William S. Kalaskie
William S. “Bill” Kalaskie, 83, entered God’s Kingdom Wednesday, December 5, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer and other long-term health problems.
He was born August 22, 1929, in Gregg’s Station, near Oakdale, a son of the late Stanley and Sophie Kalaskie. He resided in McMurray for more than 60 years.
Growing up in Muse, he excelled at school and became quite the baseball player on the old ball field across from Holy Rosary Catholic Church. He attended Cecil Township High School, graduating in 1947, as class president. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1951 and earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, also from Pitt in 1953. He applied those degrees and his keen knowledge of mathematics to the defense of the United States as a longtime Westinghouse Electric Corp. employee at Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in West Mifflin.
Mr. Kalaskie left his mark in the Department of Energy as the holder of numerous engineering patents as part of Adm. Hymen Rickover’s nuclear propulsion team designing nuclear reactors for the nation’s nuclear navy. While at Bettis, he was part of the team that designed reactors for the USN Nautilus (SSN-571), the world’s first nuclear-powered vessel, and the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and helped lay the atomic foundation for all nuclear vessels now used by the U.S. Navy.
Following a conspicuous career at Bettis, he joined Superior Valve Co. (later Sherwood) in the mid-1960s in Washington, designing valves used to safely control various types of lethal, toxic and inert gases used worldwide. His sustained, substantive contributions earned him additional patents for valve designs and the respect of not just engineers within Superior Valve/Sherwood but in competitor companies, as well. His reputation for valve design made him a sought-after speaker and consultant within the country’s Compressed Gas Association.
A big Pirates and Steelers fan, he loved to hunt, fish and travel. He was also a prolific storyteller who kept family and friends entertained in the imaginative and factual worlds he created and experienced, especially for his grandchildren at bedtime. Some of his fondest memories were of deer hunting in the Pennsylvania mountains near St. Mary’s and fishing on Lake Nipissing, near North Bay, Ontario, Canada, for northern pike and walleye. As “Pappy” and his wife, Genny, enjoyed traveling to visit their grandchildren in State College and destinations across the nation from California to Virginia and Arizona to North Dakota. They never missed an opportunity to explore European destinations, such as Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey, with their son and his family, who were stationed overseas. He loved to travel and had a keen interest in visiting historical places. Having been a high school student at the close of World War II, he had a particular curiosity about the people and places central to that era. Consequently, he took advantage of his excursions to Europe and Turkey to walk the Normandy Beaches, Bastogne and the ancient Roman ruins in Ephesus and Didyma.
Surviving are his wife, Genevieve Kalaskie of 57 years; a son, Col. (retired) William “Willie” Kalaskie and daughter-in-law, Carolyn of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a daughter, Judy (Kalaskie) Kerr and son-in-law, Jeff Kerr of Finleyville; a sister, Doris Mikolich and brother-in-law, Bill Mikolich of Canonsburg; and sisters-in-law, Irene Denne of Duquesne, Kathy Ingel of White Oak and Audrey Balawajder of West Mifflin.
He was the proud grandfather of Brandon and Christin Kalaskie and Tyler and Joshua Kerr; and great-grandfather to Olivia Kalaskie and Jaxson Kerr. He also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, granddaughters-in-law and a host of other family members, friends and colleagues, all of whom contributed to him living a very full and rich life.
Visitation will be held from noon to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Beinhauer Funeral Home, 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317, 724-941-3211. Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, December 10, in St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church, 120 Abington Drive, McMurray, where he was also an original member, serving as an usher from the earliest services in 1964 until he was well into his late 70s about 42 years. Interment will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters Township.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Fort Carson’s Wounded Warrior Program. If you are so moved, donations can either be made via http://giftstoarmy.army.mil, please specify the gift is for the Fort Carson Soldier and Family Assistance Center to ensure it is credited to the Wounded Warrior Program. Checks may be addressed/mailed to Yvette M. Allen, MA LBP, Outreach Program Manager, Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC), 1481 Titus Boulevard, Building 7492, Fort Carson, CO 80913. Please add tributes at beinhauer.com.