Debora Flora loves her second career, yet has been feeling nostalgic about her first career. Bruce Springsteen once referred to “boring stories of glory days” in a song. What does Springsteen have to do with her glory days? Find out here.
Name: Debora Flora
Preferred Nickname: Deb
Years in Rotary: 4
Resident of: Youngstown
Hometown: Niles
How long have you lived here? All of my life in the region; 30 years in Youngstown.
What brought you here, or kept you here? My parents moved here in search of jobs. I was born here. This is my home.
Education: Bachelor's degree in English, 1989, Youngstown State University, where I also was editor of The Jambar during my senior year.
Occupation: Executive Director, Mahoning County Land Bank; former full-time newspaper reporter.
Who is in your family circle? Husband Mark, a purchaser at Polaris Technologies in Austintown; son Christopher, a freshman at Cardinal Mooney High School; stepson Kevin and his wife, Tammy, in Struthers; stepdaughter Corrin and her husband, Philip, in North Carolina; mother and sister in Trumbull County; one niece; two nephews.
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time? Outside of the pandemic, I take water aerobics classes at the Jewish Community Center; swim; enjoy wine and conversation with friends; write occasionally for the Catholic Exponent, the Diocese of Youngstown newspaper; volunteer in various ways at my parish, St. Brendan Church; and watch my son play the sport of the season.
Why did you join Rotary? I spoke about the County Land Bank at a Rotary meeting. Sometime afterward, John Slanina invited me to join. I wanted to be more informed about civic activities and to meet new people. I was somewhat familiar with Rotary, having befriended an exchange student from New Zealand while we were students at Howland High School.
Why do you remain a Rotarian? I've truly enjoyed many service projects -- Operation Warm, Beerfest, and ringing the bell during the Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive. The work is purposeful, and the events are opportunities to become better acquainted with Rotarians. Also, I’ve been happy to discover many ways to connect the revitalization activities of the County Land Bank with Rotary and Rotarians.
Which Rotary Project resonates with you and your understanding of our community's needs? The County Land Bank collaborates with RCY to install and fill Little Free Libraries as part of vacant land reuse strategies. The Land Bank also is the steward of the LFL in the 20 Federal Place building downtown, where our office is located. I get to engage with people who visit the LFL in our building. It's a resource that they genuinely appreciate.
What does Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" mean to you? It is more than a call to be unselfish with our time. When we rise above life’s daily challenges to help with a Rotary project, it is like pressing a reset button. Our own troubles diminish; our spirits are lifted. Service above self is a gift to others and ourselves.
What would you be doing on Wednesdays if you didn't attend the weekly luncheon meeting? Probably catching up on work or meeting a friend for lunch.
Which type of Rotary socials do you prefer - black tie affairs or casual attire? I enjoy both but especially like to get dressed up once in a while.
A Rotary tradition is to have sing-alongs during meetings. Would you ever lead us in a song? This alto doesn't usually lead, but I'll start off a song in a pinch.
What do you think of Scott Schulick's Rotary pants, and would you wear a pair? Scott wears those pants well. There are many ways to sport the Rotary logo. I’m still searching for my signature way.
What's a story of yours that you don't get to tell often enough? During my Vindicator years, I interviewed many celebrities. The late comedian George Carlin was so much fun to interview that I did so twice, a few years apart. He skewered me for uttering the phrase “broken record” because it was outdated (and that was 20 years ago). Country singer-songwriter Brad Paisley also was a fun, witty interviewee. The first time I had dialogue with him, he was an opening at the Canfield Fair. The second time around, he was the fair’s headliner.
The interview that stands out during my reporting career was with Bruce Springsteen, in January 1996, when he performed a solo concert at Stambaugh Auditorium. He had released an album titled “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” which featured the song “Youngstown,” about the demise of the steel industry year and the impact on our people. Los Angeles Times music critic Robert Hilburn was following Springsteen on that tour. A day before the concert, Hilburn called the Vindy newsroom to ask for a tour of the city. He and I quickly became acquainted. I gave him a tour. We were seated together at the concert in the reviewers’ section (along with Jane Scott, the late, great Cleveland Plain Dealer music critic, who nodded off during the show). Afterward, Hilburn said he was going backstage and invited me and my fiancé (now husband) to join him. We waited about an hour before we were shown into a room where Springsteen had been greeting other fans. I anticipated a handshake and the ability to ask a few questions. Instead, we were invited to sit down for what became a 45-minute interview with The Boss. He wanted to talk about the concert, his sense of trepidation about singing “Youngstown” in the city that inspired the song, what it was like to perform without his E Street Band, and how overwhelmed he’d been by the community’s positive reaction and support. He was very genuine. The headline on my next-day story was: “Bruce delights fans; feeling was mutual.”