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O H I O - GO BUCKS!
CFP National Champions

2025 Charity Check Presentation

2025 Pancake Breakfast

2024 Silent Auction Donations

2024

THE BUCKEYE GROUP'S  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ron Gramlich - President
Ron Gramlich - President

Ron Gramlich born and raised in Columbus,Ohio.  He retired from Kroger’s after 44 years and moved to Sun City in May of 2020.

Ron and wife, Vicki, are diehard Buckeye fans and enjoy following them in all sports throughout the year.  In fact, they have a room in my house that is dedicated for all their Buckeye souvenirs.   Ron's hobbies are softball, golfing, cruising and spending time exploring all that Sun City has to offer.   

 

Rhonda Reda - Vice President
Rhonda Reda - Vice President

Rhonda was born in North Dakota but lived most of her life in Ohio.   A graduate of Ohio University, Rhonda recently retired from the oil & gas industry after 35 years.   Rhonda and her husband, Sam, enjoy spending time with their 2 adult children, 3 grandchildren and large extended family.   They are avid sports fans and the Buckeye Group was the 1st group they joined when the moved to Sun City in January 2023.     Rhonda became a Buckeye Board member in April 2023.

Margie Dixon - Treasurer
Margie Dixon - Treasurer

Margie graduated from the University of Cincinnati and Ohio Dominican College and was a Savings and Loan specialist, then a building treasurer for Dublin City Schools, retiring in 2012.  She served as volunteer treasurer for Dublin City Schools PTO and Athletic Boosters, Central Ohio USNA Parents Club, and President of the UC Alumni Group Columbus Chapter.  She was a hospice volunteer for The James Cancer and Research Hospital for many years.

Margie and husband of 55 years, Doug, enthusiastically moved to Sun City in 2014 after vacationing on HHI for 20 years. Margie spent the first years here becoming a SC Master Naturalist and volunteering at Port Royal Sound Maritime Center in Beaufort. She also tutors reading at a Bluffton elementary school, and loves sharing her love of the outdoors with children.

Their spare time is spent visiting their two children and five grandchildren as well as traveling the world as much as they possibly can!

Tim Rupert - Secretary
Tim Rupert - Secretary

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Tim went to Ashland College in Ohio and stayed in Ohio for the next 40 years. 

Tim worked for the Mansfield Madison school district for 38 years as a teacher, a coach, a junior high school principal and an elementary school principal. 

After retiring, Tim and his wife,  Debbie,  moved to Sun City in November 2014.  Tim and Debbie have been members of the Buckeye club since 2015.

Tony DeMain - Web Master
Tony DeMain - Web Master

Originally from Maumee, OH until 1987 when I became a Buckeye and stayed in Columbus/Hilliard until moving to Sun City in May of 2023 with my wife Kristin who is also an alum. 

I have a daughter who is entering her senior year at Miami University in Oxford, OH.

I am a member of the Softball Club as a player and umpire.

Linda Taylor - Member at Large

Linda grew up in Rochester, NY, graduated from Alma College in Michigan, University of Denver and Northeastern University in Boston.  She spent most of her professional life in Boston as the Director of Contracts/Legal for software development, R&D, environmental consulting, federal and international government contracting, and pharmaceuticals. In her spare time she was the creator and designer for her custom handbag business

Linda retired in 2022, moved to Sun City and although she is not from Ohio, she was attracted to the Buckeye Club because it is so active, both socially and with fund-raising. She has made many wonderful friends from Ohio along the way!  Linda keeps busy playing pickleball, cycling, traveling the world, organizing the Buckeye monthly “Ladies Night Out” parties; Wreaths Across America, OLLI, and Friends of Lifelong Learners committees, and sits on the national board of directors of the 10th Mountain Division Descendants Association.

Candace Pope - Member at Large
Candace Pope - Member at Large

In 2010, after living in Meigs and Gallia county (along the Ohio Rivier) for 60 years, Candace and her husband, George moved to Sun City.   A retired registered nurse, Candance and George also owned a business while raising 3 children.  She and George are avid fans of OSU football and men's basketball.  The Buckeye Board welcomed Candance as our newest Board Member at Large as of March 2022. 

Katie Tofaute - Member at Large
Katie Tofaute - Member at Large

Born and raised in Ohio, Kathie spent her first 37 years living in the southeastern area.  Neither she nor her husband attended OSU but were always Buckeye fans.

Anywhere they lived, even in Pensacola Florida, they also found other Buckeyes to be with and watch games together.  But she is very happy to have moved back to Sun City, where there ar LOTS and LOTS of Buckeyes. 

Kathie became a member of the Buckeye Board in March  2022.

 

 

 

John Socotch - Member at Large
John Socotch - Member at Large

John was born and raised  in Strongsville, Ohio ( west side of Cleveland) and then moved to CA in 1976 and l  transferred to Atlanta, GA in 1995.

John has been married to his lovely wife, Linda, for 42 years. They have 2 daughters. one of which teaches at Bluffton Elementary.

As a family they  vacationed at HHI for years always thought as they passed Sun City “Who would live way out here “?

Turns out they decided  to retire here during the midst of the “pandemic”

John is an avid golfer and college football fan – GO Buckeyes!

 

Ken Aerni - Member at Large
Ken Aerni - Member at Large

Ken spent his entire life in the Toledo, Ohio area and was very involved in the Maumee community.  He is a retired school administrator from Maumee, Ohio.   In his 36 year career, Ken has been a teacher, coach, district student service coordinator, middle school principal and assistant superintendent.  Ken and his wife, Carol, have been married for 43 years.  Ken enjoys golf, traveling and spending time with his 3 children and 4 grandkids. 

Family Feud Fundraiser -Sept. 23, 2023
Family Feud Fundraiser -Sept. 23, 2023

Thanks to all the folks who purchased tickets for this event and especially to the four teams

* The Veterans

*  The Upbeats

*  The Theatre

* The  Buckeye Group

who participated in The Feud

and Mike Morris, our EMCEE,

and Lorie & Les Huss who chaired the event and ran the program.

we donated $2,821.34 to Staying Connnected.

Shown here are Chuck Volpe, Belinda Rose, Mike Morris, Patti Volpe, Roy Powers and Nancy Morrison 

Great Job Everyone!!!

2022 Fundraiser for Staying Connected

Thanks to the hard work and generosity of many Buckeye Group members, as well as the Sun CIty residents who attended the annual pancake breakfast and/or participated in the silent auction, we were able to present Staying Connected with a BIG CHECK for $7,000!!!!

Shown above is our Buckeye President, Ron Gramlich, Webmaster Lorie Huss and Staying Connected's Mary O'Brien & Lucia Crosby.

2021 Pancake Breakfast
2021 Pancake Breakfast

It was the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the crowds came in record numbers to enjoy the Buckeye Group's Annual Panckake Breakfast & Silent held in the Pavilion.

Nancy Giuliano, host of this event, spent months planning, soliciting donations and organizing a team of volunteers.   

We would like to thank Nancy, her husband, Ray,  and the many volunteers who helped with the event.   Additional thanks go to all the people who supported this fundraiser                                                                                                                by donating  an item for the silent auction and/or attended this fundraiser.

This year's event raised a record $9,000 for our local 1st Responders.

In the picture above is the presentation of the first check ($3,750) which for the Bluffton Firefighter Foundation.   Dave Lash, President of the Buckeye Group is on the left.     

Nancy Giuliano, Secretary of the Buckeye Group is on the right.

The  remaining money ($5,250) is being given to the Jasper & Hardeeville Fire Departments.

O-H-I-O Everywhere you go.
O-H-I-O Everywhere you go.
2019 - Annual Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction
2019 - Annual Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction

Thanks to the hard work of  many wonderful Buckeyes and the generosity of all the folks who donated items and/or came out to support our annual fund raiser, we were able to donate $5,037 to the Independence Fund this year!!!  

Pictured is Buckeye President, Dave Lash, and Nancy Giuliano, who spent over 4 months preparing for this event.   

The Independence Fund is a non-profit dedicated to empower our nation's catastrophically wounded, injured or ill Veterans to overcome physical, mental and emotional wounds incurred in the line of duty.   

Calendar
Sat December 6, 2025
OSU vs Indiana (B1G Championship)
Indianapolis, IN
8pm on Fox
Sun December 14, 2025
Holiday Party (Sold Out)
Riverbend Lodge 1p-4p
 More Info