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By Linda Golz
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 05:22 p.m. EST, Jan 01, 2010
Thomas Richard Rock II burst onto the scene at 1:40 a.m. on New Year's Day, making him Akron's first baby of 2010.
To his parents, the timing could have been just a little better.
Proud parents Stephanie Kibler, 32, and Thomas Richard Rock, 34, of Akron admired the 6-pound, 14-ounce, 20-inch-long baby from their Akron General Hospital room Friday after a long, sleepless night.
''I was hoping, for insurance purposes, he would have come on his due date [Dec. 31],'' Kibler said.
Kibler said she learned at Thanksgiving that she no longer had a job at Fair Finance Co. after its offices were raided by the FBI. The owners have been accused of running a years-long Ponzi scheme and defrauding Ohio investors.
''We found out about it [the raid, closing and job loss] when we read it in the newspaper,'' Thomas Rock said.
Kibler said her insurance ran out with the end of 2009 and COBRA, the federally mandated insurance extension plan, proved to be too costly. She said the COBRA payment is as much or more than her unemployment check.
Still, the family is delighted with their little boy, and daddy fussed with trying to put a hat on the snoozing baby.
''I can't do this,'' Rock said with a chuckle, ''cause I'm scared of him. He's such a good little guy.''
The couple also have two daughters at home, Brittany Chester, 11, and Aubrey Rock, 3. They are being cared for by grandmother Sandra Kibler while their mom is in the hospital. Thomas is her ninth grandchild.
This is the second year in a row that Akron General Hospital has had the honor of delivering the city's first baby of the year.
The second baby born in Akron in 2010 — Alleen Camile Stallings — kept up the tradition started by her two sisters when she was born on a holiday.
Mother Jennifer Meade, 30, of Akron, delivered the 8-pound, 9-ounce, 21-inch-long baby girl at Akron City Hospital at 3:17 a.m. Friday.
Oldest sister Aleeha Solomon, 11, was born on Labor Day in 1998.
Sister Alaija Stallings, 8, was born on Halloween in 2001.
The Akron General maternity nurses were wearing Happy New Year hats, and the hospital gave Thomas a gift bag filled with goodies.
In the gift bag, the parents found a receiving blanket, an outfit, a T-shirt, a teddy bear and a Christmas stocking. On the shirt it reads: ''Party at my crib — 3 a.m.'' The hospital also gave the baby a $100 U.S. Savings bond.
Grandma Linda Rock said little Thomas is her eighth grandchild.
''Oh my gosh, he's the most precious thing I've ever seen,'' grandma said as she cuddled her new grandson.
Linda Golz can be reached at 330-996-3640 or lgolz@thebeaconjournal.com.
Thomas Richard Rock II burst onto the scene at 1:40 a.m. on New Year's Day, making him Akron's first baby of 2010.
To his parents, the timing could have been just a little better.
Proud parents Stephanie Kibler, 32, and Thomas Richard Rock, 34, of Akron admired the 6-pound, 14-ounce, 20-inch-long baby from their Akron General Hospital room Friday after a long, sleepless night.
''I was hoping, for insurance purposes, he would have come on his due date [Dec. 31],'' Kibler said.
Kibler said she learned at Thanksgiving that she no longer had a job at Fair Finance Co. after its offices were raided by the FBI. The owners have been accused of running a years-long Ponzi scheme and defrauding Ohio investors.
''We found out about it [the raid, closing and job loss] when we read it in the newspaper,'' Thomas Rock said.
Kibler said her insurance ran out with the end of 2009 and COBRA, the federally mandated insurance extension plan, proved to be too costly. She said the COBRA payment is as much or more than her unemployment check.
Still, the family is delighted with their little boy, and daddy fussed with trying to put a hat on the snoozing baby.
''I can't do this,'' Rock said with a chuckle, ''cause I'm scared of him. He's such a good little guy.''
The couple also have two daughters at home, Brittany Chester, 11, and Aubrey Rock, 3. They are being cared for by grandmother Sandra Kibler while their mom is in the hospital. Thomas is her ninth grandchild.
This is the second year in a row that Akron General Hospital has had the honor of delivering the city's first baby of the year.
The second baby born in Akron in 2010 — Alleen Camile Stallings — kept up the tradition started by her two sisters when she was born on a holiday.
Mother Jennifer Meade, 30, of Akron, delivered the 8-pound, 9-ounce, 21-inch-long baby girl at Akron City Hospital at 3:17 a.m. Friday.
Oldest sister Aleeha Solomon, 11, was born on Labor Day in 1998.
Sister Alaija Stallings, 8, was born on Halloween in 2001.
The Akron General maternity nurses were wearing Happy New Year hats, and the hospital gave Thomas a gift bag filled with goodies.
In the gift bag, the parents found a receiving blanket, an outfit, a T-shirt, a teddy bear and a Christmas stocking. On the shirt it reads: ''Party at my crib — 3 a.m.'' The hospital also gave the baby a $100 U.S. Savings bond.
Grandma Linda Rock said little Thomas is her eighth grandchild.
''Oh my gosh, he's the most precious thing I've ever seen,'' grandma said as she cuddled her new grandson.
Linda Golz can be reached at 330-996-3640 or lgolz@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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AKRON, OH
Posted 05:48 PM, 01/01/2010
CONGRATS - ENJOY !!
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh
Posted 07:10 PM, 01/01/2010
His insurance should have some grace period. That was a pre existing circumstance before insurance ended.Fair Finance stung a lot of people.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:29 PM, 01/01/2010
Does it really matter whether they are married? As long as they are able to provide a loving, stable home, that's more important (to me, anyway) than whether they are married. And there's a good possibility that they are, and she kept her maiden name.
Anyway, congrats to the family. I'm sorry about the insurance situation, hopefully there will be some way to work around that.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:34 PM, 01/01/2010
Most of the first of the year babies in Akron have parents that aren't married. It's becoming a "tradition."
Atlantic City, NJ
Posted 07:35 PM, 01/01/2010
Blended family, three last names...
Atlanta, Ga
Posted 07:43 PM, 01/01/2010
Hey Papa why are you worry if there parents are married congrats to you for upsetting The New Year baby some people pull tomorrows clouds over todays sunshine.We call them unhappy sapps
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 07:48 PM, 01/01/2010
Why does it even come up or matter about a family being married, geesh! Happy New Year and Congrats!
Tallmadge, oh
Posted 09:11 PM, 01/01/2010
When was the last time that Akron's first baby of the new year had an actual family (as opposed to a mommy and ddaddy with different last names, adn older siblings with yet another)? Could there be a correlation between that and the other increasing social ills?
What's worse is that we puplish this as a "feel-good" story, glossing over the dramatically increased likelihood of social failure that awaits these poor kids and their parent, not to mention the greater issue of right and wrong.
Stow, Oh
Posted 09:36 PM, 01/01/2010
Papa, I agree with you that this couple should be married. Yes the birth of child is a blessed event, but the couple should get married. This is their second child together and not getting married shows no commitment toward their family. Gay couples are fighting for the right to be married and heterosexuals are throwing marriage away.
Canton, OH
Posted 10:02 PM, 01/01/2010
I was raised the following :
1). Fall In Love
2). Get Married
3). Have Children. . .
Was I taught wrong ????????????
Akron, OH
Posted 12:24 AM, 01/02/2010
shows you how much marriage means to certain persons
rmk
Wasilla, AK
Posted 03:22 AM, 01/02/2010
It's just a piece of paper!
Posted 08:57 AM, 01/02/2010
wow, I can't believe that you all are asking why the parents aren't married. Well, how do you expect to qualify for food stamps and assistance when you have to include all the income from all persons of the household. more people in the house and less income equals more assistance. YOu all should know that by now!!!
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:55 AM, 01/02/2010
Congrats to the new parents!
akron, oh
Posted 10:47 AM, 01/02/2010
my parents listened to their parents, got married,had us kids, and hated being married...but they did it because it was "the right thing to do"...now our parents tell us, whatever makes you happy....so being married isn't always the answer....Congrats to the family
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 11:11 AM, 01/02/2010
Perhaps the real ill in our society is not that couples are choosing to not marry or change names when they marry. Perhaps the real ill in our society is that the respectability of men like Tim Durham is assumed based on the wealth and power they have managed to accumulate. This assumption causes us to overlook the underlying corruption that is eroding the lives of everyday Americans by denying them the fair chance at the middle-class financial stability that makes America different from third-world countries. It's funny that this family is worried about a recent tragic job loss and a lack of insurance, and most of the comments here surround their perceived marital status.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 12:04 PM, 01/02/2010
Why do you guys have to bash this couple when they are trying to celebrate one of the happiest moments in their lives! All of you, especially YOU Deborah, should be ashamed of yourselves. This couple is coming off what sounds to be a tough year with Stephanie loosing her job and health insurance starting their new year off by celebrating the miracle of welcoming a new child who happens to be the Akron's 2010 New Years baby. Just offer your congratulations and debate your beliefs on some other article. Congratulation Tom and Stephanie. God bless you all!
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 12:04 PM, 01/02/2010
@Deborah- you hit the nail on the head there.
Welcome to Akron Jr. Now be a good boy and don't grow up to have a criminal record like your daddy. I wonder if that domestic violence charge was for hitting mommy.
Atlantic City, NJ
Posted 12:24 PM, 01/02/2010
Did I read a different story than Miss Claws or is she just having a bad attempt at trying to be funny?
Akron, OH
Posted 03:10 PM, 01/02/2010
people need to get over themselves. we are all different. we were all raised different.
Welcome newbies of the new decade!
Congrats to the new baby mommas and daddies.
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh
Posted 03:40 PM, 01/02/2010
Excuse me, Miss Claws knows him!!!
Akron, Oh
Posted 04:12 PM, 01/02/2010
Miss Claws is just upset because that cat is the only thing she has in her sad little life...
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh
Posted 04:26 PM, 01/02/2010
Domestic violence charge 02/28/08, changed to disorderly conduct 02/29/08.
Posted 04:32 PM, 01/02/2010
"Domestic violence charge 02/28/08, changed to disorderly conduct 02/29/08."
I just looked that up too ... How sad!
Stow, Oh
Posted 04:42 PM, 01/02/2010
Miss Claws hits the nail directly on the head. This couple already has/had problems, OVI, resisting arrest, drug abuse, etc... and then to bring a baby into this mix. I hope the grandmother is able to raise these children. Ms. Kibler is not getting child support now from her oldest daughter's father, so money was already tight and then to have another child. I hope social services is keeping an eye on these children.
Posted 04:49 PM, 01/02/2010
Now the good news...for TAX purposes, all those babies born on January 1, 2010 are considered dependent children on the 2009 tax returns of the parents claiming them!
That should help with the insurance bill.
akron, oh
Posted 05:54 PM, 01/02/2010
I wonder why the babies Daddy's insurance don't cover the birth. Or was Momma the only one with a job with coverage? Her excuse about Cobra being more than her unemployment check don't fly. She was covered until Dec.31 so she only would need to use Cobra for a month. One month of Cobra would be a lot cheaper than a delivery with no coverage. Having been on Cobra before I know it is month by month so she could have elected to pay one month.
Euclid, OH
Posted 09:58 PM, 01/02/2010
Way too much information. Did these people have to broadcast all of their personal business.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:55 AM, 01/03/2010
Cobra is very expensive and for most people who've lost their jobs, extrememly unaffordable. One week on unemployment does not cover the cost of a month of medical coverage and I'm single. It is hundreds more for self child and I think it tripled for family coverage. When you still need to pay for food, shelter and maybe your car or whatever form of transportation you use, something was going to suffer and in my case, just like millions of others, it would have been medical coverage too.
Posted 09:42 AM, 01/03/2010
I don't see the big deal about the first baby of the new year. The first one with a tax break? Or the first poor sucker who can't write it off for last year?
