By Ron Paglia
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, December 30, 2007

Indiana journalist John B.L. Soule -- not Horace Greeley -- offered the encouragement in 1951 in support of the expansion of the United States. "Go West, young man, and grow up with the country."
 
But it was the words and music of Brian Wilson, in part, that lured Dr. Jeff Kossol to California in 1982 and he couldn't be happier.

"I always liked the Beach Boys' music," said Kossol, a Charleroi native and a 1971 graduate of Charleroi Area High School. "There is something inviting about their lyrics and I thought California might be the place to go. Of course, the sun and the dry air conditions were a big plus, too. It's a great place to live, work and raise a family."

Kossol is an optometrist with a private practice in Palo Cedro, a quiet community of some 4,000 people in northern California. He previously worked in Burney, Calif., and had privileges at Mayers Memorial Hospital.

"My decision to become an optometrist was based party on a job shadowing experience in high school," Kossol said. "I thought it was something I would really enjoy doing and I have found that to be true."

Kossol earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1975 and worked on a master's degree in genetics until 1977 at then California State College in California, Pa. Enrolled in a dual study program at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, he received bachelor's and doctor of optometry degrees from The Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia in 1981.

He was inspired to seek those degrees after some stark realization about working and careers.

"I really did not take high school seriously," Kossol recalled. "It didn't have much of an impact on me. But after working in the steel mills during summer breaks from college, I began to see just how important education was to my future."

His approach to high school studies notwithstanding, Kossol, 53,enjoyed growing up in the Mon Valley.

"I always appreciated being part of a large family and the great times we had," he said.

Kossol is the son of Annette Kossol, who now lives near him in Redding, CA, and the late William Kossol.

"My father was a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service in the Charleroi area, and my mother was a domestic engineer, a loving and devoted mother and wife," he said.

Kossol's older brothers, Richard and Gary, live in Eugene, Ore.; his younger brother, William, resides in Virginia, and their younger sister, Lori Wenham, makes her home in Redding.

In addition to family matters, Kossol also remembers playing with BB guns, lightning bugs and snow -- "lots of snow" -- and the steel mills in Monessen and Allenport. He also looked forward to archery, elk and deer hunting in the western states, fishing and golf.

"Having the opportunity to experience four seasons of weather was something I can't forget," he said. "We don't have that here, but I'm not complaining."

Kossol said he hasn't been in the Mon Valley for about 20 years. His father was from a family of 13 children, so "there we have many relatives in the area," he said.

"Moving cross country tends to sever ties quickly," he said. "I have very fond memories of my past there, but I always seem more drawn to the present and the future. Our past is part of who we are, but I believe where we are now and where we go next to be much more important."

The transition to California brought the former Susan Watts into Kossol's life. She is a native of southern California and the daughter of Georgia Watts, who lives in Redding, and the late Harry Watts.

"We met through the Little Country Church, a local non-denominational congregation," Kossol said.

Kossol and his wife, who works as an optician at their Palo Cedro optometry practice, have been married 23 years and are the parents of three children.

Their son, Gabe, who turned 22 on Dec. 26 (also Kossol's birthday) is a senior at Colorado Christian University majoring in youth ministry. He is employed full time as worship leader at Deer Creek Community Church in Littletown, Colo., and his wife, Krista, also is a senior at CCU.

The Kossols' oldest daughter, Lindsey, is a senior at Point Loma University in San Diego and is majoring in child life development. She will be 21 on Jan. 26. Their younger daughter, Jessica, 18, is a freshman psychology major at Colorado Christian University.

Lindsey's presence at Point Loma University caused some concern for the Kossols during the recent rash of devastating wildfires in Southern California.

"Classes were cancelled there for about a week," Kossol said. "(Lindsey) told us water was a very hard commodity to find in the stores and a lot of businesses were closed. People were walking around with face masks covering their mouths due to the heavy smoke. She kept in touch with us on a daily basis."

Living in northern California, some 600 miles away from the devastation of the fires, was a benefit for Kossol, but there was some impact.

"Most firefighters from our area were gone, called to duty to help with the efforts in Southern California," he said. "Those who remained in our area were a little nervous about having to deal with any potential fires. Fortunately, it all turned out OK."

Family and success as a optometrist important to Kossol, but he emphasizes that "spreading the good news about God" also is a central part of his life.

"People often ask about role models, those who have influenced your life," Kossol said. "I never really had a role model until I read the Bible. Giving my life to Jesus Christ and coming to a realization of my true purpose in life is my proudest achievement. To anyone wondering about the same questions, I would recommend reading 'The Purpose Driven Life' by Pastor Rick Warren."

Given his penchant for the Beach Boys, Kossoll also might recommend "God Only Knows," a 1966 song written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher.