David Niebes

Harvey and I were good friends in high school.  His sister Sandy Goodwin lives in Fairborn.  She told me Harvey developed early onset Alzheimer about three years ago.  She said Harvey's wife was going to divorce him about 6 months ago but when she found out he was near death, she changed her mind.  Sandy thought Harvey was cremated.  There was no funeral and no obituary.  Sad.

He was one of the ushers at my wedding in 1975.  One of my favorite stories about Harvey involves the Ohio State vs Michigan football game in 1972.  I had just gotten back in Ohio from Colorado and was a transfer student at Bowling Green.  Harvey was the only member of our class that went to Michigan and I happened to see him in Fairborn one weekend when we were both home.  I asked him about the upcoming OSU-Michigan game and how I had been asking all my classmates that went to OSU if they could help get me a ticket but no luck with any of them.  Harvey said he'd see what he could do.  Yeh, right.  Getting a ticket from the tiny number of tickets given to Michigan fans?  Well, God bless him.  He called me sometime later and told me he had a ticket for me but I'd have to sit with him in the Michigan section.  Well, we sat at the closed end ot the horseshoe, right in front of Block O and the OSU fans threw stuff on us the entire game.  I cheered politely whenever Michigan did something good.  Anyway, the game went OSU's way and all the Michigan fans left early.  As we were waiting outside the stadium and the clock ran out and the crowd roared, some OSU students came running by us with sections of the wooden goal posts that had just been torn down from the Michigan end of the field.  We knew OSU had one 14-11.  Harvey, what a guy.

The next year the OSU-Michigan game was at Ann Arbor and there were plenty of seats.  It was played over Thanksgiving break and Harvey again got tickets for me and my dad.  We drove to meet Harvey in Ann Arbor the morning of the game.  10-10 Tie but OSU got the Rose Bowl bid.

Harvey and I would go drinking at the UD bars on Brown St and the Rathskeller at the Wright Pat O'Club when we were home from school.  He got into medicine and i went into the Air Force and then Delta Air Lines.  Was hard to keep in touch through the years and I'm sorry i didn't try harder.  Sad to hear of his passing.  Rest in peace, my friend.

David Niebes

This is a photo of Harvey when he was an usher at my wedding in 1975.

David Niebes

This is a photo during the period when he was a pediatrician in Austin, TX.

John Hooper

I first met Harvey Balthaser at Central Junior High.  He approached me out of the blue and said something like “I hear you live in Rona Hills too.  Let’s be friends”.  That start led to Harvey and I being the best of friends through our high school and college years. We worked on the sports section of the yearbook together and participated in drama (we were strictly back of the house).  Although Harvey and I didn’t agree on a lot of things, we had some great conversations about life, politics and the fairer sex.  We were fixtures at each other homes.  I was always welcomed like a family member by Harvey’s parents, Ralph and Bernice, and his sister Sandy.  Similarly Harvey was often at our home and learned about many of our Texas customs including playing 42, a domino game, with the family and my irascible grandmother.  We had a neighborhood volleyball game on the sport court in our back yard which Harvey participated in regularly.  That sport court also hosted many pickup basketball games.  One of my favorite memories was when Harvey was picked up by Fairborn PD transporting a bottle of Ralph’s homemade wine to my parents.   (If any younger folks are reading this you may not realize the police used to patrol neighborhoods.)

When it came time to go off to college, Harvey went off to Michigan and I went off to Texas A&M.  Although we were separated during the school year we always got together over breaks and during the summer vacations.  For us, we were living the 1960’s in the early 1970’s.  I must have been down at those bars at UD with Harvey the nights he wasn’t there with Dave Niebes. 

After college Harvey we managed to keep up periodically.  Harvey went to med school in Pittsburgh (Harvey only went to schools where the colors were blue and gold!) and I went to work for Pennzoil in Houston.   My projects at Pennzoil sent me to Oil City, PA which was close to Pittsburgh.  I had some great weekends in Pittsburgh with Harvey and his girlfriend.  Later Harvey married in Pittsburgh and I served as his best man.  He returned the favor in 1979 when I married (40 years this year!). 

I guess I was responsible for getting Harvey to Texas.  He called me when his internship ended looking for a position.  It happened that another friend was a medical director at a growing HMO in Houston.  I put them together and Harvey ended up going to work in Houston.   We saw each other occasionally in Houston but as life went on with families, careers and moves to other cities we lost touch.

As an aside, Harvey is the second old friend I have lost recently with whom I had lost touch.  I know in both cases I had thought about them occasionally but never made that call.   If there is someone you have been thinking about or wondered about, no matter how long it has been, I encourage you to pick up that phone and make that call.  It will mean a lot to both of you.   You may not get another opportunity.        

I last saw Harvey about 10 years ago.  I was still working and was going to be in San Antonio for a conference.   Somehow a dinner was arranged with Harvey and another Flyer classmate from our sophomore year, Paul Martin.  I had not spoken to Harvey in many years – his children were grown and he was no longer with his first wife.  But his life seemed to be on an upswing.   He was in a relationship he was excited about, enjoyed living in Austin, liked his job as a medical director for United Healthcare, and was in the midst of a faith journey.  Harvey, who I remembered as a committed agnostic, was involved in a church and his love of singing had led to him being in the choir.    

After hearing in Dave’s report from Harvey’s family about his sad end, I get some solace from the last time I saw him. Having been on my own faith journey in recent years, I know that when I see Harvey next he’ll be seated in the Michigan section with blue and gold wings. 

Go Blue and Godspeed my friend.     

Tim Garrigan

Such wonderful stories and memories about Harvey!  I remember him as fun, a quick wit, super smart, and a very thoughtful person. Thanks for remembering Harvey. 

Denise Kline (Derge)

OK, so I did not know him well, but these comments are just blessing my heart. I say if the family doesn't write an obituary, then WE do!! Between us, we can probably do that with most of our classmates. I agree with John, pick up that phone and CALL if you are thinking of someone! We have more ways to keep in touch than ever before, but the human voice is the best. (Well, being with someone is the best, but a phone call--FaceTime?--is second best!!) God bless Harvey.

Denise Derge

John Hooper

Denise, thanks for all the effort you putting into this site which allows folks to connect in so many ways.   I was down about Harvey's passing.  Being able to share some memories on the site allowed me to celebrate his life and reach some closure.  Thanks again for all you do.   

Kristi Keller (Helmersen)

I remember Harvey, but didn't know him well.  We were probably in class together at some point.  I do remember that he was really smart and involved.  Thank you for the comments and descriptions of his life after high school.  I am so sorry to hear about the sad end of his life.  RIP Harvey.  

Denise Kline (Derge)

John, it is a priviledge to be able to do this website and this is just what it is for. Hope you are having a better day today. God bless you.

Kevin O'Neil

I thank my classmates for their comments about Harvey. I was crestfallen to read of his crossing over. --Kevin O'Neil