Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 85

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 19 E-5 OBITUARIES JOHNNY COSTA Jazz pianist, used keyboard to tell Mr. Rogers' stories "He was so at ease at the piano, he set everyone else at ease. Former Republican National Committee chairwoman Elsie Hillman 5 By Timothy McNulty Post-Gazette Staff Writer When pianist Johnny Costa, the longtime musical director of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," went into the studio to record a Christmas album last fall, he had been sick with aplastic anemia for six years. Studio engineers looked at the man, frail with a blood disease, and wondered if he could still play. One session he began playing "Christmas Time Is Here," the theme of the "A Charlie Brown Christmas" cartoon special.

Then he bridged into the Charlie Brown theme music and from there to "0 Christmas Tree" because he somehow knew that the Christmas special was about finding a tree. Finally, he went into Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" because Schroeder, the pianist in the "Peanuts" gang, was, of course, a big Beethoven fan. The engineers were amazed. Costa, the consummate improviser and student of music, hadn't even planned to do the song he made it up as he went along. And in one take.

The New Kensington native, 74, died of aplastic anemia Friday afternoon at Longwood at Oakmont Health Center, said his brother, Alex Costanza. Costa collaborated with Fred Rogers for 31 years. "I saw him a couple days before he died, and he remembered so many of the songs that we did together," Rogers said yesterday. During the visit Costa repeated to Rogers a line from an opera they did together called "A Granddad for "The darkest hour comes before the dawn." "He had some dark hours just before he died. He had a good deal of pain," Rogers said.

"But now he has his dawn, his eternal dawn, and he certainly deserves it." Costa was born Jan. 18, 1922, in Arnold, a small town near New Kensington. His father, an Italian immigrant, didn't want his son to follow him into the coal mines, where he worked. So when Johnny showed promise as a musician at age 10, his father sold his house to buy a $500 accordion. Though he was good at the instrument, it was too heavy for him to carry.

After Arnold High School music teacher Frank Oliver watched Johnny's father carrying the accordion for his son during a high school assembly, he told the youngster to try piano. Costa played with a New York City band for a year after high school, but returned to Pittsburgh after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He got married to Helen Zamperini, then went to war. He spent three years in Europe, landing with the 90th Division on Normandy. After the war, he went to Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) and studied music composition.

Guitarist Joe Negri met Costa 40 years ago on a KDKA radio broadcast and went to the school on Costa's suggestion. He said a music composition instructor there referred to Costa as "the savage" because "he had this kind of wild streak in him, a totally uninhibited way of playing and writing." Costa went into TV after college. He played piano for a small station called WDTV, which was bought by KDKA in 1951. He hosted his own show on the network, "The Wonder World of Johnny Costa" and played a piano-playing character called Indian Mary on the children's show "Funsville." Costa was also on the road at the time, playing with his trio and appearing several times on "The Tonight Show" with Steve Allen. 0 -HY iron, --fe-sg Martha RialPost-Gazette Pianist Johnny Costa finishes a song with flourish while entertaining the crowd at Station Square in December 1995.

Mr. Costa died Friday at 74. elegant style, but sublimated all those things to be whatever he had to be for the show a butterfly, someone in big boots, an elephant. Not everyone can do that." Tony Mowad, jazz host on WDUQ and president and founder of the Pittsburgh Jazz Society, said Costa "had the capabilities of performing any kind of music" and called Costa's solo piano recordings "among the most unique piano CDs in the world." (Mowad will play excerpts from Costa interviews and recordings during his show on WDUQ tomorrow, beginning at 7 p.m.) "He was one of the most kindest and gentlest persons you'd want to meet," Mowad continued. "He would think nothing of devoting his time and talent to help other musicians." "He always paid me more than what we'd agreed Rawsthorne said, "or he'd be sending you notes saying how well you'd played." Costa wasn't only admired by other Former Republican National Committee chairwoman Elsie Hillman, a friend of Costa's for 30 years, often had him play at parties.

She called his music "unbelievably beautiful." "We gave him to ourselves for birthday and anniver: sary presents," Hillman said yesterday. "He was so at ease at the piano, he set everyone else at Len Meledandri, Costa's assistant for 17 years and the voice -of Prince Tuesday on "Neighborhood," said Costa didn't know where his song ideas came from. He thought his talent was simply God-given. "Where did that come from?" Meledandri would hear Costa say after getting up from the piano. "Wasn't that wonderful?" Costa is survived by his wife, Helen; a son, John Costa of Lower Burrell; a daughter," Deborah Elwood of Fox Chapel; two brothers, Alex Costanza of Apollo and Victor Costanza of Washington Township; two Clara Nelson of New Kensington and Viola Marino of California; and four grandsons.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow in the Ross G. Walker Funeral Home in New Kensington, where a prayer service will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m.

Tuesday in Mount St. Peter Church in New Kensington, followed by burial in Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell. The family suggests donations in Costa's memory to the Central Blood Bank, 812 Fifth Pittsburgh 15219 or the Johnny Costa Scholarship Fund, co Ross G. Walker, 217 Freeport Road, New Kensington 15068. Staff writer Mike Bucsko contributed to this obituary.

Jazz pianist Walt Harper said jazz greats Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Cannonball Adderley would frequently ask him what Costa was up to. Ellington once sneaked into New York's Embers club to hear Costa play, Harper said, and left shaking his head. Fred Rogers asked him to arrange, conduct and play music for his new children's show in 1965. "At first I thought, 'A children's But I started to realize the worth of this man and this program," Costa told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Nancy Anderson last year. Rogers would usually suggest a line of melody or some chords, people familiar with the show said, and Costa would take it from there.

He never looked at the piano keys he'd wear headphones, look at a TV monitor and make up' the music as he went along. Bobby Rawsthorne, who has played percussion and vibraphone on "Neighborhood" since 1970, said the tune at the end of the show, which Costa, Rawsthorne and bassist Carl McVicker played under the credits, was never the same. "It sounded like we rehearsed this for a week, but we didn't for a minute," Rawsthorne said. "It was completely spontaneous." "Any musician who ever worked with him or listened to him would tell you the same thing they shared a common idea that nobody can play like this guy," he said. Musicians marveled at Costa's quick hands, particularly his left-hand stride, which could hit bottom bass notes and chords in time, freeing up his right hand to embellish notes on top.

His fingers reached across 13 keys. Harper remembered getting ready for a duet he was about to play with Costa on KDKA, and worrying about the pianist's quick style. "I told him my style was more laid back and asked him to play some blues," Harper said. "We hit a hell of a groove. He came up to me after we were done and said 'I like that laid back stuff I think I'll stay away from going all over the "I hope Pittsburghers realize what a gem they had among them," Harper said.

1 1 Costa was sitting in the green room at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in December waiting for Marion McPartland to perform. McPartland, host of National Public Radio's "Piano Jazz" show, a concert pianist and recording artist, asked Costa to come on stage. Costa walked on, to a standing ovation, thinking he would sit at the piano with McPartland. She told him to sit by himself. "I want to watch you play," she said.

"He was a combination of a jazz musician and storyteller," she said yesterday. "He had a very fleet, CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 11. Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, Brighton Heights. (DN) MALONEY, Alice, formerly of East Liberty, died Oct.

10. James J. Barry Jr. Funeral Home, Allen-town. (DN) McCABE, Charles E.

"Chuck," 73, of North Versailles, died Oct. 1 1 E.A. Forgie Funeral Home, East McKeesport. (DN) MILBURN, Cecelia 79, of Wilkinsburg, died Oct. 1 1 Knee Funeral Home of Wilkinsburg, Wilkinsburg.

(DN) MOHR, Mahlon C. 57, of Ben Avon, died Oct. 12. Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalop.

(DN) MONTEMURRO, Giovanni, 89, of Sharpsburg, died Oct. 10. Worrell Funeral Home, Sharpsburg. (DN) MOONEY, Margaret Edwards, 71, of Hazelwood, died Oct. 10.

John D. O'Connor Son Funeral Home, Hazelwood. (DN) MULL, Lula 83, of West Mifflin, formerly of Canonsburg, died October 11. Greenlee Funeral Home, Bentleyville. (O) MURRAY, Florence 89, of Baldwin Township, died Oct.

10. Beinhauer Funeral Home, Beechview. (DN) OPARNICA, John, 84, formerly of Wilkinsburg, died Oct. 10. Thomas L.

Nied Funeral Home, Swissvale. (DN) O'TOOLE, Dorothy Burke, 84, of Lawrenceville, died Oct. 10. Healy-Hahn Funeral Home, Millvale. (DN) PLISCO, John 82, of Braddock, died Oct.

10. Albert G. Lesko Funeral Home, North Braddock. (DN) PLITTMAN, Esther, 88, of Pittsburgh, died Oct. 1 1 Danzansky-Goldberg Memorial Chapels, Rock-ville, Md.

(DN) PROHASKA, Keith 43, of Collier, died Oct. 1 2. Leo J. Henney Funeral Home, Carnegie. (DN) RAGLAND, William 81, of Bridgeville, died Oct.

1 1 Leo J. Henney Funeral Home, Carnegie. (O) RAYMONT, Paul 68, of Mt. Lebanon, died Oct. 11.

Frank F. DeBor Funeral Home, Brookline. (DN) SANTORUM, Gabriel Michael, died Oct. 11. John A.

Freyvogel Sons Funeral Home, Shadyside. (DN) SCHMITT, Robert G. "Ace," 62, of Brighton Heights, died Oct. 10. O'Brien's, North Side.

(DN) SEUBERT, Robert of Wexford, died Oct. 12. George A. Thoma Funeral Home, McCandless. (DN) SHIALABBA, James 92, of Carrick, died Oct.

10. Boron Funeral Home, Carrick. (DN) SLONCHKA, Rose Agnes, 74, of McKees Rocks, KIRKWOOD, Richard 80, of Oct. 11. William G.

Neal Funeral Home, Washington. (DN) SUWAK, John Fredrick, 60, of Washington, died Oct. 11. Piatt Bamhill Funeral Directors, Washing- ton. (DN) WESTMORELAND COUNTY HELLNER, Anna 92, of North Huntingdon, died Oct.

12. Shirley-Kukich Funeral Home, North Huntingdon. (DN) COSTA, Johnny, 74, of New Kensington, died Oct. 11. Ross G.

Walker Funeral Home, Kensington. (DN) GREEN, Thomas Oscar. 86, formerly of West Newton, died Oct. 10. McCauley Funeral Home; West Newton.

(DN) KEARNEY, Dean 77, of Vandergrift, died Oct. 11. Dunmire-Kerr Funeral Home, Vandergrift. (DN) KRISKO, Beth 30, of New Castle, died Oct. 11 Noga Funeral Home, New Castle.

MARTON, Anna, 94. of Ligonier. formerly of North Braddock, died Oct. 9. Raymond J.

Yuhas' Funeral Home, Bessemer Terrace. (DN) SAMPLE, John 34, of New Kensington, died Oct. 11. Frank Gigler Funeral Home, Lower Burre.ll. (DN) SIECINSKI, Benedict S.

"Benny," 76, of Everson, died Oct. 12. Ferguson Funeral Home, Scottdale. OTHER DEEM, Wesley 83, of Fruitland Park, Fla formerly of Penn Hills, died Oct. 12.

Findlay C. Wylie Funeral Home, Penn Hills. (DN) ISAAC, Geneva 38, of Lafayette, formerly of Penn Hills, died Oct. 10. White Memorial Chapel, Point Breeze.

(DN) LOGIODICE, Harry, of McLean, died Oct 11. McCabe Bros. Funeral Home, Shadyside. (DN) MERZLAK, Evelyn Kuntz, 78, formerly of Millvale, died Oct. 10.

Gentry-Griffey Chapel, Knoxville, Tenn. (DN) PATTON, Dolores, 81, of Hallandale, Fla formerly of Swissvale, died Oct. 1. (DN) PUSATERI, Dorothy of New Philadelphia, Ohio, formerly of Bellevue, died Oct. 12.

Linn-Hert-. Geib Funeral Home, New Philadelphia, Ohio. (DN) SPEVOCK, Eva Findlmg, 85, of Norwood. Mass', formerly of Oakland, died Oct. 12.

Ralph Schugar Chapel. Shadyside. (DN) SUMNER, George Lewis 76. of Sanford. N.C., formerly of Pittsburgh, died Oct.

1 1 Miller Funeral Home, Sanford, N.C. (DN) died Oct. 12. Anthony M. Musmanno Funeral Home, McKees Rocks.

(DN) STANZIANO, John 68, of Brentwood, died Oct. 1 1 John F. Slater Funeral Home, Brentwood. (DN) STONE, Morris 93, of Swissvale, died Oct. 12.

T.D. Turner's, Wilkinsburg. (DN) STUMPF, Lenora 91, of St. Barnabas, formerly of Pittsburgh, died Oct. 9.

Bock Funeral Home, Glenshaw. (DN) TRAGGARDH, Mary Hohman Quigley, 85, of Avalon, died Oct. 12. McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon. (DN) TRIPP, Verna Ulrich, 86, of McCandless, died Oct.

10. P. Brandt Funeral Home, Ross. (DN) URAM, Mildred L. Webb, 76, of Bethel Park, died Oct.

12. Paul L. Henney Funeral Home, Bethel Park. (DN) VEAL, Harold 77, of Chartiers City, died Oct. 11.

Sheffield Funeral Home, North Side. (DN) WALDRON, Miriam L. Lewis, 92, of Munhall, died Oct. 11. William R.

Welsh Funeral Home, Homestead. (DN) WELGOSZ, Petro, 71, of Baldwin Borough, died Oct. 11. John F. Slater Funeral Home, Brentwood.

(DN) WETZEL, Clara Pifer, of Regent Square, died Oct. 10. Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home, Swissvale. (DN) WHITE, Martha 71, of West Mifflin, died Oct.

11. Griffith Mortuary, South Park. (DN) WICKER, Everett 77, of Wilkinsburg, died Oct. 9. T.D.

Turner's, Wilkinsburg. (DN) WOOD, Louise 88, of Scott, died Oct. 11. Beinhauer Funeral Home, Beechview. (DN) WOODILL, Margret M.

Copeland, 80, of Plum, died Oct. 11. Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home, Swissvale. (DN) WOODROW, Beverly, 63, of Belzhoover, died Oct.

10. West Funeral Home, Uptown. BEAVER COUNTY BURRELL, Clarence 77, of Aliquippa, died Oct. 11. Darroch Funeral Home, Aliquippa.

POLETTI, Mario "Midge," 74, of Aliquippa, died Oct. 12. Darroch Funeral Home, Aliquippa. BUTLER COUNTY MILLER, Susan Klingensmith, 41, of Cranberry, died Oct. 11.

King Funeral Home, Allison Park. (DN) WASHINGTON COUNTY DEEMS, Sarah Margaret, 91, of Clover Hill, died Oct. 12. Greenlee Funeral Home, Bentleyville. DUBSKI, Joanna "Jennie" Jablonski, 88, of Knoxville, died Oct.

10. George A. Phillips Funeral Home, South Side. (DN) EUBANKS, Leroy, of Homestead, died Oct. 12.

White Memorial Chapel, Point Breeze. (DN) FALCE, John 81, of Brentwood, died Oct. 1 1 John F. Slater Funeral Home, Brentwood. (DN) FIRESTONE, Isaac, 92, of Squirrel Hill, died Oct.

11. Ralph Schugar Chapel, Shadyside. (DN) FISCHER, James 85, of Ross, died Oct. 10. Schellhaas Funeral Home, West View.

(DN) FLANDERS, Theresa M. Santora, 75, of Penn Hills, died Oct. 10. Soxman Funeral HomeRoth Chapel, Penn Hills. (DN) FRIEZ, Margaret J.

Brush, 85, formerly of East Pittsburgh, died Oct. 1 1 Jobe Funeral Home, Turtle Creek. (DN) FUMARE, Julia Berezanich, 87, of Forest Hills, died Oct. 12. Albert G.

Lesko Funeral Home, North Braddock. (DN) GARDNER, Angeline Dernovsek, of South Fayette, died Oct. 11. B. Fryer Funeral Home, Bridgeville.

(DN) GARDNER, Albert 80, of Penn Hills, died Oct. 12. William F. Gross Funeral Home, Penn Hills. (DN) GRAEF, Carl 90, of Baldwin Borough, died Oct.

12. John F. Slater Funeral Home, Brentwood. (DN) HEFFERAN, John 84, of Munhall, died Oct. 12.

John A. Freyvogel Sons Funeral Home, Shady-side. (DN) HERSHEY, Rodger 73, of Penn Hills, died Oct. 1 1 Findlay C. Wylie Funeral Home, Penn Hills.

(DN) HOLMES, Charles "Eddie" 86, of Elizabeth Township, died Oct. 12. Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home, Elizabeth. (DN) INCROCCI, Louis 88, of Brookline, died Oct.

12. Brusco-Napier Funeral Home, Beechview. (DN) JORDAN, Silveria "Vera" 79, of Gibsonia, died Oct. 10. King Funeral Home, Allison Park.

(DN) JOYCE, Barry 58, of Wexford, died Oct. 10. McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon. (DN) JUNKER, William Morningside, died Oct. 11.

McCabe Bros. Funeral Home, Bloomfield. (DN) KATZ, Victor 72, of Highland Park, died Oct. 12. Ralph Schugar Chapel, Shadyside.

(DN) KIRNER, Louisa 76, of North Side, died Oct. 11. Heard Funeral Home, North Side. (DN) KISSEL, Nick, 81, of Library, died Oct. 11.

Eugene C. Ocepek Funeral Home, Library. (DN) KODA, Joseph, 87, of Turtle Creek, died Oct. 1 0. Mark V.

Sauvageot Funeral Home, Hazelwood. (DN) LOAR, Dorothy, 75, of Crafton Heights, died Oct. LATEST DEATHS To our readers: The Post-Gazette's comprehensive listings of recent deaths include two types of obituaries. News obituaries, prepared by our staff, are published at the discretion of our editors. Death notices are paid obituaries prepared by the friends and family of the deceased or funeral-home directors.

To place a death notice, call 263-1371. To suggest a news obituary, call 263-1601. The following list is provided free as a public service. Listings followed by (DN) indicate that a death notice is published elsewhere in these pages. We accept information for the following list only from funeral directors and employees of crematoriums and memorial societies, who may call 263-1601 from 9 a.m.

to 9 p.m. daily. ALLEGHENY COUNTY BACHMAN, Melvin of Brookline, died Oct. 9. Griffith Mortuary, South Park.

(DN) BASISTA, Elizabeth 90, of West Mifflin, died Oct. 12. Maloy-Schleifer Funeral Home, Duquesne. BEST, Lewis, 84, of Penn Hills, died Oct. 11.

Charles W. Trenz Funeral Home, Penn Hills. (DN) BOBEL, Joseph F. 81, of Carrick, died Oct. 1 1 Walter J.

Zalewski Funeral Home, Lawrenceville. (DN) BROWN, Claude 48, of Bethel Park, died Oct. 10. Freyvogel-Slater Funeral Home, Bethel Park. (DN) CLASKY, Benjamin M.

of Squirrel Hill, died Oct. 12. Burton L. Hirsch Chapel, Squirrel Hill. (DN) CONWAY, Ralph 79, of Castle Shannon, died Oct.

12. Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Pleasant Hills. (DN) COYLE, Eleanore Loibl, of Carnegie, died Oct. 12. Leo J.

Henney Funeral Home, Carnegie. (DN) DANIK, Stella, 80, of Library, died Oct. 11. Beinhauer-Connell Funeral Service, Bethel Park. (DN) DAWSON, Shelly 42, of Swissvale, formerly of Churchill, died Oct.

11. Thomas Nied Funeral Home, Swissvale. (DN) DEVITTO, Leona M. "Baby Lee" Stein, 56, of Lawrenceville, died Oct. 11.

Walter J. Zalewski Funeral Home, Lawrenceville. (DN) DIMEOLO, Jean Warren, 78, of Coraoplis, died Oct. 12. Anthony Sanvito, Funeral Home, Cora-opolis.

(DN) DIMOFF, John, 69, of Ross, died Oct. 12. Novak Funeral Home, North Side. (DN) or the Johnny Costa Scholarship Fund, co Walker. Funeral Home.

ELEANORE (LOIBL) COYLE Of Glendale (Carnegie) on Oct. 12, 1996. Wife of the late Hugh J. Coyle mother of Linda grandmother of Billy sister of Margaret Reed, Irene Brosek, Alberta Loibl. and the late Joseph Loibl.

No visitation. Freinds are invited to attend her Funeral Mass on Monday in St. Ignatius Church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 10 AM, Family suggest contribui--tons to American Diabetes Assoc. Arrangements by LEO J.

HENNEY FUNERAL HOME, Carnegie. Cont. on page E-6' Sabat. Friends received Saturday and Sunday, 2-4 and 7-9pm, FREYVOGEL-SLATER FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 112 Fort Couch Rd Bethel Park (opp. Lazarus, South Hills Village), where Services will be held on Monday at 11am.

RALPH w. CONWAY Age 79, of Castle Shannon, on Oct. 12, 1996; husband of Wanda G. (Spreha); father of Mary Ann Scott, Linda Conway Miller and Denis R. Conway; brother of Wallace and David Conway; also survived by four grandchildren.

All services are private. In lieu of flowers contributions to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 935 Pine PA 15234. BENJAMIN M. CLASKY, EXQ. On Saturday, October 12, 1996, beloved husband of the late Leona Clasky.

Father of the late Jay A. Clasky. Services at the BURTON L. HIRSCH CHAPEL, 2704 Murray Sq. Hill, (opp.

Morrowfield Apts.) on Monday at 9 AM. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. Visitations 1 hr prior to services. (8-9 AM) Family suggests Contributions to charity of donor's choice. JOHNNY COSTA Age 74, of New Kensington, on Friday, Oct.

1 1 1996, in Longwood, Oakmont PA. Music composer and musician. Beloved husband of Helen Zamperini Costa; fa- ther of John D. Costa of Lower Burrell, Mrs. Robert (Deborah) Elwood of Fox Chapel; grandfather of John J.

and Christopher L. Costa, Chad C. and Clayton R. Elwood; brother of Alex Costanza, Victor Costanza, Clara Nelson and Viola Marino. Friends may call Sun.

and Mon. 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the ROSS G. WALKER FUNERAL HOME, 217 Freeport New Kensington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 AM Mt. St.

Peter R. C. Church, 100 Freeport New Kensington. Burial in Greenwood. Memorial Park, Lower Burrell.

Donations appreciated to the Central Blood Bank, 812 Fifth Pgh Pa 15219 Beth Ann Krantz; brother of Cecelia Lantz and the late Helen Carney and Frank Bobel. Friends received at the WALTER J. ZALEWSKI FUNERAL HOME, 216 44th Lawrenceville, on Sunday and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass on Tuesday in St. Stanislaus Church at 10 a.m.

CLAUDE E. BROWN Of Bethel Park, suddenly on Thursday, October 10, 1996, age 48; beloved husband of Andrea Brown; son of Pauline Brown and the late Claude A. Brown; father of Daniel Lisa and Pamela L. Brown; brother of Beverly Sabat; grandfather of Eric James Muldoon; uncle of Michael A. and Janet beth Best; father of Richard E.

and David E. Best; brother of Donald W. Best; grandfather of Kristine, Dan, Doug and Darlene Best. Mr. Best was a member of Masonic Lodge 45, 32nd Degree.

Friends received Sunday ONLY, 1-4 PM and 7-9 PMat the CHARLES W. TRENZ FUNERAL HOME, 11110 Frankstown Penn Hills, where Service will be held Monday 11 AM. JOSEPH F. SR. BOBEL On Friday, October 11, 1996; beloved husband of Helen A.

Gromek; father of Joseph F. Jr. and Toni Krantz; grandfather of Shelly, Susanne, Anne and Maria Rose Bobel, Leonard Krantz, Jo Ann Kunisky and MELVIN P. BACHMAN On Oct. 9, 1996; Melvin P.

of Brookline; beloved brother of Bernice M. Guiser of Pleasant Hills and Rita E. Cook of Forest Hills and the late Charles and Kenneth Bachman; also survived by nieces and a nephew. Friends received Sunday 1-5 PMatthe GRIFFITH MORTUARY, 5636 Brownsville Broughton-Curry-South Park Twp. Funeral Prayer Mon.

9:30 AM with Mass of Christian Burial in St. Elizabeth Church at 10 AM. Interment St. Michael Cemetery. LEWIS M.

BEST On Oct. 11, 1996; beloved husband of Eliza.