Name

Jerry Speakman

Email

jerryspeakman@gmail.com

Where have you been? and what have you been doing? - - - family, school, career, pastimes, good times, etc.

As a commuter student, I was a 1970 graduate of Ohio State with a major in Computer and Information Science. OSU was one of the earliest to offer this major in the Department of Mathematics.
I married Patricia Wells from Reynoldsburg on Sept. 13, 1969, going into my senior year. My grades improved significantly, as I was no longer spending late hours with her after my job at J.C. Penney’s (in the NEW Eastland Mall), which left no time for study.

My professional career began as a systems analyst with Wear-Ever Aluminum, a subsidiary of Alcoa located in Chillicothe. I transferred to the Arkansas plant in Jan. 1975, moving Pat and our 4-month-old son Scott away from family. Our second son, Brian, was born there in 1977. I transferred to the Pittsburgh corporate headquarters in 1978, residning in Hampton Township, about 13 miles NE of downtown.

I coached soccer and little league baseball teams, was treasurer of the Hampton Touchdown club for two years and actively played basketball and softball until age 55. Now it is just golf.

As an information systems professional, my responsibilities concentrated on financial and accounting systems. I also was a manager in Alcoa’s Internal Audit Department, a Certified Information Systems Auditor, and was active in the Institute of Internal Auditors where I chaired a committee to define Auditability & Controls for Personal Computers (late ‘80’s). I was also responsible for coordinating a team that defined Alcoa’s world-wide systems architecture. After an early retirement from Alcoa in 1996, I was a project manager in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s information systems department until 2003. Afterward, I provided IT services for Heartwood Institute, a non-profit organization that offered literature-based character education curriculum for Pre-K through middle grades, as well as in-home clients. It was during this time that I established the Eastmoor ’66 website which I have maintained since.

In 2007, I acted as the project accountant/controller for the building expansion project at Hampton Presbyterian Church after our general contractor went out of business. I sang in the church choir until Covid and was the bass in a gospel quartet, Four-Given, for 12 years. I have always been an officer in any organization in which I belonged and have always had a strong sense of community service and volunteerism. That commitment continues today as I have served as the elected Hampton Township Controller since 2008.

We have a 14 year grand-daughter, Stevalyn Rose, a 2 ½ year old grandson, Alfie, and 1 year old grandson, Shilah Robert. Scott and his wife moved from LA back home after Alfie was born, so he could be surrounded by family. We are usually kept busy a couple of days a week playing with him and watching him grow – they are only 5 minutes away. It has been a joy. Shilah is not as regular, but we do watch him at times, he is a happy baby (most of the time).

favorite high school memory

I loved sports, especially football. I finally started when I was a 16 old senior, and was starting to really enjoy it, including practices, and wham!, it was over. I lettered two years on the track team, and had some memorable trips, such as the Bellaire Relays.
I remember movies at lunch, especially with Sally Brown and Debbie Reynolds, about as close as ever I came to dating anyone. What a fool I was because I had unknown crushes on so many girls.

unique achievement

I take pride in being elected Controller of our township 4 times where I oversee an $18m annual budget. It has been an eye opening experience to see what it takes to operate a municipality.
I also serve as a board member on our local EMS.

standout event

Marriage, children and grandchildren.

unforgettable trip

There have been many. Working with Alcoa I went to Mexico, England, Wales, Germany, Switzerland, Surinam, Australia and Brazil (7 times). Pat met me for a fantastic vacation in Switzerland following a business trip.
We spent 17 days on 3 islands in Hawaii, and had a 10 day land/sea trip to Alaska. They were standout vacations.
My longest trip, though, was 37 hours from Atlanta to Perth, Australia.

little-known fact

Pat recruited me to sing in her church choir when we started dating at Central Presbyterian and I have been at it since, including barbershop quartet, gospel quartet, and many solo's.

I also earned 3rd place in the 1965 Ohio AAU judo championships, losing to my Dad.

You’ve come a long way in 55 years. Where are you going in the next five years?

I plan to continue golfing as long as possible. I am still trying to improve - my competitive nature, even with myself.
Also, return to Hawaii, Alaska and go to Scotland, Ireland and maybe Italy (Pat more than me). And there is still a lot of the USA to see.