Biography for

Carolyn Barts Lesiak

as published in the 2009 Pollen Count

Carolyn Barts Lesiak (Medina, OH) "Fifty years? In 1959, those words sounded so unbelievably far away! But here we are celebrating our survival of 50 years! Being a part of the reunion committee has helped those wonderful high school memories come flooding back. Such memories include teachers we fondly remember, whose life lessons we were too young to understand, pep rallies, GAA, plays, parties, dances, proms, and just as today's kids would say 'just hanging out'. High school seems to have only happened yesterday. I guess good memories last."

"Much has happened to all of us in those fifty years, and my life has been no exception. After graduating from high school, I attended Ohio University and majored in English (Miss Fitting would be proud and probably surprised) and minored in Speech and Education. I become an English teacher and taught for 25 years, most of them spent in the eighth grade teaching what is now called Language Arts. I am still teaching but now at the college level at the University of Akron. I teach freshmen Composition part-time. I still love teaching."

In November of 1963 Carolyn and Ted were married. He recently retired from The Bon-Ton Department Store Chain after many years as a retail buyer. They have four children and seven grandchildren ranging in age from eighteen to four. Their children all live in Ohio. It is wonderful for them to be close enough to attend the many athletic and music events in which their grandchildren participate.

"We recently moved back to Medina after being away for 20 years, living in Dayton, Ohio and York, Pennsylvania. It is good to be home again. One of the reasons we moved back was to help care for my father who is 95 and still living in his Brecksville home with help."

In their spare time, Ted and Carolyn love to travel. They have visited many places in the United States, Mexico and Europe. They recently traveled to Poland, the birthplace of their grandparents. They will visit China, the homeland of our youngest granddaughter, in May. They also volunteer at their church helping care for and distribute food to those in need.

"Life has been good! It is just mind-boggling to realize so much time has gone by. I am looking forward to seeing old friends at the reunion in June."