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EAST LIVERPOOL -- It was an emotional meeting for East Liverpool City Council Monday as council members honored late President John Torma during the first regular meeting since his passing on July 28, including renaming the chambers in his honor.
President Pro Tempore John Mercer opened the meeting by requesting a moment of silence for Torma in lieu of prayer and thanked Torma's family for being present at the meeting and told them he was sorry for their loss.
Mayor Bobby Smith had a hard time finding the words to say how much he missed Torma and spoke on how the two had known each other for 40 years and some of his memories of Torma during his report to council.
Smith said coming up the steps into council chambers he just wanted to call him one more time just to mess with him, get him going like he used to do. Smith told Torma's family that he was sorry for their loss and it was a big loss for the city too.
Council closed the meeting with a special resolution to honor Torma by renaming council chambers after him and each council member sharing the impact Torma had on them. It was an emotional, tearful moment for a lot of those present at the meeting.
Council Member Brian Kerr had a hard time with the new agenda format. He said he knew Mercer was trying and has some big shoes to fill, but he misses Torma's agenda format, which he did in different colors, and you always knew what you were looking at.
Council Member Debra Danver said she learned a lot from Torma in a short time and opened his arms for her as she was running for council.
Kerr went on to say that Torma was his mentor and like a dad to him and kept him in line.
The resolution to change the name from East Liverpool City Council Chambers to the John A. Torma Memorial Council Chambers passed with a unanimous vote.
"To our family, this means so much. My dad loved council," Torma's daughter Misty said.
She recalled how as a little girl she would campaign with her dad and how he carried a little troll with blue hair that she gave him at his first election for years with him until there was no hair left on it, and it had one leg left. He carried that with him up until about three years when there wasn't much left of it.
"This meant the world to him," Misty said, referring to her dad's service with city council.
She went on to say there are boxes of paperwork, agendas and ordinances all labeled going from his first day on council through the 35 years he served on council and how he loved being a part of council and loved the city and everything about it.
Torma dedicated much of his career to public service as a member of the East Liverpool City Council, representing the First Ward beginning in 1992 and serving as council president beginning in 2004 up to his death, the resolution noted. Torma has been recognized as the longest serving council member in the city's history.
Torma was a dedicated teacher who taught automotive technology at East Liverpool Junior/Senior High School where he retired from in 2025. His community involvement extended to serving the area youth as a baseball, softball and football coach where he left a lasting impression on countless young athletes throughout the community, the resolution said.
Misty said her dad loved teaching and touched so many children's lives through coaching and teaching and he's a wonderful father.
The resolution instructs Council Clerk Pat Scafide to obtain and install signage and a plaque dedicating the council chambers as the "John A. Torma Memorial Council Chambers."
Misty pointed out that he was there with them during the meeting near to her heart in a pendant she wore which contained his ashes.
Misty said she believes that renaming the chamber after her dad gives permanency to the legacy he's left behind.
"Our family thanks each and every one of the council members for this amazing dedication of naming the council chamber," Misty said. "We also thank the city for supporting dad for all these years."