Marchio named Shinnston Citizen of the Month

By Maralisa Marra

The Shinnston News & Harrison County Journal has named John Marchio as Citizen of the Month, a recognition sponsored by Dorsey Funeral Home in Shinnston – locally owned and operated.

John Marchio, a Shinnston native and lifelong resident, has been an active member in his community his whole life. From administrating Lincoln High School alongside former Principal Jerry Toth to being an active member of the Shinnston Park Board to raising a family that is equally devoted to giving back to their community, Marchio has made his mark on the city for the better.

Marchio and Toth worked together at Lincoln High School for nearly 20 years. Toth said he thinks highly of Marchio and the service he has done for the Shinnston community. 

With Toth as the principal and Marchio as the assistant principal, they were a dynamic duo during Lincoln High’s beginning years up until they both retired. “He helped with all the activities…and he performed his duties very well. He was a very loyal employee. He always had the interest of the kids at heart, and he supported me greatly, and I supported him,” Toth said.

“John is a great person,” Toth said. “He was a great colleague of mine. He was a very good teacher and a very excellent school administrator.” 

After working with Toth at Lincoln High, Marchio took a principal position at Lumberport Middle. Toth said Marchio was successful there, and they remained friends, and still are friends as they always have been.

Preceding his work with Toth, Marchio taught social studies at Shinnston High School before it closed in 1978. When Toth had an opening at Lincoln High for the assistant principal position, he said Marchio was his first choice because he knew Marchio knew the Shinnston and Lumberport communities very well.

“We were the best administrative team that ever ran Lincoln High School,” Toth said.

Although Marchio retired from the school system, his service to the community never stopped. Marchio’s close friend Jay Harmer said, “He volunteered many hours helping organize events and overseeing different events.” 

Harmer also said that when Marchio joined the Shinnston Park Board, he took a great interest in it and oversaw many improvements at the park and the pool like replacing and updating the lighting of the facilities. “He was instrumental in organizing a golf tournament as a fundraiser for the pool and parks, and with that, improvements were able to be made,” Harmer said.

Marchio and Harmer were close friends before working together on the park board, and Harmer said Marchio is an “all around good volunteer” in the Shinnston community. Over the years, Marchio has also selflessly volunteered in his church, St. Ann’s, with the men’s club and helping out with fritti fries, spaghetti dinners, and the like.

City Manager Chad Edwards said, “I couldn’t say enough nice things about John Marchio. I could talk for an hour and not do him any justice.” Edwards also said that Marchio is a great moral support and has made a significant impact on the Shinnston community. Edwards said he cannot express enough how much of an asset Marchio is to the city. 

“He doesn’t expect any recognition for anything,” Edwards said. “He just comes in and helps out. He’s been valuable.”