Inc. 1967
John Richard Bunardzya,81,of Belle Vernon,died Wednesday,July 28,1999, at 3 a.m. in Henry Clay Villa, Markleysburg. Born March 9, 1918, in Donoro, he was a son of the late Peter and Helen Bunardzya. He was a 1935 graduate of Donora High School and a 1943 graduate of the U.S. Army Administrative School at Fort Logan, Colo. Mr. Bunardzya was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, Belle Vernon. He served in the U.S. Air Force from February 1943 to February 1946, working as a noncommissioned officer in charge of service records and payroll. He was an administrative specialist and held the rank of technical sergeant when discharged Feb. 12, 1946, at Camp Atterbury, Ind. Mr. Bunardzya began his career in journalism as a sportswriter in October 1935 at the Donora Herald-American. He was promoted to sports editor in 1936 and then to city editor in 1939. He also worked in the accounting department at Donora Wire Works of American Steel and Wire Company during World War II until joining the military. Upon his return from war, he joined the Charleroi Mail as sports editor, a post he held until 1963. When the Charleroi Mail and Monessen Daily Independent merged to form The Valley Independent, he was promoted to general assignment reporter and news manager of the Charleroi office of The Valley Independent until 1968 when he was appointed assistant copy editor. In September 1969 he was promoted to chief copy editor. He later went back to reporting, retiring in 1980. Mr. Bunardzya was founder and past president of the Mon Valley Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He served as organizer and general chairman of the annual Big 10 Banquet sponsored by that organization. He was co-founder of the Mon Valley Umpires Association, served as president of the Mon Valley Baseball League, was a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, a trustee of Lodge 71 Slovene National Benefit Society in Donora, and a member of Monessen Unit Pittsburgh Local 61,American Newspaper Guild. He was also a member of belle Vernon American Legion Post 659,a past member of Charleroi Rotary Club,Charleroi Cougar Booster Club,American Croatian Citizens Club of Donora and was past director of the Vulcan Quarterback Club of California University of Pennsylvania. Mr.Bunardzya had won several awards for his writing,including first place for best sports column by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association in 1963 and 1965. He was honored by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Club in 1964 and was inducted into the Mon Valley Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 1968. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law,Vance and Kathleen Bunardzya and J. William and Janet Bunardzya,all of Belle Vernon;four grandchildren,Michael Bunardzya,Jennifer Thomas,Kyra Bunardzya and Chryste Bunardzya;two great-grandchildren,Jeffa and Cameron Bunardzya. In addition to his parents,he was preceded in death by his wife,Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Vance Bunardzya,who died Aug.13,1979;three brothers,PFC Nicholas D.Bunardzya,first Donoran killed during World War II in the Air Force,Joseph J.Bunardzya and Anthony P.Bunardzya;and two sisters in infancy. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Ferguson Funeral home Inc.,700 Broad Ave.,Belle Vernon,where a Prayer service will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m.,followed by funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St.Sebastian R.C.Church,Belle Vernon. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. North belle Vernon Fire Department will conduct services Thursday at 7 p.m. in the funeral home. The Ferguson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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