Ohio University
Soccer Reunion
September 23-25, 2005
 

Gary Kastner:

What did you do after Athens?


Right after Athens I headed to Hot Springs, Arkansas of all places with my bride-to-be to work for my brother in his landscaping business. It didn’t take me long to find out I hated manual labor, so I headed back up to my home town in the Cleveland area to find something more suitable. My BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts, painting major) diploma for the most part qualified me for nothing, but still helped me get into the door of a Commercial Art/Design Studio of which after almost 30 years I am still working and am part owner.


Family


Married Shelley ‘Mann’, an OU graduate from the same ’75 class at the OU Chapel on the College Green Dec 13th, 1975. It was a perfect day (72° and sunshine) despite all the grumbling from the in-laws and family of having to travel in the snow from Pittsburg and Cleveland all the way to Athens.

We have now been married for almost 30 years and have 3 kids, Kimberly, Carter and Bethany. Kimberly, the oldest at 25, graduated last year from OU grad school and is living in Columbus. Carter, 22, went into the US Army after High School and was stationed in Saudi Arabia when the Iraqi War broke out and is now living in the Cleveland area. And Bethany, 18, is a freshman at California University of PA.


Career


Pretty much covered this above. If you do not know what a Commercial Art Studio is, we design brochures, catalogs, annual reports and various other literature as well as websites and website development for primarily business-to-business communications.


Additional education


Wasn’t smart enough to get out of the Commercial Art business.


Residences/locations since Athens, Ohio


Hot Springs, Arkansas — North Ridgeville, Ohio — Sheffield Lake, Ohio


Recreation/hobbies (soccer?)


One of the summers after graduating (I think it was ’76), Andy Smiles got some of the OU players together for an Athens, GA tournament. To our surprise, Sherman Lyle was on one of the teams we played against and won in a shoot-out. Sorry Sherm. Also played for many years with an East Hungarian Ethnic soccer club during the Fall as well as participated in various Summer leagues. There were a few games in which I faced Eddy Roberts and Don Kirkendall. Plus played a few games with Jeff Duer in an old timers league more recently. Now, for the most part, my soccer playing days are over, but I am an assistant soccer coach for Lutheran West High School, Rocky River where my kids went to school.

Sing in my church contemporary choir (Gad! I am even doing some solos!) and perform in plays they have put on. For an introvert like me, that is saying something.


Significant events


Like many of the other bios I have read, marriage and family seem to be the most significant of events of which I have to agree. My kids have turned out pretty good despite me and the marriage is still hanging in there.


Contact information


636 Maplewood Avenue
Sheffield Lake, Ohio 44054
Tel: (440) 949-7370
E-mail: gckslk@earthlink.net

Work:
Ad/Art Studios
5425 Warner Road, Suite 14A
Valley View, OH 44125
Phone: (216) 573-0958
FAX: (216) 573-0987
E-mail: gkastner@adartstudios.com