Medical Center of Sayre, and the Bradford Area Public Library. He was also a member of the board of directors of Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, The Bradford Educational Foundation, the Bradford Exchange Club and the Friendship Table.
Surviving is one daughter, Susan (Michael) Carlson of Woodlands, Texas, and one son, David (Cindy) Fesenmyer of Imperial; one son-in-law, Jon Kirk of Olean, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Michael (Jackie) Carlson, Sarah (Matt) Shivers, Brian Kirk, Timothy (Veronica) Kirk, Catherine (Chris) Blocher and Jessica Fesenmyer; 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and one daughter, Judy Kirk.
Friends are invited to livestream a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jim Gutting, senior associate at St. Bernard Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery.
Published in The Bradford Era from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12, 2021.
Howard L Fesenmyer Jr., 94, of Bradford, passed away Wednesday (Feb. 3, 2021) at the Bradford Ecumenical Home. Born May 30, 1926, In Oil City, he was a son of the late Howard L. and Catherine Schmader Fesenmyer Sr.
He was a 1942 graduate of Oil City High School. Howard enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he attended Penn State University and graduated from Clarion University in 1949 with a degree in education.
On Aug. 19, 1950, in the St Bernard Church, he married Dorothea Gildersleeve Fesenmyer, who preceded him in death on Dec. 21, 2014.
In 1953, Howard began his career with Zippo Manufacturing Company. He started as assistant Sales Manager. Over the next 35 years, he was instrumental in expanding Zippo's worldwide sales including becoming a board member of the Isbrand Company in Denmark. In 1979 he was promoted to executive Vice President of Sale and Marketing.
After retiring from Zippo in 1991, Fesenmyer assumed the position of executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation. In 1991, the Holgate Toy Company announced Fesenmyer joined the company as vice president of sales.
On Jan. 5, 2002, Howard was recognized by the Bradford Exchange Club as the Golden Deeds Award recipient. This annual award is presented to someone who has contributed to the community, often quietly and without public fanfare. On July 8, 2008, the Oil City native earned the distinction of having his name attached to a dormitory at the University of Pittsburgh campus in Bradford on behalf of his fundraising efforts. Fesenmyer was also the recipient of the University of Pittsburgh Presidential Gold Medal of Honor.
On Jan. 1, 2016, Fesenmyer retired as executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation.
Mr. Fesenmyer was a trustee of the Bradford Family YMCA, the YWCA of Bradford, Guthrie Medical Center of Sayre, and the Bradford Area Public Library. He was also a member of the board of directors of Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, The Bradford Educational Foundation, the Bradford Exchange Club and the Friendship Table.
Surviving is one daughter, Susan (Michael) Carlson of Woodlands, Texas, and one son, David (Cindy) Fesenmyer of Imperial; one son-in-law, Jon Kirk of Olean, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Michael (Jackie) Carlson, Sarah (Matt) Shivers, Brian Kirk, Timothy (Veronica) Kirk, Catherine (Chris) Blocher and Jessica Fesenmyer; 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and one daughter, Judy Kirk.
Friends are invited to livestream a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jim Gutting, senior associate at St. Bernard Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery.
Published in The Bradford Era from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12, 2021.
He was a 1942 graduate of Oil City High School. Howard enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he attended Penn State University and graduated from Clarion University in 1949 with a degree in education.
On Aug. 19, 1950, in the St Bernard Church, he married Dorothea Gildersleeve Fesenmyer, who preceded him in death on Dec. 21, 2014.
In 1953, Howard began his career with Zippo Manufacturing Company. He started as assistant Sales Manager. Over the next 35 years, he was instrumental in expanding Zippo's worldwide sales including becoming a board member of the Isbrand Company in Denmark. In 1979 he was promoted to executive Vice President of Sale and Marketing.
After retiring from Zippo in 1991, Fesenmyer assumed the position of executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation. In 1991, the Holgate Toy Company announced Fesenmyer joined the company as vice president of sales.
On Jan. 5, 2002, Howard was recognized by the Bradford Exchange Club as the Golden Deeds Award recipient. This annual award is presented to someone who has contributed to the community, often quietly and without public fanfare. On July 8, 2008, the Oil City native earned the distinction of having his name attached to a dormitory at the University of Pittsburgh campus in Bradford on behalf of his fundraising efforts. Fesenmyer was also the recipient of the University of Pittsburgh Presidential Gold Medal of Honor.
On Jan. 1, 2016, Fesenmyer retired as executive director of the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation.
Mr. Fesenmyer was a trustee of the Bradford Family YMCA, the YWCA of Bradford, Guthrie Medical Center of Sayre, and the Bradford Area Public Library. He was also a member of the board of directors of Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, The Bradford Educational Foundation, the Bradford Exchange Club and the Friendship Table.
Surviving is one daughter, Susan (Michael) Carlson of Woodlands, Texas, and one son, David (Cindy) Fesenmyer of Imperial; one son-in-law, Jon Kirk of Olean, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Michael (Jackie) Carlson, Sarah (Matt) Shivers, Brian Kirk, Timothy (Veronica) Kirk, Catherine (Chris) Blocher and Jessica Fesenmyer; 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and one daughter, Judy Kirk.
Friends are invited to livestream a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jim Gutting, senior associate at St. Bernard Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery.
Published in The Bradford Era from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12, 2021.
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