Robert Thomas Koveleskie

Robert Thomas Koveleskie, 90, of Greensburg, died Tuesday, September 12, 2023 in the Hempfield Manor.  He was born on a family farm in Northumberland County on August 4, 1933 to Josef and Antonia Slodysko Koveleskie, the youngest of thirteen children. As a young boy he worked on the family farm and attended Yordy School, a one-room schoolhouse in Irish Valley, where his favorite teacher was Helen Ditty.  He attended Trevorton High School, where he was a starter on the football team all four years playing right guard.   He learned to play the accordion and he and his father supplemented the family income by playing for weddings. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, becoming an airplane mechanic.  He was stationed in Michigan when he volunteered for a secret mission, thinking that he would be sent to Korea.   Instead, he spent two years at Ernest Harmon AFB in Newfoundland. Since it was the time of the cold war, this base was always on alert for a possible attack by the USSR, as they were on the route from Moscow to New York. While in Newfoundland, Bob Hope brought his USO show to the base and Robert was selected to play his accordion as the opening act.  After the Air Force, Robert enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police, where he served with distinction for 9 years and received a Citation for capturing a bank robber. He then became a stockbroker and attended the University of Pittsburgh at night, completing a B.A. in English and Finance in 1974. He founded his own company Eastman Banks, where he formed partnerships for oil and gas and real estate development. In this area he constructed the building that is now the Eat n Park Restaurant in New Stanton and the One Northgate Square office building in Greensburg.  In his later years, he built and ran a financial website, Bizfin.com. Robert was truly a renaissance man. In addition to the accordion, he played the piano by ear and took violin lessons later in life. He was a poet and songwriter.  He loved Greensburg and tried to make it a better place in which to live. Living in a school zone, he was concerned about safety and worked with the school board and city government to make improvements in areas where pedestrians were at risk.  He also worked with the state legislature to increase the fine for speeding in a school zone to $500.  He was a great supporter of the Greensburg Salem Golden Lions, decorating his yard when he lived on McLaughlin Drive with banners, signs, flags, and balloons in brown and gold school colors.  One year he and his wife were designated Official Grandparents of the Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions Varsity Football Team. More than anything, Robert loved his wives and children.  He met Ann when he was stationed as a trooper in Ebensburg. He was transferred to Greensburg and that is where they made their home and raised their three children.  When Ann was diagnosed with cancer, she was given six months to live, but Robert was able to get her into an experimental program at NIH and she lived ten more years.  Although his businesses were very successful, he wound everything down except what he could manage alone at his home, so that he could take care of Ann.  He took great pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. Although he didn't expect to marry again after losing Ann, Robert was lonely and looking for companionship only, so he ran a personals ad in Pittsburgh Magazine: Attractive romantic - WMwP, affectionate, caring, warm, ISO attractive, romantic, soft, mild mannered Catholic female 45-55.  DECEMBER Box 1053. He called Judith on January 20, 1994 and, although both were expecting only one date for lunch, a romance blossomed and he married her on January 20, 1996. He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Ann Koveleskie, and 11 siblings, Joseph, Eleanor, Mary Eleanor, Anna, Flossie, Raymond, Edward, Helen, Victoria, Jennie, and Petronella. Robert is survived by his loving wife Judith (Pocivanik) Koveleskie, his children Joseph (Jennifer) Koveleskie and their children Anna, Elizabeth, Joseph and William, Mary Ortegon (Mauricio) and their son Caetano, and Thomas (Alejandro) and a brother Charles.  Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Robert’s Funeral Mass, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.  in the in the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, 300 N. Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601. Immediately after the Mass the family invites all of those who attend to join them for a Luncheon at Rizzo's Malabar Inn, 126 Rizzo Rd., Crabtree, PA 15624. Entombment will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the Holy Name Cemetery, Ebensburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Greensburg 711 East Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA  15601, Lewy Body Dementia Association 912 Killian Hill Rd. S.W., Lilburn, GA  30047. Robert’s family has entrusted his care to the Pantalone Funeral Home Inc., Greensburg.  For online condolences / directions, visit us at pantalone.com. Natale N. Pantalone, supervisor.