Born in Albania, Bred an Ohio Boy
The author, Jonny Gartner, was born in Lushnjë, Albania, and spent time in an orphanage in Tirana before being adopted and moved to Ohio. He now lives in Sunbury, Ohio, reflecting on his mixed heritage. The piece describes his personal background and current identity.
- ▪Jonny Gartner was born in the town of Lushnjë in southern Central Albania.
- ▪He and his twin sister lived in an orphanage in Tirana for a year and a half.
- ▪They were adopted and relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, near the Ohio River.
- ▪Gartner now resides in Sunbury, Ohio, and works as a public policy professional.
The Dispatch files mainly under politics. We currently carry 244 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Where I’m From Jonny Gartner / July 25, 2026 Born in Albania, Bred an Ohio Boy From the Balkans to Sunbury, Ohio. One of the author's childhood homes in Ohio. (Photo via Jonny Gartner) One of the author's childhood homes in Ohio. (Photo via Jonny Gartner) Audio Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Text Size Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Threads Email (0) Open and scroll to the comments section Whenever people ask where I’m from, my hesitation is long enough to make things awkward. I was born in a small town in southern Central Albania called Lushnjë.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Dispatch.
