Your Oglebay Story

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.

In 2020, Debbie and C.J. saw firsthand the challenges pandemic related closures were having on the park and decided to make a generous donation using IRA funds. The gift was used in part for a matching campaign that raised $715,000 to support Trees and Trails, the Good Zoo and Gardens – a great fit for the couple’s interest and use of the park. The Kaisers continue to support the park in many ways… talk about making a difference! Read more here.

The Keefer Family established a fund to support the walking trails in Susanne Keefer’s memory. Jay continues to fund tree removal and planting in the park that has meant so much to him during his lifetime through annual gifts to the Oglebay Foundation. He has also made estate plans to support the park’s trees, which will continue to provide for all of us for generations to come. What a gift indeed. Read more here.

Realizing the important role sports has played throughout his life, Carl decided to fund youth tennis and golf activities at Oglebay and Wheeling Park with an IRA Charitable Rollover. Carl has also included the Foundation in his estate to support the lifetime sports that have shaped his life. Read more here.

Local business man, Stuart Bloch left a portion of his retirement savings to preserve affordable golf at Wheeling Park, ensuring the game of a lifetime will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Bill Bushfield named the Oglebay Foundation as the beneficiary of his retirement account to honor his mother and father. The funds rebuilt the pergola and created a legacy endowing its maintenance in perpetuity. (“The Power of Friendship: Refurbishing Oglebay’s Historic Pergola,” The American Ideal, Vol 1 Issue 2, Spring 2019)

Upon his retirement as Wheeling Park Commission President & CEO the gates in Mansion Woods were named for Doug Dalby’s years of service. Doug makes annual gifts to the foundation and has planned an estate gift to create an endowment for the gates’ ongoing maintenance.

Wheeling Park Commissioner and Oglebay Foundation founding board member, Sue Seibert Farnsworth donated a fully funded, whole-life insurance policy to fund the Garden Works Sculpture Exhibit and the purchase of the stainless steel heron ˝Miss West Virginia˝ perched in the tree outside the Foundation office.

Wheeling native Pidge Fleming is the daughter of Robert and Gene Biery. Her father was one of the Wheeling Park Commission’s first fulltime employees. The family spent their early years in Shepherd’s Cottage, just above the Crispin Course’s first tee. Today, at 87 years young, Pidge remains active in both the Women’s Golf Associations for Oglebay and Wheeling Park and plays up to four times a week. Pidge has included the Oglebay Foundation as a beneficiary of her estate. “Oglebay’s always been good to me. I’ve lived here all my life. It is an honor to have the opportunity to give back.” Read more here.

Wheeling native and U.S. Navy veteran Chris Freeman is using a donor advised fund at Raymond James Financial Services to invest in platform tennis. When asked about his generous donation Freeman shared, “Forty years ago a group of platform tennis enthusiasts built the courts at Oglebay. While they have long since stopped playing, many of us continue to benefit from their generosity and enjoy the opportunity to play this sport. Now, it’s time for me to step up and pass it forward so this sport is here for future generations.”

As the stepdaughter of Brooks Wigginton, (1912-1995), Wheeling Park Commission’s landscape architect, Hydie Friend grew up just outside the boundaries of Oglebay Park. For over 25 years, Friend sought grants to benefit projects, improvements and programming in Oglebay and Wheeling Park. Her efforts raised in excess of $10,000,000. Because of her fond memories of the park and the positive influence the Oglebay family has had on her, she generously donated all her time and efforts.

School teacher Louise Gaspar (“A Sense of Place: Oglebay’s Holiday Lady,” The American Ideal, Vol 1 Issue 1, Winter 2019) made a bequest to the Oglebay Foundation which was used in part to renovate Wilson Lodge’s Hickman Lounge.

Wheeling native Helen Prince demonstrated her love of children, music and animals with the creation of the Helen J. Prince Foundation. During her lifetime, Ms. Prince donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the Good Zoo. Her foundation is funding the new Red River Hog Habitat.

For 42 years, Doug Wayt has been swimming laps in Wheeling Park’s pool every morning between Memorial and Labor Days. He and his wife Susanna are using IRA distributions to fund investments to help maintain the pool they love.

Earl Oglebay lived on Waddington Farm for 27 years. Betty and Randy Worls have been here for 67 years. They’ve committed their entire lives to this place. They met in the Park, married and raised their sons here; they built their lives here.