Albert Hathaway Pharis

Albert Hathaway Pharis, Jr., 73, of Saint Augustine, FL, died peacefully Tuesday, August 22,

2023, at his Canfield home. Bert was born January 11, 1950, in Philadelphia, PA, the first

child of June Idella Swartz and Albert H. Pharis, Sr. He was raised in Poland, OH, graduating

from Poland Seminary High School in 1968.

During high school, Bert was an honor student, a key member of the Poland Seminary

basketball team placing as first team center in the Tri-County League, a representative to

Buckeye Boys State, earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, and

made life-long friends.

Bert had a successful business career. His management style was thoughtful, preferring to

guide rather than issue orders, and he was a mentor to promising employees. He worked

as:

Sales Manager, Borden Dairy, Youngstown, OH

National Radio Sales Manager, WKBN Broadcasting, Youngstown, OH

President & CEO, Wilcom Cellular/Sygnet Wireless, Youngstown, OH

President & CEO, Logix Communications, Oklahoma City, OK

Director, Dobson Communications, Oklahoma City, OK

Chairman & CEO, Ortheon Medical, Winter Park, FL

Also, he served his community as the WKBN representative for the United Way, and as

Chairman of the Mahoning County Sports Charities Foundation.

Bert was a good man… a loving, strong, and generous man. He loved fast German sports

cars and was an often-requested instructor at racetrack driving schools. During most of his

life, he rode motorcycles, played a competitive game of pool, and enjoyed old red wines and

smooth bourbons.

In 1971, a mutual friend introduced Bert to Mary Margaret Chizmar, and although they were

together from that first meeting, it took them another five years before they married.

Besides his wife, he leaves his son Robert Poetsch, daughter-in-law Nicole Mazzone,

granddaughter Maia Poetsch, and grandson Trevor Poetsch, all of Weatherford, TX; his sister

Cathy Pharis of Rocky River, OH; two brothers, David Pharis (Emly) of Goshen, OH, and

Robert Pharis (Ellen) of Seven Falls, PA; two goddaughters, Angela Binder Rininger of

Canfield, OH, and Jillian R. Lemmo of Asheville, NC. He also leaves a large family of in-laws,

including his mother-in-law Margaret Meenachan Chizmar of Canfield, OH, many nieces and

nephews, his long-time friend Ralph Binder of Salem, OH, and many friends in Ohio, Florida,

and Texas.

A party in his memory will be held at a later date, and interment at Calvary Cemetery will

be private.

If I should live forever

And all my dreams come true

My memories of love will be of you.

John Denver