PHOTOSTREAM: Parma Rocker Jim Konya Remembered

Thu 11/19

When beloved local rocker Jim Konya died October 7 at the age of 44 following a series of strokes, his many friends in the heavy metal community rallied to sign a petition urging Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter to award him the key to the city.

Konya was a proud Parma-ite, who graduated from Normandy High School and frequently referred to himself as “the Mayor of Parma.” When he was on the road with bands such as Nunslaugher, with whom he played drums for over a decade, he often sang the praises of Parma to the musicians and fans he encountered.

DeGeeter responded that although Parma did not award keys, they would honor Konya as the Parma Citizen of the Month at an upcoming city council meeting. When it became clear the council meeting room would not hold the crowd that was planning to attend, the event was moved to the Parma-Snow Library Auditorium. And when it seemed a week before the event like that room would not be big enough, DeGeeter rented the UAW Hall.

That was a good move. More than 500 people turned out to pay tribute to Konya, a sea of black concert tees, black knit hats and black leather jackets. It seemed like every metalhead in town was there.

In addition to DeGeeter, half of Parma City Council was there to award a proclamation to Konya’s parents Jim Sr. and Linda. So was state representative Nick Celebrezze, bearing a proclamation from the legislature. Following the politicians, several of Konya’s friends took the mic and related stories about their late friend. And in the end, there WAS a key, given to his parents as well.

View the PHOTOSTREAM here.

Konya

Parma, OH 44130

Post categories:

Leave a Reply

[fbcomments]