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Conrad L. Lama, a veteran of the United States Army 82nd Airborne Division and a top salesman for Prudential Insurance, died Friday, May 5 at Monongahela Valley Hospital after being admitted with pneumonia last week. He was 83. Among family, friends and colleagues, Mr. Lama was known for his engaging personality: men were drawn to his stories, women were charmed by his flirtations, and children readily obliged when he encouraged them to do something ornery, much to his own delight and much to the dismay of their parents. Mr. Lama, of Fayette City, was raised in Newell, the youngest child of immigrants Virginia Stonfer and Nicholas Lama. Following his graduation from Brownsville High School in 1951, Mr. Lama went to work, first at the Newell Chemical plant, then later, on the Pennsylvania & Lake Erie Railroad. In the summer of 1952, during a church picnic at St. Edward’s Park, he spotted a beautiful young woman in the crowd. He asked her to dance, thus beginning a romance with Elma Jean Teringo that would last more than 62 years. Prior to their wedding in 1955, Mr. Lama was drafted by the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He would go on to serve as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and earn the rank of Corporal. Additionally, he led a military drill team that performed often, including once in New York City on a popular Arlene Francis show. After his military discharge and marriage, Mr. Lama took his first sales job at the Joe Curcio Mercury Dealership in Brownsville. His tenure there was short, but he remained loyal to the Mercury brand throughout his life. Mr. Lama was a natural salesman and when an opportunity presented itself with Prudential Insurance, he took the position. Over the course of the next 30-plus years, he travelled the rural roads of Fayette County and built a reputation nationally as one of the company’s top salesmen. Mr. Lama settled into retirement in the late 1980s, and he became an avid gardener striving each year to produce the first red tomato of the season before anyone else. Mr. Lama had served as the first lector at Holy Spirit Church in Fayette City, and he was a former member of the Jefferson Township Water Authority. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Brownsville and the American Legion in Belle Vernon. In addition to his wife, Elma Jean, Mr. Lama is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Lama Rusnock and her husband, Larry, of Greensburg; a granddaughter, Lindsey Rusnock Swartz and her husband, Robert, also of Greensburg, and his infant great-granddaughter Juliette. He also is survived by three nephews: Carl Lama, of Newell, Daniel Lama, of Jefferson, Greene County, and Eugene M. Pro, of Latham, NY; and two nieces, Mary Lama Kostic, of Naperville, Ill., and Johnna A. Pro, of Fallowfield. In addition to his parents, Mr. Lama was preceded in death by his brother, John Lama, and sister, Virginia Lama Pro. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 8 at the Eley-McCrory Funeral Home, 334 Main Street, Fayette City. (724)-326-5621,www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com. Blessing service will take place Tuesday, May 9, at 9:30 am in the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass, celebrated by Monsignor Roger A. Statnick at 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian Church, 801 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. Entombment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery with full military honors accorded by Hopwood Amvet’s Post # 103. Parish Rosary service will take place Monday at 3 pm in the funeral home.
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