Charles J. Wasicek; a
member of a prominent Belle
Vernon family and a former
All-America football star at
Colgate University; died
suddenly at 8 a.m. Friday;April 22;1977;
in E.J. Meyer Hospital in
Buffalo; N.Y. He was 68.
A retired Belle Vernon area
school teacher who resided at
374 Jones St.; North Belle
Vernon; Wasicek and his wife
drove to Buffalo to undergo an
examination by his son; Dr.
Charles A. Wasicek Jr.; at the
hospital when he was stricken
with a fatal heart attack;
according to a family
spokesman. He had
complained of chest pains; the
spokesman said.
Mr. Wasicek achieved All-America honors as a two-way
standout guard and tackle at
Colgate in 1935 when he was a
senior and captain of a team
that was undefeated and
untied but uninvited to a post-season bowl.
His grid career began in
1928 at old Belle Vernon High
School; but he quit school after
attending the eighth grade.
After working at the former
American Window Glass Co.
in Belle Vernon and the
former Monessen Sheet &
Tinplate Co.; he resumed his
education at Kiski
Preparatory School and was
graduated in 1932 from
Dickinson Seminary in
Williamsport; also a prep
school.
He played in the 1936 East-West Shrine Game; the All-Star Game in Chicago and
another post-season classic in
New York City. He signed a
contract with the Detroit
Lions of the National Football
League; but chose instead to
play for Syracuse; N..Y.; in the
original American Football
League. He also played on
weekends for a semi-pro team
in Danbury; Conn.; while
working as a hat salesman.
Mr. Wasicek began his 21-year teaching career in 1937 at
Caledonia. N.Y.; near
Rochester; where he stayed
until 1939 when he transferred
to Hornell; N.Y.; coaching football and track at both schools. His coaching career ended in 1942 when he was commissioned a lieutenant (j.g.) in the U.S.Navy. He served as a battery officer and helped train gun crews at Norfolk;Va.;during World War II. Discharged from service in 1945;he retured to Belle Vernon. He went into the food market business with his brothers;August Jr.(Pokey) and Lewis;after their father had retired. The elder Mr.Wasicek opened a grocery store in 1922 and it was family-operated until 1972 when a fire destroyed the establishment. Mr.Wasicek and his brother August were also engaged in the home-building business until 1957 when he resumed his teaching career at Belle Vernon Area High School. He spent 16 years at BVA;teaching American geography before retiring in 1973. Mr.Wasicek was born May 5;1908;in Arnold City;the fourth of nine children in the family of the late August Sr.and Justina Turchek Wasicek who preceded him in death June 13;1967;and Oct.16;1644;respectively. In addition to his brothers;August Jr.and Lewis;he is survived by his widow;Mrs.Faith Vivian Clifford Wasicek;formerly of Springfield;Mass.;whom he met while attending Colgate;one son;Dr.Charles A.Jr.of Buffalo;N.Y.;one daughter;Justine Wasicek of Bloomsburg;another brother;Joseph of Belle Vernon and one sister;Mrs.Emma Rehula of Charleroi. Friends are being received in the Leonard J.Parzynski Funeral Home;626 Broad Ave.;North Belle Vernon;from 7 to 9 p.m.Saturday;April 23;and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.Sunday;April 24. Services will be held Monday;April 25;at 10 a.m.in the funeral home;with the Rev.Andrew J.Bialobok of St.Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church of Charleroi officiating. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Raymond P. Dalfonso is the funeral director in charge of arrangements.