Jan 5, 2014

Longtime Monongahela resident was sports fan

Francis J. Dutch, 90, a longtime Monongahela resident who liked to be called “Dutch” and who recently moved to Washington, D.C., died Saturday, January 5, 2014, in a nursing facility in Alexandria, Va.

Born Theodor Josephus Dorcynec, October 25, 1923, in Elizabeth, he was a son of the late Alec and Mary Kornish Dutch.

Mr. Dutch grew up on Park Avenue, and after his graduation from Monongahela High School in 1940, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, as a first class petty officer on an amphibious ship, LST 698, in the South Pacific Ocean, participating in the D-Day landings of Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa.

Mr. Dutch worked for 20 years as a mason at the former U.S. Steel Donora Works, and served as vice president of Local 1758, United Steel Workers. In 1961, he was elected city controller of the city of Monongahela. He retired in 1984 as an employment relations representative for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Charleroi.

Mr. Dutch was a charter member of the first social service union in Pennsylvania, where he was the state treasurer of Local 675, Service Employees International Union. He was also a member of Monongahela and Carroll Township American Legion posts, Monongahela Elks Lodge 455, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1409, the former ICC Club in Monongahela, Mid-Mon Valley Shipmates and other social clubs in the Monongahela area.

Mr. Dutch was active in youth programs in Monongahela and served as president of Monongahela Pony League, as well as a Pony League coach, and Monongahela Boosters Club. He also helped start the Monongahela youth midget football and youth soccer leagues.

When he was younger, he enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball and golf with friends.

Mr. Dutch was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan. As a youth, he saw Babe Ruth’s last game at Forbes Field, where Ruth hit three home runs, including one on his last at bat. Mr. Dutch also witnessed Bill Mazeroski’s ninth-inning home run to win the World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960. He was also at the Pittsburgh Steelers game for Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception against Oakland, and attended four Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl victories.

Upon retirement, Mr. Dutch and his wife spent their winters in Fort Myers, Fla., and summers in Monongahela, where he was an avid gardener, feeding his neighbors with fresh vegetables.

He was married for 60 years to the former Bertha Balogh, from Charleroi, who passed away in 2004.

Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis E. and Jackie Dutch of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Francean Brown of Mt. Vernon, Wash.; seven grandchildren, Lauren and husband Greg Ryan, Emily and husband Brad Dunn, Lindsay Dutch, Samantha Revetta and Amber, Paul and Nate Brown; and five great-grandchildren, Marley Hostetler, Paul Brown Jr., Hudson Walker, Maeve Ryan and Claire Ryan.

Deceased, in addition to his wife and parents, are three brothers, John, George and Thomas Dutch.

Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Marshall Marra Funeral Home, 216 Chess Street, Monongahela, 724-258-6767, marshallmarrafuneralhome.com, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 9, with Pastor Thomas Ravasio officiating. Interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery, where Mon-Valley Honor and Firing Squad will conduct military honors. Mid-Mon Valley Shipmates will also conduct a two-bell service in the funeral home at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Dutch’s name to Monongahela Area Library, 813 West Main Street, Monongahela, PA 15063.