Remembering Bill Obbagy, former ‘Citizen’ managing editor
Bill Obbagy, the former managing editor of The Cleveland Citizen and the Ohio Labor Citizen, passed away. He handled all publication duties for both papers – from writing and photography to layout and sales. (Right) Obbagy is seen taking pictures at his parents’ 50th anniversary party.
The Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council recently learned that William Obbagy, the former managing editor of both the Cleveland Citizen and the Ohio Labor Citizen passed away.
Obbagy, 78, from Lakewood, passed away on Oct. 29, 2024. He was the third managing editor of The Cleveland Citizen, which published its first edition on Jan. 31, 1891.
In 1977, the CBCTC purchased The Cleveland Citizen from Albert Davey, the second managing editor, who was the son-in-law of the paper’s founder and first editor, Max Hayes.
At the time, Charles Pinzone was the Executive Secretary of the Cleveland Building Trades and appointed William G. Obbagy, his son-in-law, as managing editor under the supervision of a nine-member board.
For the next three and a half decades, Obbagy essentially served as a one-man band, performing all facets of publication – from writing articles and taking photos to laying out the paper and doing sales.
“He poured his blood, sweat and tears into that paper,” said Susan Gallant, Obbagy’s daughter and only child.
She recalled how her mom would help her dad by doing clerical work, such as addressing envelopes, at night. Once the work was done, Gallant would drop them in the mailbox.
For most of his career, Obbagy produced the bi-monthly paper by hand. He used a typewriter to write the articles and developed and laid out his own photographs.
For the first six years of his time with The Citizen, the paper was printed at the Cleveland Press until it closed in 1982, and then printing was moved to the Plain Dealer press and then had to move to the Canton Repository press.
According to Gallant, her father produced the paper by hand, even late into his career, refusing to make the switch to computers. Obbagy was eventually forced to make the switch when The Plain Dealer told him their digital system could no longer accommodate a non-digital process.
At a time when the union construction industry and organized labor were struggling, Obbagy did what he could to provide enough content to produce the paper.
As former Cleveland Building Trades Executive Secretary Loree Soggs recalled, Obbagy was everywhere. He would be at any event or project he was asked to attend or was needed, in order to write the stories for the bi-monthly publication. Soggs said Obbagy worked hard to ensure The Cleveland Citizen was one of the main forms of member communication for the Cleveland Building Trades’ affiliated union.
During the late 70s and 80s when there was no internet, social media, cell phones, email or computers, he relied on phone calls and in-person conversations to complete his reporting. Obbagy made it his business to learn all that was going on with the Local Building Trades Unions.
“It was a stressful job, but he handled it well,” noted Soggs.
In 1998, the CBCTC founded a sister publication named The Ohio Labor Citizen, which focused on building trades Locals outside of the Cleveland area. Obbagy handled all the duties for that paper as well.
He was responsible for both publications for the next 15 years. He left in 2013 when the CBCTC Executive Board voted to merge The Cleveland Citizen and The Ohio Labor Citizen into a single publication named The Labor Citizen.
Besides serving as editor of The Citizen, Obbagy assisted the Cleveland Police Department by performing handwriting analysis. He also worked at Marc’s Deli in Lakewood.
When he was away from his editor duties, his daughter described him as funny, intellectual and someone who always seemed to have a positive attitude.
At breakfast or dinner, Gallant, her mom Patricia and her father would often exchange various pun jokes.
She also recalled how he always made time for her, including going bowling, skating and taking trips to Geauga Lake and Cedar Point.
Obbagy’s parents came from Hungary, and he developed a passion for the Hungarian culture.
He was an avid fan of black-and-white movies, including silent films.
He was a huge Bela Lugosi fan, eventually starting a fan club for the actor.
Obbagy’s uncle William, for whom he was named, worked as Charlie Chaplin’s chauffeur. According to Susan, one summer Obbagy’s uncle was given a fig tree from Chaplin’s orchard, which he propagated and gave to his brother, Obbagy’s dad.
The tree was planted in the backyard of the family’s house and today, there is a small group of fig trees that descended from the original Chaplin fig.
In addition to taking photographs for The Cleveland Citizen, Susan said her father would take wedding pictures for friends and family.
He took a picture of her at the age of three that he sold to American Greetings, which for years, they used on Christmas cards.
Obbagy was married to Patricia for 52 years before her death in 2019.
He is survived by Susan Gallant (Scott), grandchildren Noel and Renee Gallant, Brandon Sanzone (Carrie) and great-grandfather to Abbey.