State Rep. Mark Mustio

Rep. Mustio: Legislation Introduced to Abolish PA Turnpike Commission

State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, shares news with his constituents in this week's 'Updates from Harrisburg.'

Following a 44-month grand jury investigation revealing untold millions of public dollars being squandered through “pay-to-play” corruption, political patronage and a lack of competitive bidding, legislation has been introduced in the state House to abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.  House Bill 1197 would transfer all operations, maintenance, construction and other responsibilities for the turnpike to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in an effort to streamline government and enhance efficiency. If enacted, this legislation would require PennDOT to honor any collective bargaining agreement in existence between the Turnpike Commission and any employee organization. The bill also would assign debt of the outstanding …

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Bruno J. Trapizona

Mass of Christian Burial is at 10 a.m. Monday at St. James Church, with Interment at St. James Cemetery with Military honors.

Bruno J. Trapizona, 92, of Sewickley passed on Friday, January 13, 2012 peacefully at home with his family by his side. Born November 8, 1919 in Anita, PA, a son of the late John and Lena (Palmerino) Trapizona. Beloved husband of Stella (Swigunski) Trapizona, father of John "JT" (Denise) Trapizona of Aleppo, Twp., James (Jill) Trapizona of Oneida, NY and Judi Lynn (Rick) Bourn of Greenville, SC, grandfather of Jennifer, John Jr. and Anthony Trapizona, Andrea (Adam) Jones and Lexi and Michael Bourn, brother of the late Mary Melle, Janet, Catherine, Margaret, Jane and Louis Trapizona. He was a Veteran of World War II serving in the Army in the South Pacific & Awarded Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars and also liked to garden…

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Lester "Les" G. Abercrombie, Jr.

Les was a World War II Navy veteran and member of St. Paul Lutheran Church who proudly served with the Cochran Hose Co. for 49 years.

Lester “Les”G. Abercrombie, Jr., age 84, a life-long resident of Sewickley, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2011 in his home, surrounded by his wife and nieces. He was born in Sewickley on January 11, 1927 to the late Mildred (McConnell) and Lester G. Abercrombie, Sr. Beloved husband for 41 years to Cleo (Schwartz); cherished brother of Jane Johnson; also many loving nieces and nephews. Les was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, F&AM #630 Doric Lodge, and proudly served with the Cochran Hose Company for 49 years. He was a retired manager from Mellon Bank, working in Sewickley and branches in Aliquippa, Ambridge and Robinson. He was a WWII Navy Veteran. He loved to hunt and fish. Visitation took place Saturday and service on Sunday …

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Remembering Pearl Harbor: 70th Anniversary of the 'Day of Infamy'

The Dec. 7, 1941 attack began a two-front World War II for the United States.

Dec. 7, 1941 It was an unforgettable moment in American history, called a "date which will live in infamy" by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt. The 7:55 a.m. aerial bombardment by Japanese forces on the U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, began the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, and caught the Americans by surprise. But tensions had been building between the countries. It dragged the U.S., which had been taking an isolationist position, into World War II. The Pearl Harbor toll: 2,400 dead, 1,800 wounded, and many U.S. battleships and aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Many people now only know Pearl Harbor from history classes and memories from older people. But some actually remember the news first-hand. To put the era in perspective: …

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Malcolm W. Smith

Visitation took place Friday at Copeland’s Sewickley, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. James Church and burial at St. James Cemetery.

Malcolm W. Smith, 90, of Berlin, MD, formerly of Sewickley, passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2011 in Berlin, MD, at his son’s home. He was born in Leetsdale on November 23, 1921 to the late Howard J. and Ellen Elizabeth (Smith) Smith. On May 1, 2002, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife for 56 years, Georgina (Lupinacci) Smith. Malcolm was a retired fitter from Bethlehem Steel, Leetsdale, former manager of Edgeworth Club Bowling Alley for 17 years. He graduated from Sewickley High School. He was a member of Knights of Columbus, former President of the 4th of July Fireworks Committee, and the Leetsdale Little League where he coached and umpired. His hobbies included fishing, bowling and woodworking. During WWII, he served in the …

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Frederick A. Ruprecht

Visitation is Tuesday 7-9 p.m., Wednesday 9-11 a.m. at RD Copeland Ltd.-Irvine Chapel in Sewickley.

  Frederick A. Ruprecht, 86, of Sewickley passed on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011. Born November 6, 1925 in Sewickley, a son of the late Edmund and Clara (Herz) Ruprecht. Beloved husband of 61 years to the late Janet (McLuckie) Ruprecht; Father of David (Linda) Ruprecht of Allentown, Eric (Christine) Ruprecht of Edgeworth, Gary Ruprecht and April Babbitt of Boston, MA, Valerie (Robert) Bartosh of Attleboro, MA and Lisa (Thomas) Mahoney of Norwell, MA, grandfather of Christine (Neal) Walker, Marc, Adam, Lucas and the late Mindy Ruprecht, Rachel (Mark) Orlandi, Joshua and Ian Bartosh and Owen Mahoney, great-grandfather of Trenton and Matt Ruprecht and Jacob Walker. Brother of Mary Dean and Elizabeth Landfried of FL and Aloysius Ruprecht of CA and …

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Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Groundbreaking Set for Thursday

The monument honors Western Pennsylvania's African-American pilots who fought in World War II.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Tuskegee Airmen monument is planned for Thursday in the Sewickley Cemetery. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. and officially kicks off construction on the dedication that honors the history of Western Pennsylvania’s first black military airmen. Sewickley particularly contributed eight Tuskegee Airmen, according to the Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society. Construction is expected to begin in early 2012 and if all goes as planned, a dedication ceremony will take place in the spring. The stone monument is expected to cost about $250,000.  Check back with Patch for more information.

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Sewickley Veteran Recalls WWII

Andy Seman is writing a book about his service in both the Pacific and Atlantic during World War II.

Andy Seman is a World War II veteran who lives in Sewickley. His U.S. Navy outfit had more than 1,400 people  in the early 1940s. At their last reunion, there were only 12 left.   Now 87 years old, Seman has something to say, and the book he's written about his wartime experiences will hit bookstore shelves in the coming weeks. The book is called “Passage Through History, 2 Ships, 2 Theaters, 1 Man – A Personal History of WWII.”  Like many members of what Tom Brokaw described as the “Greatest Generation,” Seman is stoic about his service.  He survived the terror of combat, but doesn’t dwell on it, choosing to dwell on all the girlfriends he had in his home port in Boston. “There were quite a few of ‘em,” Seman said. He served in both the …

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World War II Veteran Opens Up About His Experiences

Warren Goss, 85, was a member of the 531st Special Brigade, one of the first troops to storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.

Growing up, Paula Zanotti’s father always warned her to stay away from his special drawer.  Inside were items her dad, Warren Goss, had collected during his time a soldier in World War II, including watches taken from German soldiers and other spoils of war.  Not that Zanotti, a Sewickley resident, knew this for much of her life.  She found out only when her own son, Andrew Zanotti,  joined the Marines and was sent to Afghanistan. Maybe it had something to do with their shared military background, but Goss opened his war collection to his grandson.  It was no easy feat.  For years, Goss, an 85-year-old Mt. Nebo resident, remained quiet about his part in war, where he was a member of the 531st Special Brigade, one of the first troops to …

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