For those of us who were Steve Matay’s classmates in art and music, or watched him perform in “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma,” “My Fair Lady” and “Our Town,” we knew he had talent. Steve’s dream was to one day shine in the footlights of Broadway. His final curtain call came on October 8, 2010, when he died in his sleep in his New York City apartment from heart failure. Steve was 58 years old. Initially an actor, Steve wrote 31 musicals. Some of his work was produced in New York City’s most popular Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theatres. Steve always maintained a “rent job” while he wrote. His jobs were front of the house jobs (bartender, candy butcher, novelty salesman and security guard) in Broadway theatres. Steve started work with the first performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar” (September 27, 1971). He worked his front of the house jobs for over 35 years. Steve met and, in some cases, became friends with some of Broadway’s “brightest lights.” Near the end of his life, Steve wrote a book entitled, “A View From the Front of the House: A Theatrical Memoir From the Other Side of the Footlights.” The book was never published. Steve’s sister, Darlene Palyas, said, “One of New York City’s beat cops dubbed Steve “The Mayor of Broadway.” He made a lot of friends there. He was where he wanted to be.” Steve never forgot his Charleroi Area High School “roots.” He often thought of Mrs. Elizabeth Kramer (music) and Miss Virginia Niccolai (art). Both teachers were a lifelong source of strength and inspiration for him. Every now and then, Steve would surprise Miss Niccolai with a phone call, once on Christmas Day 2007. When told of Steve’s death, Miss Niccolai remarked, “He achieved what he set out to do in life, performing in New York City theatres. How many of us can say that we accomplished what we dreamed of doing? Not too many . . .” She went on to say, “Life was not always easy for Steve, but he never let its stumbling blocks stop him from chasing his dreams.” Steve is buried at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY. His remains are located in a special section for members of the Actors’ Fund of America. Notable burials in this cemetery include: Anne Bancroft, Lou Gehrig and Danny Kaye.
William Colditz
William R. Colditz, 58, of Boca Raton, FL, passed away Thursday, December 16, 2010 in the Hospice By The Sea, Boca Raton, FL. A son of William J. Colditz, who survives and resides in Fallowfield Twp. and the late Mary Jane Myers Colditz, he was born in N. Charleroi on April 24, 1952. Methodist by faith, he had resided in Florida for the past 15 years and was formerly of Stockdale, Charleroi and Belle Vernon. Bill graduated with the Class of 1970 of the Charleroi High School and worked as a computer programmer. Survivors, in addition to his father, include one son, Ryan Colditz, one sister, Deborah Lee Colditz of Fallowfield Twp., three aunts and uncles, Joanne and William Bodnar of Richeyville, James and Patricia Colditz of Stockdale and Charles and Dolores Colditz of Allenport, one nephew, Brian Colditz and his wife April of Donora, two great-nephews, Brian Timothy Colditz and Joshua James Colditz, numerous cousins and two close friends, Todd & Mike, and their families of Florida. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Edwin and Emily Myers and John and Edith Colditz. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Saturday in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., (724-929-5300), 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday in funeral home with Rev. David Zona officiating. Interment will follow in Maple Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mario Lemieux Foundation, Austin’s Warrior Play Room Project, 816 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Robert A. Briggs
Robert A. Briggs, 57, of Stockdale, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, in UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was born March 25, 1952, in Charleroi, the son of the late Cecil and Betty Faranato Briggs. Bob was Methodist by faith and a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He was employed by Bechtel Bettis Corp. and prior to that was employed at the Allenport Plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. Surviving are his wife, Eileen Rhodes Schultz Briggs; two sons, Jamie (Marcy) Schultz of Charleroi and Rob Schultz of Stockdale; one brother, Kenneth (Nina) Briggs of North Charleroi; and two sisters, Cecilia Overbeay of Columbus, Ohio, and Nancy Briggs of Charleroi. He is also survived by three grandsons, Jacob, Dustin and Caleb Schultz, and several nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Eric Schultz. Friends will be received in the CARL J. SPALLINO FUNERAL HOME, 819 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the funeral home with the Rev. Bruce Northey officiating. Interment with full military honors accorded by Charleroi American Legion Post 22 will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Coal Center.Carole Mollenauer
Carole "Suzie" Mollenauer, 56, of Lawrence, formerly of Charleroi, died Wednesday, May 28, 2008, following a brave struggle. She was born April 11, 1952, in North Charleroi, the daughter of Richard C. Mollenauer of Charleroi and the late Kerry Kurnik Mollenauer. Suzie was a graduate of Charleroi High School in the class of 1970 and attended the Wilma Boyd Career School. She was a member of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in Charleroi. Suzie was formerly employed at the Monongahela Hospital from 1971 to 1979, US Airways from 1979 to 2005, and currently was employed with Quest Diagnostic of Greentree and was a member of the United Way Steering Committee. In addition to her father, she is survived by her brother Richard P. Mollenauer and wife Barbara of Rostraver Township, and a niece, Karabeth Mollenauer. Friends will be received Friday from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the SCHROCK HOGAN FUNERAL HOME and CREMATION SERVICES INC. (www.schrock-hogan.com), 226 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m. in Mary, Mother of the Church in Charleroi with her pastor, the Rev. David F. Dzermejko, officiating. Interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Carole Mollenauer.
Daniel J. Battistone
Daniel J. Battistone, 55, of Greensburg, formerly of Charleroi, died Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, in UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh. He was born Nov. 1, 1952, a son of Rose Marie Pierce Battistone, who survives and resides in Charleroi, and the late John B. Battistone. Daniel was Roman Catholic by faith and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He had been employed by Volkswagen. Surviving, in addition to his mother, are two daughters, Crystal Battistone and Bernadette Battistone; one son, Justin Battistone; three brothers, John, Mark and Jerome Battistone; two uncles, Eugene Battistone and Romeo (Irene) Battistone; one niece, Kristin Battistone; one nephew, Mark Battistone; several cousins; and his caretaker, Carmen Willowchell. Preceding him in death, in addition to his father, was his son, Jeremiah Battistone; and a sister, Bernadette Battistone. Friends will be received at the RHOME FUNERAL HOME INC., 1209 Grand Blvd., Monessen, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home chapel on Monday, Nov. 19 at 9:30 a.m., followed by interment in Mon Valley Memorial Park, Donora.
Marilyn C. Swantek
Marilyn C. Swantek, 55, of Belle Vernon, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007, in her home after an illness of three years. She was born in North Charleroi on Oct. 10, 1951, a daughter of Betty Louise Moore Turcaso, who survives and resides in Washington, Pa., and the late James Martino. Marilyn was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, the Annita Garibaldi Society, the Women's Social Club, the Valley Garden Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she had been a chaplain and registrar. She, along with her husband, had been active in the Belle Vernon Area Football and Cheerleaders Association for a number of years and had owned and operated Colonial Ceramics in Belle Vernon from 1975 until 1988. Formerly of Charleroi, she had resided in Belle Vernon for the past 36 years and had been employed by Dr. Mary Ducato for 14 years until her retirement in 2002. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband of 35 years, Charles "Chuck" Swantek; two sons and daughters-in-law, Brian and Amy Swantek, of Belle Vernon, and Michael and Shari Swantek, of Pittsburgh; one sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Donald White, of Washington; and four grandchildren, Lilly, Chloe, Vincent and Dominic Swantek. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Rudy Turcaso, in 2004. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY INC., www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com, (724- 929-5300), 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon. A Funeral Mass will be Thursday at a time to be announced. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of the Annita Garibaldi Society will meet in the funeral home to hold services on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Charles R. Higgins Jr.
Charles R. Higgins Jr., 49, of New Eagle, died Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2002, in Heartland Health Care Center, Pittsburgh. He was born Oct. 14, 1952, in North Charleroi, the son of the late Charles R. Sr. and Georgetta Burke Higgins. Chuck was a veteran, serving with the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany during the Vietnam Era. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Hartman Higgins; one son, Charles R. Higgins III of New Eagle; one daughter, Kellie Higgins of New Eagle; one sister, Nancy Wallace of Folsom, Calif.; and nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the SCHROCK-HOGAN FUNERAL HOME INC., 226 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi. A blessing service will be held Friday, Aug. 30, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery.
Stephen Skomsky
Stephen M. Skomsky, 49, of Fallowfield Township, died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002. He was born July 25, 1952, in North Charleroi, the son of Faustina "Fell" Mastronicola Skomsky of Fallowfield Township and the late Steve Skomsky. Stephen was a graduate of Charleroi High School with the Class of 1970 and a graduate from California University of Pennsylvania with the Class of 1974. He was a member of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, a member of the Board of Directors of Mon Valley Community Federal Credit Union, a past president and former school board member with the Charleroi Area School District. He was formerly employed at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, Allenport plant. Stephen was a school teacher with the Charleroi Area School District and the owner and operator of Charleroi TV & Appliance Store. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Holy Ghost Golf League. In addition to his mother, Stephen is survived by his wife, Debra Vercoe Skomsky; two sons, Gregory S. Skomsky and Dane M. Skomsky; two sisters, Linda Powell of Peters Township, and Mary Lou Hagman and husband Eric of Peters Township; his mother-in-law, Lorraine Vercoe, and his grandmother-in-law, Ellen Oliphant, both of Roscoe. Also surviving are nieces and nephews, Damon and Garrett Powell, Nevin and Arden Hagman, Jaime and Ryan Vercoe, and Kristen and James Vercoe.
Glenn Wentzell (Born:February 23, 1952 - Died:May 1, 2000)
Gary Pascoe (Born:October 3, 1952 - Died:October 3, 1999)
Richard Zaph (Born:April 2, 1952 - Died:December 22, 1993)
Stephen Supko (Born:April 30, 1951- Died:September 26, 1990)
Ross Panepinto (Born:January 25, 1952 - Died:December 19,1987)
James Leoni (Born:May 29, 1952 - Died:November 1987)
Ronald Jahnigen
James Careatti (Born:July 19, 1952-Died:March 23, 1969)
Robert Kurpieski
