He could be the mayor of Goodyear Heights. 

Jim Emanuele often invites people to move to his Akron neighborhood. He loves it here. 

Neighbors talk to one another and build relationships.

They look out for each other.

They appreciate the neighborhood’s diversity, affordability and walkability. Its iconic sites include Goodyear Heights Metro Park.

Emanuele — humorous, friendly and engaging — is also a neighborhood foodie, which makes sense. For years, he’s worked for US Foods, a food distributor, as a sales manager and consultant.  

His favorite dish? He makes it himself. Timpano is an Italian baked pasta dish. He made three of them for his wedding. 

Goodyear Heights in Akron
Jim Emanuele (right) stands in front of his home with wife Kirsten (far left) and daughters Maggie, Lulu and Beatrice. (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)

If you haven’t seen Emanuele in some years, you may not recognize him. 

Five years ago, inspired by a friend’s change of eating habits, his wife’s support and an inspiring book (“Fitness Confidential” by Vinnie Tortorich), Emanuele, overweight most of his life, decided to cut out sugar, processed and boxed-item foods.  

He now strolls around Sumatra Avenue, far from the former 300-pound version of himself.

You’ll also recognize Emanuele by his Salvador Dali-style bicycle mustache. During the pandemic, he grew a long and bushy beard to playfully annoy his wife but also pay homage to his grandfather, who sported excess hair. 

Akron in 330

The jewel of Akron is its people. They’re vibrant and resilient. Flawed, yet thoughtful and nurturing. And all of them come with compelling stories. That’s why we launched “Akron in 330.” This series offers a glimpse into everyday folks’ journeys across our many neighborhoods — 330 words at a time. Know someone we should consider? Tell us here.

Speaking of his wedding: Emanuele met and fell in love with Kirsten at a First Watch restaurant in Cincinnati. After a few bumpy years of dating and not dating (he made the huge mistake of dumping her, and is grateful she took him back), the couple found their footing. They’ve been married for 21 years. 

In 2001, they returned to Akron, started a family. He became a girl dad, helping to raise daughters Lulu (16), Maggie (11) and Beatrice (6). Lulu has developed her own business in the visual arts; Maggie attends Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts; Beatrice shows a strong interest in the arts as well.

Considering a move to Goodyear Heights? Hey, we know a guy.

Patricia Sheahan is a professor, student teacher supervisor, installation artist, educational consultant for the integration of the arts across all disciplines and a freelance writer. Sheahan enjoys more than four decades of education experience at K-12 schools in New York and Pennsylvania and higher education at Seton Hill University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Penn State and most recently the University of Akron. Her favorite courses to teach are Social Justice Through the Arts, Ethics, Introduction to Critical Education, Classroom Management and Integrating the Arts K-12. Interests include visiting the Akron Art Museum, Akron Library, Civic Theatre, walking downtown to view murals and window light installations plus the stunning flower and plant arrangements, antiquing, especially from her own vendor space at The Brothers North Antiques in Medina. She also frequents Akron restaurants and local boutiques, travels and spends time with her family; a daughter and her newly blended family in North Canton, a son and his family in San Diego and a son in Dallas.