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Peninsula Honors `Elf' John Lahoski: Terry Lumber Owner Who Started North Pole to Greet Children on Holiday Train Rides Died Monday

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 09:00 CST

By Bob Downing and Beth Rankin, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Dec. 21--PENINSULA - It was billed as the Million Elf March, a community tribute to John Lahoski.

Nearly 350 would-be elves assembled Tuesday at the decorated North Pole as two Polar Express trains filled with youngsters pulled into Peninsula.

But Lahoski -- Santa's head elf and widely known as Mr. Peninsula -- was missing.

He died on Monday evening while lighting holiday luminaries on the state Route 303 bridge over the Cuyahoga River with his wife Judith. He was 63.

For years, Lahoski had dressed as an elf, turned the family's Terry Lumber Co. into the North Pole, and talked co-workers and community members into joining him.

"He looked goofy as an elf, but it was very endearing," said Ed Andros of Peninsula. "He's meant so much to this community."

Last year, Lahoski got 100 people to be elves on the last night of the Polar Express runs by the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. He had hoped to double that total this year.

"This whole event is really a tribute to (Lahoski)," said Ham Loughry, who ran Santa's workshop Tuesday night. "This is turning into something unbelievable."

Elf volunteers -- as well as Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, a nutcracker and a few Raggedy Ann dolls -- stood alongside the tracks waving as the train full of wide-eyed children arrived just in time to see Santa ride past on a one-horse sleigh.

"John was a very special man with a big heart who loved children," said Vicki Smith, 56, of Akron, who was dressed as Raggedy Ann.

As the train rolled into Santa's village, many of the elves -- some with tears in their eyes -- sang Christmas carols. The event, Andros said, was a fitting tribute to a very special man.

Lahoski was a star football player at the University of Akron and a coach at UA and Crestwood and Woodridge high schools. In 1976, Lahoski was among the first inductees into UA's Sports Hall of Fame.

"He was one of the great ones and a good friend," said Ken MacDonald, retired sports information director at UA.

Lahoski was a fullback and linebacker from 1961-63 and was named All-Ohio Conference all three years. He was put into the starting lineup as linebacker by head coach Gordon Larson when he was a sophomore.

As a senior, Lahoski earned All-Ohio Conference honors on both offense and defense, an accomplishment never matched at UA, MacDonald said.

Tops in football

Known as Jarrin' John, the 180-pound Lahoski rushed in his senior year for 766 yards on 159 carries and scored 14 rushing touchdowns, a school record at the time. Those 84 points led the conference in scoring.

Named UA's 1964 Athlete of the Year, his teams had a 19-7 record in the three years.

The 5-foot-7-inch player was an All-Conference linebacker as a junior and a second-team pick as a sophomore.

He was known for his very muscled legs, said friend and coach John Kane.

Lahoski, a graduate of the old Boston High School in Peninsula, could only wear a pair of socks once or twice because he would stretch them out of shape and pop the seams because of his calf muscles, Kane said.

He also recalled a 1963 game against Youngstown State University in which Lahoski opened the game by carrying the ball17 straight times on two drives before another UA player carried the ball or caught a pass.

Lahoski carried the ball eight straight times and scored a touchdown. He then played three plays on defense. Akron got the ball back and he carried the ball nine straight times.

A Detroit Lions scout at that game in the Rubber Bowl lamented that Larson was wearing down Lahoski before the pros could get him, Kane said.

He carried 42 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

"He was a tough son of a gun," he said.

Coaching kids

Lahoski graduated in 1964 with a physical education degree.

He coached one year at Crestwood High School in Mantua. He then returned to UA as a football graduate assistant and earned a master's degree.

He was hired in 1965 as an assistant coach and physical education instructor. He later became the football team's defensive coordinator. He was at UA for seven years through 1972 as a coach. He also served as the wrestling coach for three years.

"He was the best," said Kane, who coached with Lahoski at Woodridge from 1973-81. He produced a school-best 7-2 record in 1976.

"He could be gruff. Everything was done in an old-fashioned way, but it was the right way.... He expected you to do it. He didn't care how it got done," Kane said.

Work and play

In 1981, Lahoski joined the family's businesses -- Terry Lumber and Peninsula Hardwoods -- started in 1940 by his father-in-law, Terry Montaquila.

Lahoski, an admitted workaholic, had two hobbies: people and Peninsula, said his wife of 39 years. "He loved to be involved and to help people," she said.

Lahoski served on the board of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the Robert Hunker Association, was a trustee of the Boston Township Hall and was a past president of the Woodridge Boosters Club and the Ohio Lumbermen's Association. He was also a former assistant chief of the town's fire department.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters Lori Reagan of Broadview Heights and Beth Jiminez of Spain; and sons Terry and John, of Peninsula.

Calling hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Johnson-Romito funeral home in Hudson.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Peninsula.

Donations may be made to the church, Valley Fire and Rescue or the Terry Montaquila Fund.

Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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