Where are they now Patricia 'Pat' Smartz

Seventy-five (as the crow flies) miles northwest of Home Page Country is Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and the home of this week's featured person; Patricia "Pat" Smartz.

Patricia Cocho Smartz in a recent photo and, inset, in a 1958 Blacklick Township High School senior class photo.

Born September 19, 1940, in the village of Cardiff, Blacklick Township, Pat is one of nine offspring born to John and Annie (Rebarchick) Cocho, both now deceased. Her brothers and sisters include Mary Glowa, Vintondale; Lillian Neal, Jackson Township; Dolores Helsel, Portage; Elizabeth Behm, Cresson; Kay Bortynik, Cardiff; John, Virginia. and Michael,Twin Rocks. A sister, Ann Yobaggy, passed away in 1955.

After her 1958 graduation from Blacklick Township High School, Pat went on to attend Cambria-Rowe Business College, where in 1960 she earned a certificate in IBM business machine applications. Pat has worked at the Pennsylvania State Library in Harrisburg (1959-'60), later as a garment worker in Nanty Glo's Joanne Dress Mfg. Co. and after her 1961 marriage to Nanty Glo native Joseph "Joe" Smartz, went on to be a secretary for the Beaver Falls School District, where her husband was a high school teacher, athletic director, and baseball coach, then on to the Beaver County Job Training Agency where she assisted low-income applicants to find suitable employment.

Pat and Joe Smartz are the parents of four children, Lisa Weiner,42, an oral surgeon residing in New Jersey; Monica Vacar, 41, Beaver Falls, is a gate agent for USAir; Tina Maloney, 40, of Industry, is a financial advisor for Sewickley Academy, and Frank, 38, is a marketing manager for Proton Energy in Connecticut. The Smartzs' children have given them seven grandchildren that range from two to 13 years of age. Widowed since 1998, Pat enjoys making the rounds of her children's homes and keeping the family ties strong between herself, her children and grandchildren. "I have fond memories of Nanty Glo," she says."I was raised in the faith of St. Nicholas Catholic Church on Second Street and Christmas and Easter were very special times...with Holy Night suppers and all the holiday foods and traditions."

"Nanty Glo was a safe place to grow up in; we never worried about things like kidnappings, etc., but now it seems everything that made those good memories is gone and I miss that. The movie, It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart...that was Nanty Glo," she says. "I enjoy going back to Nanty Glo for visits, but Beaver Falls is now home."

Anyone wishing to drop in on Pat can find her at Red_mini_mom@Yahoo.com.

If you have a suggestion for a subject for Where Are They Now, On Their Way, or "Mom and Pop Businesses," please write Judy Rose. Click here for an index of previous Where Are They Now profiles.