Dr. Ray Colavincenzo serves as grand marshal for Clyde Halloween parade

Jeanette Ricker
·4 min read

Clyde had one of its best and longest Halloween parades ever on Saturday with16 floats and more than 100 costumed marchers judged, plus bands, majorettes and a few miscellaneous.

Dr. Ray Colavincenzo, the parade grand marshal, also wore a Halloween costume. Colavincenzo recently retired after 60 years of dentistry in Clyde. He dressed as the Tooth Wizard, patterning himself after a character in the Lord of the Rings movie and book, wearing a fuzzy white wig, long beard, robe and wizard hat. He carried a walking stick and a wand with a giant tooth on the end, which he spent many hours creating with fiber glass, said his daughter Angela Reineck, Port Clinton.

As grand marshal, Colavincenzo rode in a convertible in the parade with his four daughters, Reineck, Sylvia Hennessy, Indianapolis; Kathleen Miller, Castalia; and Barbara Gray, Fremont, walking along distributing toothbrushes instead of candy. Colavincenzo wanted to promote dental health. The daughters were dressed respectively as a tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush and two teeth. All created their own costume. "We had a blast," said Reineck. "We ran out of toothbrushes and could have used three times as many."

Tooth Wizard, Dr. Ray Colavincenzo, retired dentist, was Grand Marshal of Clyde's Halloween Parade. His four daughters dressed as a tube of toothpaste, tooth brush and teeth.
Tooth Wizard, Dr. Ray Colavincenzo, retired dentist, was Grand Marshal of Clyde's Halloween Parade. His four daughters dressed as a tube of toothpaste, tooth brush and teeth.

During his office hours, at the end of their visits, patients often received a miniature tube of toothpaste, dental floss and a toothbrush. Colvacincenzo and another dentist, Dr. Woodruff, gave free dental exams in Clyde schools from the 1960s to the 1980s. He wanted to thank the people of Clyde for being so loyal to him during the years.

Parade had plenty of creativity

Creativity and originality is always on display at the Halloween parade. The first place float winner was the Ken Pierce family with the theme from the movie, "Hocus Pocus." Pierce's wife, daughters and grandchildren, dressed in costume, performed well on the set hand-built by Ken.

Jeanette Liebold Ricker
Jeanette Liebold Ricker

Second place float winner, "Suds on Spring," a laundromat theme, featured family members of the Art Maines family dressed as washing machines and related items. A machine blew bubbles during the parade. Third place float was a re-enactment of the movie, "The Addams Family" created by Horsley's Lawn, and the fourth place winner was the theme from another movie, "Barbie Girls," entered by Cora Selvey. The Royalty winner was from Norwalk's Strawberry Festival, titled "Elegant Witches."

Mason Baughman won 1st prize in his age division at the Clyde Halloween Costume Judging on Saturday.
Mason Baughman won 1st prize in his age division at the Clyde Halloween Costume Judging on Saturday.

Costume contest winners named

Costumed character winners follows — names provided by individual judges:

Infant to age two: 1st, Parker Schrann, Roman Baughman, Dean Gintz; 2nd, LeeAnn Wright, Della Belcher, Kollyns Thurn; 3rd, Raelynn Combs, Alivia Ihnat.

Three and four year olds: 1st, Violet Gintz, Xah Resendez, Jaci Bond; 2nd, Louis Belcher, Peyton Woodland, Evan Ihnat. (no 3rd).

Five to seven, last names not provided: 1st, Maria, Harper, Jaylen; 2nd, CJ, Gabriella, 3rd, Baylie, Kienziee and Braylen;

Eight and nine: 1st, Graham Caudill, Savannah Kerr, Millie Gowitza; 2nd, Evie Noftz, Kinlee Ernsberger, Savannah Childers; 3rd, Xandi Prater, Ethan Salts, Fritz Bollinger.

10 to 12: 1st, Lucas Brillhart, Malachi Esquivel, Josi Weber; 2nd, Lilly Jones, Oliver Belcher, Chase Woodland; 3rd, Xavier Karr, Zac Karr, Alarick Gilbert.

13 to adult: 1st, Todd Warner, Lance Laughlin, Zach Gintz; 2nd, Jayce Moreno, Alxis Reel.

Children's groups: 1st, Sophia Burney and Shepard Craft; Taylor and Matilda James; 2nd, Brysleigh and Rhys Marshall; Wyatt and Harper Spaide; 3rd, Harrison Caudill, Kayden Logan, Braxton Meade, AJ Fleckner and Grayson Kerr,

Family groups: 1st, Steinberger family, Wizard of Oz; 2nd, Sholes family, Ghost Busters and 3rd, Kenne family, Jurassic World.

Harvest Dinner set for Nov. 4

The annual Harvest Dinner, now carryout only, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at the First Presbyterian Church, 113 W. Forest St. Featured is baked steak and homemade pies. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children. Tickets can be purchased via the church Facebook page or contacting a member.

Exchange Club to hold spaghetti dinner

The Clyde Exchange Club is hosting its annual Spaghetti Supper, carryout only from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at the First United Methodist Church, 510 W. Maple St. Tickets are $9 and will be available that day or by contacting any Exchange Club member. All proceeds are used for local community projects.

Jeanette Liebold Ricker writes about Clyde and Green Springs. Contact her at 419-547-8177 or by email at jeanette.ricker@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Talk About Clyde: Halloween parade was one of the largest in years