A newsmaker you should know: Boat lover builds a ship for high school musical
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Paul Scheinert
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Franklin Regional school board member Paul Scheinert has always had a passion for seafaring vessels.
Now in his 37th year as a nuclear engineer for Bettis Atomic Power Lab in West Mifflin, Mr. Scheinert spent from 1983 through 1989 working in Newport News, Va., as a test engineer on aircraft carriers. A graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he spent his sophomore year at sea, delivering ammunition to U.S. military fighting in Vietnam in the early 1970s.
And in the summer, he sails a Catalina 34-foot sailboat on Lake Erie.
But the ship that is his current obsession is a mere plywood shell on an auditorium stage that will never sail beyond Murrysville. Mr. Scheinert is the mastermind behind the luxury liner set for Franklin Regional's high school musical production of "Anything Goes" scheduled for March 1- 4 at the high school.
"Just look at all of this," he said from the back of the high school auditorium. Scattered across the stage were a dozen or so volunteer parents, staff and students. They were drilling, sawing and painting the 50-foot "ship."
Many, including his wife, Deb, have been working with Mr. Scheinert for the 14 years he's led volunteer construction crews, crafting ambitious props and musical sets for marching band halftime shows and high school musicals.
He stresses it is a group effort.
"The people who have been helping over the years are the same people. Many of them have kids who have graduated. They do it just because they like to," he said.
Mr. Scheinert's two sons -- Steven, 30, and Mark, 26 -- have graduated from playing on the district's stage and football field.
He credits his wife and Carla Gialloreto, band and musical art director, with the designs. He said it is his job to make them come to life and be somewhat portable.
First Published February 16, 2012 5:21 am
