Helen Stambaugh, who served the Mahoning Valley as a true symbol of philanthropy throughout the past half century and was a key contributor to Youngstown State University and the Athletics Department for many decades, passed away on Monday. She was 92.
For YSU, Mrs. Stambaugh, along with her husband, Arnold, will forever be linked to the Athletic Department by the naming of Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium. The Stadium opened in 1982 and gave the football program its first on-campus home facility. Now, 30 years later, it remains one of the top complexes at the FCS level.
Calling hours are from 5-8 p.m. on Friday at the Anstrom-Velker Funeral Home (75 East Midlothian Blvd.) and on Saturday from 9-10 a.m. at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church on Mahoning Ave. Services are Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.
Mrs. Stambaugh was inducted into the Youngstown State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009 and was honored as the Penguin of the Year in 2005.
She maintained a scholarship endowment in the athletic department and contributed $150,000 for the YSU Marching Pride to get new uniforms in 2007. Stambaugh also provided the lead gift for the university's Wellness and Recreation Center, which opened in 2005. On campus, the Stambaugh Room in Kilcawley Center is named in the honor of her husband and her. She was named a Friend of the University in 2008. Additionally, she helped contribute to the construction of the stadium's East side and took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony in 1997.
Other notable awards for Mrs. Stambaugh included: Valley Legacy Award as an Outstanding Senior from Shepherd of the Valley; 2004 Outstanding Philanthropists Mahoning/Shenango Chapter; Greater Communicator Award from Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center; 2007 Distinguished Scouter Award by the Great Western Reserve Boy Scout Council; 2008 Helen Stambaugh Award from Shepherd of the Valley and 2007 Woman of the Year-Distinguished Citizen Award by the Federation of Women Club. Recently the lobby at Park Vista of Youngstown was named the Helen Stambaugh Lobby in recognition of her long-standing financial support.
