By Nancy Bowman

Patrick Reese’s interest in serving on the Tipp City Foundation board was inspired by his work on the Tipp City Public Library Board of Trustees.

A resident of Bethel Township, Reese came to the area 11 years ago when assigned by the Air Force to Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

He and his wife of 32 years, Chrystal, grew up in the area of Shippensburg, Pa., a south-central Pennsylvania town he described as about the same size as Tipp City.

Following graduation from Shippensburg University, he attended graduate school at Penn State University before starting a 22-year Air Force career. He retired at Wright Patt in 2013 and headed to work at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dayton as the campus energy engineer.

While on the library board, Reese said he has seen the impact the foundation has “promoting positive initiatives” in the local community.

“My interest in working on the (foundation) board is to find those opportunities where someone has a great idea that could use the support the foundation can provide,” he said.

His Air Force service provided a good background for foundation service, Reese said.

“A lot of my experience in working with organizations like the foundation was gained through my career in the Air Force.  A typical Air Force base is much like a small community. There were numerous times where we had to determine where to direct funds that were intended to enhance that community environment.  It was much like the proposal evaluation process which the foundation operates,” he said.

Reese joined the foundation board in 2022.

Patrick and Chrystal Reese have two children. Elsbeth graduated from Bethel High School in 2012 and is studying to be a funeral director in Milwaukee, while son Nathaniel graduated from Bethel in 2014 and is a graphic designer and artist in Pittsburgh.

Chrystal has operated a small business selling maple syrup, jams, jellies, and other home crafted products at local farmers markets. The farmers markets have been put on hold while Patrick undergoes treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. They plan to resume the business when he has recovered.

He and Chrystal are beekeepers and participate in the Miami Valley Beekeepers Association and the Greene County Beekeepers Association. They also make maple syrup and belong to the Ohio Maple Producers Association.

He continues to serve on the library board, noting the staff has done “amazing things” to keep library services going in the community even in the times of COVID-19.

He attends the Tipp City United Methodist Church and is a member of the Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir and fills in at times as a lay leader during services.

By Bruce McKenzie

Have you ever been around someone who is infectious? No, not in a way that requires gloves, face mask, and gown, plus two cans of Lysol, but rather someone who has an infectious personality, someone others just love to be around. Someone who can light a room up like the 100-watt bulb in an Easy-Bake oven, with energy and life flowing from them in every direction.

One such person was the epitome of this infectious energy and vivaciousness. Caring, witty, and faith-filled, and always willing to help others, Sara Drexler grew up with a love of sports and friends, embracing all that she did, and living a typical Midwestern childhood, surrounded by her parents and sisters. As she grew older, Sara graduated from Tipp City Schools and went on to earn a degree in education from the University of Dayton, a school which she dearly loved and which gave her many cherished memories of her experience and the friends she made. Sara had many other passions as well, from watching sports, including the Cincinnati Reds in the summer and the Bengals in the fall, along with a quirk for reality TV, the Backstreet Boys, and moose. Yes, the massive four-legged creatures captured her attention on a family vacation to Yellowstone, so much so that she started collecting moose-related novelties.

After graduating, Sara landed a great teaching position with Tipp City Schools, where she also coached basketball and soccer. It was through these activities that Sara’s passion and encouragement shone both on and off the field. In the classroom, Sara was a committed, outstanding teacher and role model. She also served as a student senate advisor. On the field, Sara coached basketball and soccer, teaching young girls both the sports techniques and fundamentals as well as how to be the best they could be.

Sara’s passion was teaching, and she encouraged her students to excel in both school and life. It was these types of unassuming things in life which Sara seemed to hold with passion. It was her goal to be “all in” no matter how she was involved; she had a verve and a desire to be her best.

But all this changed beginning in July 2014 when Sara was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Sara faced this fight for her life while continuing to focus on her passion. Even while facing weeks of radiation treatments along with oral chemotherapy and MRIs, Sara continued to focus on teaching. Her co-teachers stepped up to help by handling the last period of the day, while Sara accepted her cocktail of chemo to keep the disease in check. With the strong support of those close to her and the entire Tipp Middle School staff, Sara continued to teach until November. But as the disease continued to progress, Sara no longer had the physical or mental strength to continue. Sadly, the disease prevailed, and Sara’s final day on this side of heaven was December 12, 2017.

It was during this time that Sara’s family created a way for Sara’s legacy to live on and continue to inspire the lives of future students. Since Sara loved to teach and encourage those around her, it only seemed fitting to offer back to the community a way for people to carry that legacy of passion forward.

With this thought, Sara’s parents reached out to the Tipp City Foundation. The foundation is well versed in helping individuals establish funds for a range of philanthropic purposes. The Youth of Tipp City Fund in memory of Sara Drexler  is designed to financially support childhood organizations throughout Tipp City. Some of the area’s schools, athletic events, faith-based organizations, field trips, park/outdoor recreational learning, and musical and theater opportunities are ways that Sara’s life is remembered, and her legacy carried forward. In addition to the joy of seeing financial support going to organizations in Sara’s memory, the Tipp City Foundation also planted a tree in Kyle Park in Sara’s name. This is where Sara spent many hours playing and coaching those whom she loved and cared about.

Likewise, the Drexler family sponsors scholarships for Tipp City High School graduating seniors. To date, eleven scholarships of $1,500 each have been awarded the past five years, totaling $16,500. This is just another way Sara’s legacy and passion for the next generation are helping support students.

Through her journey, Sara never complained about things or wondered “why me?” but instead continued living her life to the fullest. One thing that Sara enjoyed was journaling to help her deal with life’s ups and downs. One entry sums up how Sara viewed life. “If I were to have an ‘everyday survival kit’ I would put in it... music to remind me to dance, a camera to make memories, toothpaste to remind me to smile, tissues to remind me to cry, paint to remind me to add color in my life.”So, the next time you’re out and about in our community, and watching the next generation learn, play, and compete, remember that Sara Drexler’s legacy is still with us in many ways. You might not realize it right away, but you could be staring straight at it at any time, just like the moose who captivated Sara’s heart many years ago.