No matter where you go, Mt. Lebanon connections are always nearby. At the 2015 National Senior Games in Minneapolis, John Eckenrode, Mt. Lebanon Class of 1946, and his wife, Margaret, from Ohio, competed in cycling in the 85 to 90 age group.
John Eckenrode grew up on Parker Drive with his seven siblings. Following graduation, he attended Duquesne University, then joined the Air Force.
The Eckenrodes have been competing in the National Senior Games every two years since they were held in Pittsburgh in 2005. “The National Senior Games have been a true inspiration and motivation to keep my parents healthy and active,” says daughter Susan Rendulic, Navahoe Drive.
The Eckenrodes, who live in Cecil, won medals in each of the three races they competed in. John received two silver medals and one bronze medal while Margaret received three gold medals.
At the games, they serendipitously met bronze medalist John Sanmartini, a Carnegie Mellon University alum who graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1944. “It was so unexpected,” says John Eckenrode.
“My husband was very excited to have reconnected with someone from Mt. Lebanon,” says Margaret. “To have it happen this way was very surprising.” The men exchanged phone numbers and have stayed in touch since the games.
[1]Nicole Giehll is the new principal of Hoover School. Giehll has been with the Mt. Lebanon School District since 2013. She was a teacher and technology coach at Foster School and served as substitute principal at Markham School last year. Prior to working for Mt. Lebanon, Giehll taught for seven years at West Springfield Elementary School in the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. During that time she was a grade level team leader, mentor teacher and primary science lead teacher. Giehll holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Duquesne University and a master’s of education in administration and supervision from the University of Virginia.