Art Lattanzi

Art Lattanzi studied Industrial Arts at GHS.  He ventured briefly into the management area in his senior year when he was manager of the football team.

After graduation from GHS Art took a job with Copperweld Steel Company and enrolled in night school at YSU where he worked toward and achieved a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.

With a new degree in his pocket Art would quickly move up the corporate ladder at Copperweld.  However,  between YSU graduation and Art's rise in Copperweld management, Uncle Sam came calling.  Uncle Sam gave Art a 13 month paid vacation in Vietnam.  He served as a platoon Sergeant  in the 1st Infantry Division with responsibility for a 6 man tracker team along the Cambodian border. The team was inserted by helicopter whenever VC were sighted.  (This was serious duty according to a retired Army Cornel who is my neighbor. Ed) 

In Vietnam, GHS's Art Lattanzi received the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and an Air medal with 6 oak leaf clusters.

Before he shipped out Art had married Kathleen Ann McNamara of Williamsville, New York (Kathy was originally from Youngstown and a Cardinal Mooney graduate).  They had met when they were both part of Ron Gantar’s wedding party.

Art considers his marriage to Kathleen the very best move of his life.

Upon his return from Vietnam Art rejoined Copperweld and he and Kathleen decided to start a family.

During the next 36 years he held various sales and management positions at Copperweld.  The Lattanzi’s had to move several times.  First they went to Chicago, then to Detroit, then to Los Angeles, and finally back to Detroit.   In 1985 they transferred back to Ohio and Art was made Vice President of Marketing and  Sales, a position he held for the next 11 years.

In 1996 Art left Copperweld in pursuit of a new career.  He joined Louisville Forge, a Japanese owned automotive parts manufacturer, as Vice President Commercial.  This required another move, to Kentucky. 

Shortly afterward Art was promoted to President and CEO of Louisville Forge and finally Chairman in 2005.  “This being a Japanese company gave Kathy and I the opportunity to visit Japan on several occasions,” Art explains.

Art and Kathleen have two sons, Joseph and Art.

Son Joseph and his wife Melissa have two children, Paul 9 and Leah 6.  They live in Warren Ohio.

“Grandchildren are like magnets!!”  Art says.  “Who ever said you can’t come back.”  So, while still living in Georgetown, KY,  the couple built a new home in Girard in the new Seneca Woods development near Squaw Creek.  They are just a few doors from Connie Faiver..  “The plan was for me to retire in 2003,” Art explains.  “That did not work out so Kathy moved back to Girard and I commuted each weekend from Georgetown for the next 5 years, finally retiring in 2007.”

Son Art is due to get married for the first time this June in Michigan.  His wife’s name is Kathy.  “This makes two Arts and two Kathy’s in our family.  Kathy has two children, Keleigh and Kera  which Art Senior and Kathy Senior are anxious to welcome into the Lattanzi family.

Art is active at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Warren as a member of the Parish Council and the finance committee.

 “I golf with GHS Classmate and YSU Frat brother Tony Cardiero every Thursday,” Art says.  “I also get together with classmates and frat brothers Pete Chila and Joe Aurilio frequently.”

“I am very happy in Girard with my family,” he says.  “I don’t live in Florida, Arizona, California or South Carolina.  I am here in good old Girard.

Well Art, I know what you mean.  It is comforting to be where the bricks in the street are familiar and the friends are lifelong.  However, along about January, I am very glad I am in Florida.  It has been great talking with you.  Thanks for your service in Vietnam---ED