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
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