Helmintoller

James Richard "Dick" Helmintoller, 86, of Route 58, St. Petersburg, Clarion County, a well-known retired teacher, coach, athletic director and sports writer, died unexpectedly Saturday at the Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colo.

Mr. Helmintoller was born Feb. 4, 1924, in Grafton, W.Va. He was the son of Earl M. and Jane Joseph Helmintoller.

He graduated from Clarion High School in 1941 and Clarion State College in 1948, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He earned a master's degree from Westminster College in 1956 and completed additional educational studies at Bucknell University and Slippery Rock State College.

While in college, Mr. Helmintoller earned six varsity letters in basketball, baseball and tennis.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and served honorably in both World War II and the Korean War. In World War II, Mr. Helmintoller served in the South Pacific and in the Japanese Occupation. He was recalled for active duty in the Korean War and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as a first lieutenant in 1952. He was awarded several medals for his military service.

Mr. Helmintoller was a high school teacher, coach and athletic director at St. Petersburg-Richland, Emlenton and the Allegheny-Clarion Valley high schools for more than 30 years. He also served the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District as assistant high school principal for five years. He retired in 1979.

Following his retirement, Mr. Helmintoller wrote a popular weekly sports column, Sports Glimpses, for The Progress News in Emlenton for more than 23 years.

Mr. Helmintoller was an avid golfer and a 50-year member and past president of the Foxburg Country Club. He also was a member of the Clarion VFW Post 2145 and the Foxburg American Legion Miller Rankin Post 636.

He is survived by his wife, Terese Colonna Helmintoller, who he married Feb. 24, 1951. Also surviving are a daughter, Dr. Patricia Gabow and her husband, Harold, of Denver, Colo.; two grandchildren, Mrs. Tenaya Newkirk and her husband, Scott, of Longmont, Colo., and Aaron Gabow of New York, N.Y. Two brothers survive, William Helmintoller of Ormond Beach, Fla., and Michael Helmintoller of Setauket, N.Y. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Helmintoller, and a sister, Martha Kuhn.

<B>HELMINTOLLER</B> — Friends of James Richard "Dick" Helmintoller, who died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at <B>Hile Funeral Home</B>, 802 Grove St., St. Petersburg, Clarion County. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 809 Chestnut St., Emlenton, with Monsignor Jan Olowin, church pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Michael Cemetery, Emlenton.Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, P.O. Box 177, Emlenton, PA 16373.For additional information, directions or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.