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Life Deconstructed: Remembering a man who was singular in his distinction

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SWB RailRiders’ Caleb Smith takes loss as the IL falls in Triple-A All-Star Game

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; For some local residents, reading a Times Leader story about the Jimmy Stewart Museum in the actor&#8217;s hometown of Indiana, Pa., earlier this week sparked memories of their own connections to the prolific film star.</p><p>Retired teacher Betsy DeCosmo, 82, who lives in Highland Park in Wilkes-Barre Township, said her mother, the late Esther Powell Crum, taught Jimmy when he was in elementary school in Indiana, Pa.</p><p>That would have been close to 100 years ago, when Stewart was a youth and Crum, a graduate of the Indiana Normal School, was a student teacher, just about a decade older than the boy who would grow up to become so famous.</p><p>&#8220;She remembered he was very bright and friendly,&#8221; DeCosmo said.</p><p>Another area resident, 75-year-old Andrea Petrasek, of Kingston, said her cousin, the late Charles Javick, of Plains Township, served as a World War II bombardier &#8212; the crew member who released the bombs &#8212; on the plane Stewart flew as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps.</p><p>&#8220;We heard Charlie&#8217;s voice talking to Jimmy Stewart in the cockpit, saying &#8216;I have it, Major,&#8217;&#8221; Petrasek said, recalling the excitement of viewing a documentary or film clip and hearing that bit of proof that her cousin was really there.</p><p>Naturally, whenever she sees one of Stewart&#8217;s movies &#8212; &#8220;It&#8217;s a Wonderful Life,&#8221; &#8220;Winchester 73&#8221; and &#8220;Vertigo&#8221; are among her favorites &#8212; she thinks of Javick, who, sadly, lost his life during the war.</p><p>&#8220;There have to be lots of people around here with connections to Jimmy Stewart,&#8221; Petrasek said. &#8220;Because he was from Pennsylvania.&#8221;</p><p><ins>For other Life Section stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/features" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_apjimmystewart.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Center, Major James M. Stewart, newly promoted from squadron commander to operations officer of a U.S. Liberator Bomber B-24 squadron, talks over final details of a mission with flyers before they take off in England in April 1944. Kingston resident Andrea Petrasek says her cousin, the late Charles Javick, of Plains Township, flew with Stewart in the role of bombardier. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_apjimmystewart.jpg</photo0><caption0>Center, Major James M. Stewart, newly promoted from squadron commander to operations officer of a U.S. Liberator Bomber B-24 squadron, talks over final details of a mission with flyers before they take off in England in April 1944. Kingston resident Andrea Petrasek says her cousin, the late Charles Javick, of Plains Township, flew with Stewart in the role of bombardier. </caption0><photoCredit0>AP photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_stewart-and-mother-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This photo of a very young Jimmy Stewart, shown with his mother, Elizabeth Jackson Stewart, is on display at the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pa. When he was old enough to go to elementary school, one of Stewart&#8217;s teachers would be Esther Powell Crum, whose daughter, Betsy DeCosmo, lives in Wilkes-Barre Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_stewart-and-mother-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>This photo of a very young Jimmy Stewart, shown with his mother, Elizabeth Jackson Stewart, is on display at the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pa. When he was old enough to go to elementary school, one of Stewart&#8217;s teachers would be Esther Powell Crum, whose daughter, Betsy DeCosmo, lives in Wilkes-Barre Township. </caption1><photoCredit1>Mark Guydish | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_stewartwithoscar.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jimmy Stewart triumphantly raises a fist backstage after being awarded an honorary Oscar at the 57th annual Academy Awards in 1985. The actor is most well known for his film roles as opposed to his military service or early life in Indiana, Pa. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_stewartwithoscar.jpg</photo2><caption2>Jimmy Stewart triumphantly raises a fist backstage after being awarded an honorary Oscar at the 57th annual Academy Awards in 1985. The actor is most well known for his film roles as opposed to his military service or early life in Indiana, Pa. </caption2><photoCredit2>AP photo </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_stewartinuniform.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jimmy Stewart salutes at Fort MacArthur, Calif., March 22, 1941, after his induction into the U.S. Army Air Corps earlier in the day. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_stewartinuniform.jpg</photo3><caption3>Jimmy Stewart salutes at Fort MacArthur, Calif., March 22, 1941, after his induction into the U.S. Army Air Corps earlier in the day. </caption3><photoCredit3>AP photo </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_BetsyD.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Betsy DeCosmo and her Chihuahua, Utley, pose for the camera at their home in Wilkes-Barre Township. DeCosmo&#8217;s late mother told her she taught Jimmy Stewart in the actor&#8217;s hometown of Indiana, Pa. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_BetsyD.jpg</photo4><caption4>Betsy DeCosmo and her Chihuahua, Utley, pose for the camera at their home in Wilkes-Barre Township. DeCosmo&#8217;s late mother told her she taught Jimmy Stewart in the actor&#8217;s hometown of Indiana, Pa. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Residents recall ties to famous actor</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong>By Mary Therese Biebel</strong></p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wyoming Valley residents recall ties to actor, Pa. native Jimmy Stewart