Making a Difference: Syd Sonneborn

Wheeling native and accomplished artist Sydney Sonneborn was a passionate supporter of the communities he called home. With a life marked by creativity, civic service and a deep commitment to the arts, Syd left an enduring legacy, not only in the places he lived, but especially in the city of his birth.

Syd graduated from Linsly Military Institute (now Linsly School) in 1956 before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Painting from the University of Illinois. After serving in the United States Air Force, where he worked on guided missile systems, he continued his education and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from West Virginia University.
In 1967, Syd and his wife Sandy moved west to Miles City, Montana, where they lived happily for more than three decades. There, Syd became an integral part of the community as both an artist and educator. A lifelong creative force across a wide range of media — from painting and pottery to jewelry making and woodworking — Syd taught art at Miles City Community College from 1967 until his retirement in 1998. That same year, the Sonneborns moved to Palm Desert, California, where Syd continued to create and contribute to the arts community.

Syd’s impact on Miles City was profound. He was a co-founder of the Waterworks Art Museum, where he also served as president and a longtime board member. He played a key role in bringing National Public Radio to the region by constructing a receiving antenna atop Signal Butte, and later served on the board of Yellowstone Public Radio. He was also the inaugural president of the Montana Alliance for Arts Education, advancing access to the arts across the state.

The Sonneborn family’s connection to Wheeling Park stretches back generations. Syd’s grandfather, Charles Sonneborn Sr., along with Louis Haller, made it possible for the city of Wheeling to secure the land that would become Wheeling Park in December 1924. The Sonneborns’ generosity helped shape the park’s most beloved features, including the entrance gates, Sonneborn Shelter and the iconic “Wheeling Park” floral plantings along National Road. Charles’ wife, Pauline Frank Sonneborn, contributed her family’s legacy as well — serving as the inspiration behind the Frank Rock Garden.

Syd and Sandy continued this tradition of philanthropy. Records indicate that they supported the Oglebay Foundation for more than 25 years — as far back as the Foundation’s digital records go. Syd passed away in April of this year, but his commitment to the parks he loved lives on. Through a charitable remainder trust, Syd ensured that the Sonneborn family’s impact on Wheeling Park will be sustained for future generations.

Funds from his gift will be used to maintain and preserve the Sonneborn legacy at Wheeling Park.

Talk about making a difference — Syd Sonneborn lived a life filled with meaning, imagination and generosity. His story is one of lasting beauty, both in the art he created and the communities he enriched.

Pictured above: Syd Sonneborn surrounded by sons, William and David Sonneborn, grandchildren Andrew, Lauren, Lily, Max and Mia Sonneborn as well as nephew Peter Sonneborn and nieces Julie, Allie and Emily Sonneborn.

Making a Difference: Chris Muroski

Retired chemist Chris Muroski, 67, moved to Wheeling in 1989. She began her career at Mobay Chemical Corporation — a joint venture between Monsanto and Bayer — in 1982, when the company was based in New Martinsville, West Virginia.

“Since 1955, the Ohio Valley has been the heart of the polyurethane chemistry industry and continues to be the global leader in these core chemicals,” Chris said. These chemicals are essential to a wide range of applications, including coatings, paints, adhesives and medical products such as catheters and general-purpose tubing.

While her professional career took her from New Martinsville to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chris’ personal life has been shaped by a deep passion for community service and a lifelong love of golf.

“My parents were hardworking, loving people. From an early age, I understood the importance of giving back to the community thanks to their example,” Chris said. “My personal giving focuses on causes that matter to me — where I can see the impact of my gift in the near future.”

Chris is an active volunteer with Wheeling’s Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), serving as a member of the YWCA’s HartfordSmart529 scholarship committee. This summer, she and a team of others are developing a YWCA STEM summer camp — an all-expense-paid week that provides high school girls with exposure to the sciences in a fun and interactive way.

When asked about her support for youth golf at Oglebay, Chris explains, “Golf is one of the few sports you can play throughout your life — truly the game of a lifetime. It’s you against the course. There’s no team, no competitor and no special physique required. Golf is all about technique.”

“Encouraging young people to get involved in a sport like golf not only increases the likelihood that they’ll lead more active lives, but it also teaches them sportsmanship, patience, honesty and perseverance.”

Chris continues, “The golf program at Oglebay is successful because it’s customer focused. They offer both resort and resident pricing, the courses are immaculate, accessible to all skill levels, and the staff is incredibly friendly. The Youth Golf Program is a cornerstone of Oglebay’s success — and one of the reasons it continues to thrive, unlike many clubs that are struggling or closing.”

“I often wonder — when you didn’t grow up with Oglebay and Wheeling Park as your backyard, maybe you appreciate it even more. The concerts, the festivals, the sports — the opportunities here are endless.”

Chris has generously included Oglebay in her estate plans — talk about making a lasting difference in the parks.

Making a Difference: Lisa & Barry Allen

Lisa Allen, 67, has spent a lifetime in Oglebay and Wheeling Park. Her earliest memories include waiting for the bus at the end of her neighborhood street with an excited gaggle of friends and siblings, packed lunches in hand, to join hundreds of community friends at Oglebay Day Camp.She fondly recalls the retro, round-nosed 1960 buses bouncing along National Road, with Jon Banco overseeing the camp in those days.

Toward the end of each summer, the Day Camp Carnival was a highlight. Lisa remembers hiking the Oglebay hills with her friends and counselors, collecting plankton leaves to use as carnival currency. Even today, the scent of summer rain hitting hot asphalt instantly transports her back to those cherished camp days.

As a teenager, Lisa worked as a lifeguard at Oglebay, earning $1.60 an hour. She recalls her boss, Tom Pinto, asking her to help at Schenk Lake or set up tables for events in the Pine Room. After earning a Parks and Recreation/Management degree from Ohio University, she returned briefly to Oglebay to help open the new indoor pool at the lodge and to work with the National Training Center, where she saw firsthand the impact of a well-trained, empowered staff on guest experiences. Lisa is the immediate past chair of the Oglebay Foundation and is a current board member.

Barry Allen, 61, a proud son of Tennessee, discovered Oglebay later in life. His first memories include driving through the Festival of Lights, attending Oglebay Institute’s Board Benefit, watching fireworks from the hillside with their budding family and running six miles through the hills of the park on the morning of their wedding at Palmer House. “Lisa and I got in our early morning run, made breakfast for all of our kids and some guests and got married later that day. It was a full Oglebay Park kind of day!” Barry recalls with an easy laugh. Today, the couple has six children and 16 grandchildren.

Throughout their professional careers, they have championed leadership development and collaborative problem solving, as well as inspiring organizations to hire the best people while providing ample, ongoing training and support. “Great guest experiences can become memory-makers when each person recognizes their role in the organization’s success, feeling personally connected to the mission and outcomes of the business. Ongoing leadership training and support can inspire those experiences,” Lisa explains.

Lisa and Barry direct their financial support of the Oglebay Foundation toward leadership development and staff training. Their contributions have helped the Foundation leverage West Virginia Tourism grants, allowing Oglebay to train all staff in personal ownership and new service standards for the recently renovated Skyline and Trace restaurants.

Additional support from the Allens has funded training in customer-centric service and conflict resolution. “Our parks are an extraordinary asset to the Wheeling community. Investing in leadership and staff development is a long-term investment in the parks themselves,” Lisa says. “Great experiences lead to repeat visits and loyal and devoted guests. And when a committed guest thinks, ‘Wow, this park is amazing — how can I support it?’ their influence comes full circle by learning about, understanding and supporting our Oglebay Foundation.”

Barry nods in agreement. “Oglebay is an essential part of our lives. Why wouldn’t we give back in a way that develops leaders and provides training to make it even better for everyone today and for future generations?”

Talk about making a difference in the parks.

Sue Seibert Farnsworth

Growing up in Wheeling, just across from Wheeling Park, Sue Seibert Farnsworth has had a strong connection to our parks throughout her life. Her early memories of the park span from summers spent swimming daily to teen dances every Wednesday night at the White Palace.

As the daughter of two lawyers — Janice Boone Seibert and George H. Seibert, Jr. — Sue’s path to her 50-year law career in Wheeling seemed almost predetermined. Her professional journey began at her father’s firm, where he was her mentor, imparting nuances of the profession, while her mother stood as a strong role model.

Sue’s life has been marked by a dedication to enhancing the lives of West Virginians, not only in Wheeling but across the entire state. Her commitment to improving education led to a significant milestone when then-Gov. Jay Rockefeller appointed her to the W.Va. Board of Regents in the late ‘70s — she was honored to become its chair in 1980-81. 

Among Sue’s other notable firsts was her appointment as the first female park commissioner to the Wheeling Park Commission in 1992, a role she held for three decades. Additionally, she was one of the founders of the Oglebay Foundation in 1996, where she remains active today. Throughout her tenure as a park commissioner and board member, Sue has emphasized the importance of best practices, professionalism and standard operating procedures, with a commitment to excellence.

Reflecting on the importance of these parks, Sue emphasized, “Our community is incredibly fortunate to have both Oglebay Park and Wheeling Park. Many of the people who live here, especially those who grew up here, have a tendency to take our parks for granted.” She highlighted that substantial resources are required both to maintain them and to invest in their future growth.

Sue, albeit reluctantly, shares her story to underscore the variety of ways one can support the parks effectively. She has employed a number of strategies, including gifting a fully paid, whole life insurance policy used to fund a sculpture exhibit on the historic Hilltop in 2017 as well as funds to install permanently the popular “Miss West Virginia” metal heron sculpture. She also leverages her annual Required Minimum Distributions from her IRA to support Forever Yours: The Campaign for an Enduring Oglebay.

Sue has fond memories of playing tennis, buying a pass at the season opening and challenging herself to have enough play time so the pass would pay for itself before the Fourth of July. Married to the late Carlyle Farnsworth for 44 years, the couple would cross-country ski on the golf courses in the ’70s and ’80s. They enjoyed the parks with their son Tom, daughter-in-law CJ and grandson Holden, as well. Six years ago, Sue married John W. Kepner, celebrating their union with a reception held in what is now the Oglebay Foundation office.

Two of Sue’s favorite aspects of Oglebay Park are its spectacular old-growth trees and dining at the Garden Bistro. Because of the long walk from the parking lot that includes three sets of stairs, she aims to enhance the bistro experience for all by directing her campaign pledge toward purchasing a golf cart. The cart will ensure that everyone can access the Garden Bistro to enjoy, what she considers, “one of the best meals with the prettiest views in the park.”

Talk about making a difference. 

George J. Kontogiannis

George Kontogiannis was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and graduated from Yorkville High School in 1958. Visiting Oglebay during his youth, George had firsthand experience with the importance of green spaces as part of a healthy lifestyle from an early age. 

Earning his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Ohio University, George worked as a registered architect in Columbus, Ohio, after a brief stint in the Ohio Air National Guard. By 1966, he opened his own firm, growing his business into Colonial American Development Corporation, which, today, incorporates his construction business and employs 200 people with more than 4,600 apartment units throughout Ohio, West Virginia and south Florida. 

The businessman purchased land neighboring Oglebay on its northeast side along Peters Run Road where he developed two affordable housing complexes, Oglebay Village and Wheeling Station. A key component of marketing the rental communities is their proximity to the park; residents have incredible access to Oglebay and can leverage park amenities on a regular basis.

In 1996, Oglebay leadership wanted to expand golf opportunities within the park, but more land was needed. Together with the Oglebay Foundation, they approached George about the necessary acreage to add another course. Calculating the value of the land as a charitable gift to Oglebay was a unique business opportunity for George. Thanks to his generous gift of more than 70 acres of land to the Foundation that year, the park was able to move forward with the Palmer Course, which opened in 2000. 

The land donation George made was just the beginning. His gift started a long-term relationship with the Oglebay Foundation. As a good neighbor, friend and benefactor of Oglebay, George’s generosity includes funding tree removal and plantings, adding outdoor furniture to the West Spa Patio area, Access to the Parks Scholarships as well as annual fund contributions. Those are just some of the many ways George supports the park. 

In 2012, George provided funds to refurbish the Oglebay Playground with new equipment and a new safety surface. The playground, adjacent to Schenk Lake, anchors Oglebay’s Adventure Center incorporating minigolf, the Aerial Challenge Course, rock climbing wall, bike rentals and Segways.

George’s early connection to green spaces has led to a lifelong understanding of their importance. We’re fortunate that George continues to find opportunities to support the park with a focus on improving peoples’ quality of life. Talk about making a difference. 

Pete Holloway

Walker Peterson (Pete) Holloway, Jr., 74, remembers attending Oglebay Institute’s summer camps in the mid 1950s and early 1960s, where he benefited from amazing camp counselors, including Joan Schenerlein, Phil Maxwell and Ruth Scherich. 

This rich camp experience took full advantage of the outdoor setting offered by Oglebay, and it was the first time he bumped into a relatively young guy in park management named Randy Worls.

Like many people growing up in the area, Pete’s first job was at Oglebay. He worked at Par 3 picking up trash and mopping floors under the watchful eye of Mickey Donahue.

Lifetime sports eventually became a focal point for Pete, and he has fond memories of great community tennis players such as Jack Wright, Bob Ewing, John Phillips, Jean Loustau, Ogden Nutting, Dot Boll, Anita Whitaker and Julianna Peterson. Pete also remembers the rope tow run by a tractor behind Crispin where he watched Ewing, Nutting, Whitaker, Stuart Bloch and Bill Jones enjoy skiing. “As a kid, it was amazing to see these community leaders actively enjoying sports; it was something I could look up to and emulate,” Pete said.

Pete is astounded that the park gave him access to tennis pros like Whitney Powers, Bob Bennett and Fritz Schunck.

“The longevity of our parks is remarkable. So many of us have this ingrained assumption of Oglebay’s immortality. The Park Commissioners have kept the park system afloat through major crises such as the Great Depression, the stock market crashes of 1929 and 1987, World War II and COVID-19.  Yet, I was struck by the fragility of the parks in 2022 after the horrible ice storm in March followed by the double derechos in June of that year caused so much damage. So many trees that grew old with me were suddenly gone. 

“What makes the difference? When large numbers of people make small gifts. Granting agencies, government support, donors generally make funding decisions based on the level of community support. That’s why I give. Oglebay is my touchstone,” Pete explained.

Pete’s sons, Walker and Murphy, grew up in Oglebay. Pete’s expectation is that their children and grandchildren will do the same. To make that happen, Pete has named the Oglebay Foundation as a beneficiary of his estate. 

That’s making a difference in the parks.

Les DeFelice

For Les DeFelice, CEO of Wheeling, W.Va. – based DeFelice Group, Inc. (doing business as Visiting Angels), his diverse career started at Oglebay Park.

Reflecting on his path and how he got here, Les gets a bit emotional. “In May 1971, I was fresh out of Wheeling High living near downtown with my single mother and two younger siblings. Friendships I made in high school included some of the golfers who encouraged me to apply at Oglebay. I still clearly remember sitting across from Randy Worls, then Wheeling Park Commission president and CEO, for an interview. I was clean cut, polite and respectful, which worked in my favor, and I was hired to work on the Spiedel Course, then 50 percent completed.”

Les’ fond memories of Oglebay began with the interview with Randy’s measured, friendly tone. He worked for Director of Golf Ed Murphy, a driven, exacting perfectionist when it came to the golf courses. 

“Coach Murphy could be terrifying to us young guys. I owe Coach Murphy a debt of gratitude as I developed zero fear, which has benefited me time and time again in business. There were six of us future college freshmen living in a primitive cabin at Caddy Camp, Cabin 5. We would get up at the crack of dawn to cut grass and the greens. At noon, we would be driven back to Caddy Camp where we would have an incredible hot lunch made by Mrs. Ed Murphy with ice-cold milk in tin cups that looked like they were used in the Civil War. Then it was back to work on the course for the rest of the day,” Les remembers with a laugh. “Years later, Coach Murphy said he was proud of what I was beginning to accomplish. With no father in my life, that meant the world to me.”

In the winter months, the crew spent their hours at the modest ski slope located at the Par 3 working the ski lift during the day or making snow all night. The golf/ski-season job introduced Les to a world entirely different from what he knew growing up, enabling him to attend West Liberty. “Working at Oglebay opened so many doors, introducing me to so many opportunities. I went from not having many prospects to having hope for a future, thanks to Randy Worls.”

From a very early age, Les wanted to know how to be successful. Three people at different times in his life shared the following words of wisdom:

“You have to get along with people.” 

“Be yourself.” 

“We’ll love you like baby Jesus, but you’ve got to produce.”

Les continues to leverage these mantras to build his second successful business, which has consistently received honors and awards at a national level for its innovative leadership and hiring best practices. With a career that took him to Chicago, Dallas, Houston and New York City before moving back to Wheeling, the father of two sons says his success is due to “surrounding myself with people smarter than me and always putting everyone on the team ahead of myself. Those are the key factors in currently having 500 coworkers and probably 1,000 by the end of the decade.”

“Generosity is something that I experienced from an early age, exemplified especially by my incredible mother. As I think about giving back, naming the Oglebay Foundation as the beneficiary of a whole life insurance policy is the beginning of how I plan to return the investment Oglebay made in me.”

Talk about making a difference in the parks.

Denise Pentino

Brilliant, Ohio, native Denise Pentino was determined to graduate from college early. To achieve this goal, the then 20-year-old Wheeling Jesuit University student needed to attend summer night classes while earning money during the day, so she applied to be a lifeguard at Oglebay.

“They didn’t hire me to lifeguard; those are coveted jobs that got filled long before I applied. But they took a chance and hired me to paint park signs,” Denise shares. She spent the summer of 1989 lugging a ladder all over the park painting the brown signs with the yellow lettering that still dominate the park. “It was a typical eight-hour day that started at 7 a.m.  –  not a fun start-time for a young college student.

“One day, my supervisor, Dennis Jones, tells me, ‘You’re painting yourself out of a job. Slow down.’ I didn’t understand until I literally painted myself out of a job.”

Dennis took pity on the college student who still needed to earn money and introduced her to the director of horticulture and grounds. “Chris Schenkel thankfully hired me for the rest of the summer. Now I’m lugging heavy hoses and bags of mulch all over the park. It was hard work, and I’m working with a bunch of hardline old-timers who had a very precise and specific way of doing things. I loved every minute of it,” Denise remembers with a warm smile.

It comes as no surprise that Denise achieved her goal and graduated in December 1990 with a degree in political science with a criminal justice minor. Law school at West Virginia University didn’t start until August 1991, so Denise went back to Oglebay and asked if she could work in the greenhouses again.

She spent that winter and spring learning everything she could from the experts – from seed germination to planting flower beds all around the Hilltop. At the end of her first year of law school, other law students were applying for clerking jobs at law firms. However, Denise wanted to go back to Oglebay.  Dave Holloway, the then vice president of human resources,

hired Denise to help the Wheeling Park Commission comply with the newly enacted Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Denise’s new job had her meeting with and interviewing all the department heads throughout the park system and rewriting or creating new job descriptions that made appropriate accommodations to ensure the park’s hiring practices complied with the new law.

“I would come to work all dressed up for my interviews and meetings, but I ate every lunch with my friends on the horticulture and grounds team.”

Today, Denise is the managing partner of Dinsmore & Shohl’s Wheeling office, one of the firm’s offices around the country, focusing her practice on commercial litigation law. “I’ve had a wonderfully symbiotic relationship with Oglebay. The park took chances with me and gave me so many opportunities to break out of my comfort zone. I was blessed to be able to accept these opportunities and, as a result, the park and its people taught me so much. I know it’s said all the time, but Oglebay is truly a gem; it gives so much to the community in very tangible ways.”

As a true lover and user of the park, Denise’s favorite spot in the park is a bench below the Garden Bistro. She walks the arboretum trails regularly “following the red brick path, past Bambi and down to Schenk Lake” bragging to anyone who will listen, “I used to plant these flower beds.”  

Denise has named the Oglebay Foundation as a beneficiary of her estate to give back to the park that helped her get her start and that continues to give her so much.

The Hobbs Family

Landy, Marty and Ward Hobbs grew up in Shawnee Hills. Through lifetimes of summer camps, tennis, swimming, golf and early employment at Oglebay and Wheeling Park, the siblings developed an affinity for the parks that continues to this day.

As the children of the late Ron and Sally Hobbs, their Oglebay connections were pretty much preordained.

Sally was an accomplished equestrian, tennis player and skier. She was involved in Oglebay’s theater, music and cultural offerings. Sally and the three kids performed in many summer musicals in the amphitheater with dad cheering them on.

Ron’s affinity for the parks is better known as one of the longest-serving Wheeling Park Commissioners – for more than 41 years.

Eldest child Landy remembers, “As kids, we all had pool and tennis passes. Mom would drop us off in the park at 8 am with some money in our pockets for a hotdog lunch. We played tennis all day, swam in the afternoon. We knew to be ready to go at a certain time. Sometimes dad picked us up on his way home from work, sometimes we got rides from neighbors and we even walked a couple of times.”

All three identified a first summer job in the park, employment their dad probably had a hand in behind the scenes. Landy worked on construction projects at the Good Zoo, Marty worked at the tennis courts and Ward spent at least one summer painting the Mansion. These early jobs “taught us skills to have pride in our work, establishing a strong work ethic” that has served them all throughout their lives.

Ron’s incredible legacy (see page 14) as a Wheeling citizen, for which being a Park Commissioner was just one aspect, shaped Landy, Marty and Ward’s appreciation of and love for community. They lost Sally in 2016. When Ron passed away last May, the siblings knew they wanted to do something to honor the memory of their dad, but they weren’t sure what.

“Dad wasn’t the kind of guy who wanted his name on a building. He never sought that kind of recognition. When Marty, Ward and I started talking about honoring Dad we all wanted to do something that was important to him. We remember him saying, ‘Most people put their name on stuff without considering how it’s going to be maintained. No one gives money for maintenance, it’s not sexy.’ With this thought, the idea of the maintenance fund began to take shape,” Landy shared.

Having grown up in Wheeling, their paths crossed a number of times. Amy Stauffer and Bob Mead didn’t know each other then, but both attended Oglebay summer day camps during their grammar school years. On October 7, 2021, Bob and Amy celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the Pine Room with family and friends. In honor of this long history the family is making gifts to renovate and endow Speidel Cottage #4. Thanks to the family’s generosity and love of Oglebay, the Speidel Cottage is now the newly renovated Mead Cottage– a great romance indeed. Read more here.