Benny was a really good friend of mine. He and Nancy Kawalek hung out alot with Eddie and me. Benny's family moved to Hawaii after his sophomore year. I just recently learned that he was killed in a tragic drowning accident while living in Hawaii. I was deeply saddened to hear about his death and I know he will be greatly missed by Nancy, myself and others. I regret loosing contact with such a great guy and a close friend but the memories of him will forever live in my heart. God bless his family and those who were close to him.
benny died a long time ago when we were all still in high school. his brother jimmy came back to baker after it happened.he was not only a super cool dude he was very very good looking!
Thanks for the sweet and caring comments left for Benny.
It's still hard for me to think about.......the accident happened a few months before they were moving back to Columbus. Benny and I loved each other very much, and when he moved we vowed we'd not let the distance destroy our love. It didn't. He came and spent the summer with us, between our Junior and Senior years of HS. He shared a room with Kenny, lol. And trust me when I tell you, with my father around, there was never any hanky panky! We had a wonderful summer. He went back to Hawaii for his Senior year. We wrote back and forth, and talked on the phone when we could. On the day of his accident, he had started a letter to me. He said he was going out with some friends and would finish the letter when he came back home. He never finished that letter. I dearly loved his family. He had the most wonderful mother and father. They taught me so much. When the family came back for Benny's funeral, they took me with them to his final resting place. We made the trip to Mississippi, where Mr and Mrs Balius were from, and had a lot of family still living there. I'll never forget that trip. Later, Mr and Mrs Balius sat me down and said they hadn't been sure whether or not to give me the letter Benny had starting writing to me that terrible day. They decided they should, and I'll never forget it. In the letter, he had told me that he and his family were so excited because in three or so months, they were moving back home. I can still see their faces when I looked up from reading the letter. Benny had written how happy he was that we'd finally be able to be together forever.
The family moved back to Oakland Park. They lived there for many years. I visited with them many times, and couldn't believe how they welcomed Don (my husband) into their lives. Mr and Mrs Balius were the best. When I went into labor and was in the hospital, Mrs Balius was right there! I had to have an emergency C-section, and I don't know how I would have gotten through it without her there. Of course my mom and Don's mom were there, too.......but Mrs Balius had 'pull' in the hospital, for she worked there. :) I have pictures of Mr and Mrs Balius holding Glenn, our son, under their Christmas tree when he was about ten months old. They were so awesome.
His father passed away years later. His mother followed them to Heaven many years after. I'll never ever forget what a wonderful family they were, and how much we all meant to each other. To this day, they all have a very big place in my heart.
The last time I heard from Jimmy, he was living in Florida. He has two boys, and they were the apples in Mrs Balius' eyes! Mrs Balius and I kept in touch throughout the years.
Benny was respectful, goofy, funny, intelligent, very caring and loving. How could he not have been, with the parents he was blessed with? He even won my father over, and that's not an easy thing to do! I wish my father felt the same way about my hubby, LOL. Life goes on, and I hope to one day see Benny, his mom and dad, in Heaven.
I lived on Sharon Avenue in south Columbus, just a few houses from the Bailus family. The brothers were in band and we spent plenty of time hanging out; Jimmy and Benny were quite a matched pair. When we played Monopoly, they would cheat by giving each other money under the table!! What a heartbreak to lose him so young. Great guys, great family.
Paula Gross (Lamm) (1974)
Benny was a really good friend of mine. He and Nancy Kawalek hung out alot with Eddie and me. Benny's family moved to Hawaii after his sophomore year. I just recently learned that he was killed in a tragic drowning accident while living in Hawaii. I was deeply saddened to hear about his death and I know he will be greatly missed by Nancy, myself and others. I regret loosing contact with such a great guy and a close friend but the memories of him will forever live in my heart. God bless his family and those who were close to him.Sharon Stanford (Nicolay) (1976)
benny died a long time ago when we were all still in high school. his brother jimmy came back to baker after it happened.he was not only a super cool dude he was very very good looking!Rezondala Dunn (Patrick) (1974)
Jimmy and kids so sorry about your Mom. She, your dad and Benny will live in our hearts til we are with them again.Always a friend in Compassion.
Nancy Kawalek (Liesman) (1974)
Thanks for the sweet and caring comments left for Benny.
It's still hard for me to think about.......the accident happened a few months before they were moving back to Columbus. Benny and I loved each other very much, and when he moved we vowed we'd not let the distance destroy our love. It didn't. He came and spent the summer with us, between our Junior and Senior years of HS. He shared a room with Kenny, lol. And trust me when I tell you, with my father around, there was never any hanky panky! We had a wonderful summer. He went back to Hawaii for his Senior year. We wrote back and forth, and talked on the phone when we could. On the day of his accident, he had started a letter to me. He said he was going out with some friends and would finish the letter when he came back home. He never finished that letter. I dearly loved his family. He had the most wonderful mother and father. They taught me so much. When the family came back for Benny's funeral, they took me with them to his final resting place. We made the trip to Mississippi, where Mr and Mrs Balius were from, and had a lot of family still living there. I'll never forget that trip. Later, Mr and Mrs Balius sat me down and said they hadn't been sure whether or not to give me the letter Benny had starting writing to me that terrible day. They decided they should, and I'll never forget it. In the letter, he had told me that he and his family were so excited because in three or so months, they were moving back home. I can still see their faces when I looked up from reading the letter. Benny had written how happy he was that we'd finally be able to be together forever.
The family moved back to Oakland Park. They lived there for many years. I visited with them many times, and couldn't believe how they welcomed Don (my husband) into their lives. Mr and Mrs Balius were the best. When I went into labor and was in the hospital, Mrs Balius was right there! I had to have an emergency C-section, and I don't know how I would have gotten through it without her there. Of course my mom and Don's mom were there, too.......but Mrs Balius had 'pull' in the hospital, for she worked there. :) I have pictures of Mr and Mrs Balius holding Glenn, our son, under their Christmas tree when he was about ten months old. They were so awesome.
His father passed away years later. His mother followed them to Heaven many years after. I'll never ever forget what a wonderful family they were, and how much we all meant to each other. To this day, they all have a very big place in my heart.
The last time I heard from Jimmy, he was living in Florida. He has two boys, and they were the apples in Mrs Balius' eyes! Mrs Balius and I kept in touch throughout the years.
Benny was respectful, goofy, funny, intelligent, very caring and loving. How could he not have been, with the parents he was blessed with? He even won my father over, and that's not an easy thing to do! I wish my father felt the same way about my hubby, LOL. Life goes on, and I hope to one day see Benny, his mom and dad, in Heaven.
Billy Tinker (1973)
I lived on Sharon Avenue in south Columbus, just a few houses from the Bailus family. The brothers were in band and we spent plenty of time hanging out; Jimmy and Benny were quite a matched pair. When we played Monopoly, they would cheat by giving each other money under the table!! What a heartbreak to lose him so young. Great guys, great family.
Billy Tinker
Gene Ambrose (1974)
RIP my friend.