March 12, 2009

OBITUARIES

Jana Banks

Jana R. Banks, M.D., of Springfield, passed away in her home surrounded by family on Thursday, March 5. She was 47.

The daughter of Robert I. and Julia A. (Wald) Banks, she was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

Jana was a physician specializing in emergency medicine for 18 years. She was a chief resident of emergency medicine at MetroHealth Center and flight physician for Metro Life Flight in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1993–1994; attending physician (1994–2007) and assistant director (2000–2007) of the Emergency Department, Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, and assistant director (2007–2008) of the Emergency Department, Fayette County Memorial Hospital, Washington Court House.

Jana began her medical career as a paramedic in 1979, thereafter serving in many capacities culminating as a renowned physician and the medical director of the Enon/Mad River Township EMS. Her professional memberships include the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association.

Jana was preceded in death by her mother.

She is survived by her father; her best friend, Paula J. Rich; four sisters and three brothers-in-law, Jade M. Banks of Falls Church, Va., Jule A. and Kernie Moore of Davisburg, Mich., Joan I. and George Falldine of Warner Robins, Ga., and Jolyn B. and Michael Verbillion of Springfield; brother and sister-in-law, Robert C. and Donna Banks of Jacksonville, Fla.; and six nieces and nephews, Jessica Banks, Christian Falldine, Meagan Verbillion, David Falldine, Grace Falldine and Claire Moore; and countless friends and colleagues who will miss her dearly.

A mass of Christian burial was held Saturday, March 7, in the St. Paul Catholic Church, 308 Phillips Street, Yellow Springs, with interment following in Enon Cemetery.

Jana’s family asks that contributions be made in her name to the Raymond Foundation c/o Mrs. Holly Dicke, 501 Harrington Drive, Plain City, OH 43064 with the notation “Jana Banks Honduras Fund.”

Michael Peirano

Michael J. Peirano of Springfield died Friday, March 6, in Springfield Regional Medical Center, East High Street, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was 54.

Michael was born Sept. 9, 1954, to Mary and Carl Peirano. His father Carl started football at Southeastern when the Clark County schools started playing football. Mike was All League DVL Conference lineman in 1972. Upon graduation Mike attended Ohio State where he picked up a passion for Ohio State football. He then went into the Naval Officer’s Training School. Later Mike joined the Navy and retired a chief petty officer after the Gulf War. 

Mike was a fleet manager for J.B. Hunt in Louisville, Ky. While there Mike suffered a debilitating stroke. In spite of his disabilities Mike managed to raise money for various charities. He also raised money for the K9 unit of the Springfield police division through the P.T. Cruiser BUS group. This group, which he founded, gathers annually in July at Young’s Jersey Dairy for a weekend of fun and a charitable fundraiser. The group is already collecting money for the heart fund in Mike’s name. They dearly loved him and all he has done to make this annual event so successful. He belonged to several different P.T. Cruiser groups and enjoyed traveling with these friends. He taught himself to paint primitive pictures of Ohio State football players. One player liked his painting so much that he asked Mike to paint his sister, who was a tennis player. Mike took guitar lessons working with several rock players at Fur Peace Ranch. Whatever he tried, he seemed to put in 110 percent. 

Mike was preceded in death by his father and coach. 

He is survived by his two daughters and a son-in-law, Trisha and Les Geyman of London, and Melissa Peirano, of Dublin, Ohio; two grandchildren, Dylan and Olivia; a brother and sister-in-law, Scott and Carole Wilson of Springfield; a nephew, Brok; mother, Mary Peirano and grandmother, Marcella Binegar, both of Yellow Springs; and Woody and the Sharks. 

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in the Littleton & Rue Funeral Home, Springfield. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, South Charleston, with military honors. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association. 

Rebecca Bridgett

Rebecca A. Bridgett of Xenia passed away Wednesday, Feb. 18. She was 49. She was born in Springfield, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James L. and Martha E. (Miller) Bridgett; two brothers, Jack and Scott Bridgett; and a brother-in-law, John Harrison.

She is survived by her brothers and sisters and their spouses: James T. and Peggy Bridgett, Patricia Kerns, Judy Harrison, Ric and Joyce Bridgett; Donna and Carl Current, Sandra Bridgett, and Kathy and Jerry Hatfield; 29 nieces and nephews, a great-nephew, and many other relatives and friends.

Becky graduated from Yellow Springs High School. She was a medical receptionist at the Student Health Care Center at Central State University and a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Church, where a celebration of her life was held on Saturday, Feb. 28.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Pleasant Grove Missionary Church or to Hospice of Dayton.

James Richardson

James “Jim” Marion Richardson died at Friends Care Center on March 1. He was 78 years old. The son of Marion Webster Richardson and Dorothy Wolfe Richardson, he was born March 23, 1930, in Highland Park, Ill.

Jim grew up in Arlington, Va., and attended Antioch College. As a youth, he spent many summers on his grandparents’ farm outside Yellow Springs. A resident of the village from 1955 through the late 70s, he operated Richardson’s Restorations for a number of years. Jim was a self-professed “auto-chondriac.” Cars were the center of his life; he collected and restored classic cars. Jim was a member of the Classic Car Club of America and the Auburn Cord Duesenburg Club. In retirement, he lived on his grandparents’ farm on Byron Road.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Joyce Kieso.

He is survived by two daughters, Julia Reed of Xenia and Renee Richardson and her husband, Doug McCleery, of Hopewell, N.J., and four grandchildren, Samantha and Justin Stingley of Waynesville; Travis Reed of Cedarville; and Emma and Eliza McCleery of Hopewell, N.J.; and special friends, Mike Reed and Bill Theal.

Private services are planned. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Greene County Council on Aging, 140-A Rogers Street, Xenia, OH 45385; or the Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum, P.O. Box 271, Auburn, IN 46706.

The family would like to thank the staff of Friends Care Center, Hospice of Dayton and the Greene County Council of Aging.