1929
Frank
2014
Frank J. "Moose" Bartolovich
July 18, 1929 — April 29, 2014
Poland - Frank J. "Moose" Bartolovich, 84, died Tuesday morning, April 29, 2014 at the Hospice House, surrounded by his family.
Frank, affectionately known by many as "Moose," was born July 18, 1929 in Ford City, PA, a son of Frank and Anna Skocic Bartolovich. Frank's father passed when he was a small child and he was raised by his mother.
He was a 1947 graduate of Struthers High School. Mr. Bartolovich was a versatile athlete and lettered in baseball, football, track, and basketball. Frank played catcher on the baseball team that beat Warren Harding for the District Championship. In 1988, he was inducted into the Struthers Hall of Fame for his baseball achievements. Frank was drafted by the New York Giants baseball team in 1953 and had the opportunity to catch for pitcher Whitey Ford. Mr. Bartolovich was President of the Struthers Athletic Club from 1967 until it burned down in 2005.
In March of 1951, he was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in March of 1953 with the rank of Private First Class. Mr. Bartolovich made his career as a carpenter, working for the Local Union No. 171.
Moose enjoyed cutting his grass and being outside, a good party, golfing on Tuesdays with the SAC Golf League at Rolling Hills and on Thursdays with the traveling golf league, and going to watch baseball games. Some of Moose's favorite sayings were, "Keep your eye on the ball" and "Buckle up, the best is yet to come."
He was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New Middletown, the VFW No. 3538 and the Knights of Columbus, both in Struthers.
His family and friends gave him enough love for two lifetimes. Heaven now has a loving, hard working, kind, gentle, fun loving, generous, and a selfless loving husband, father, father-in-law, papa, uncle, and neighbor.
He is survived by his wife, the former Barbara A. Eckert; two sons, Frank (Lisa) Bartolovich of Cincinnati and John (Donna) Bartolovich of Twinsburg; two daughters, Terri (Greg) Strzelecki of Hartland, Michigan and Kimberly (John) Gepper of Waldo, Ohio; sister, Rosemary Zaluski; ten grandchildren, Lauren, Morgan (Patrick), Kayla (Joshua), Travis, Kaitlin, Andrew, Brooke, Halle, Brian, and Noah; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by a sister, Jenny Bartolovich; two brothers, John and Joseph Bartolovich; and his step-father, Joseph Smok.
A prayer service will be held Saturday at 11:15 a.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at noon at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery.
Family and friends will be received Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family suggests that memorial gifts take the form of contributions in Mr. Bartolovich's name to the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, Ohio 44514.
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
Frank, affectionately known by many as "Moose," was born July 18, 1929 in Ford City, PA, a son of Frank and Anna Skocic Bartolovich. Frank's father passed when he was a small child and he was raised by his mother.
He was a 1947 graduate of Struthers High School. Mr. Bartolovich was a versatile athlete and lettered in baseball, football, track, and basketball. Frank played catcher on the baseball team that beat Warren Harding for the District Championship. In 1988, he was inducted into the Struthers Hall of Fame for his baseball achievements. Frank was drafted by the New York Giants baseball team in 1953 and had the opportunity to catch for pitcher Whitey Ford. Mr. Bartolovich was President of the Struthers Athletic Club from 1967 until it burned down in 2005.
In March of 1951, he was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in March of 1953 with the rank of Private First Class. Mr. Bartolovich made his career as a carpenter, working for the Local Union No. 171.
Moose enjoyed cutting his grass and being outside, a good party, golfing on Tuesdays with the SAC Golf League at Rolling Hills and on Thursdays with the traveling golf league, and going to watch baseball games. Some of Moose's favorite sayings were, "Keep your eye on the ball" and "Buckle up, the best is yet to come."
He was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New Middletown, the VFW No. 3538 and the Knights of Columbus, both in Struthers.
His family and friends gave him enough love for two lifetimes. Heaven now has a loving, hard working, kind, gentle, fun loving, generous, and a selfless loving husband, father, father-in-law, papa, uncle, and neighbor.
He is survived by his wife, the former Barbara A. Eckert; two sons, Frank (Lisa) Bartolovich of Cincinnati and John (Donna) Bartolovich of Twinsburg; two daughters, Terri (Greg) Strzelecki of Hartland, Michigan and Kimberly (John) Gepper of Waldo, Ohio; sister, Rosemary Zaluski; ten grandchildren, Lauren, Morgan (Patrick), Kayla (Joshua), Travis, Kaitlin, Andrew, Brooke, Halle, Brian, and Noah; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by a sister, Jenny Bartolovich; two brothers, John and Joseph Bartolovich; and his step-father, Joseph Smok.
A prayer service will be held Saturday at 11:15 a.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at noon at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery.
Family and friends will be received Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family suggests that memorial gifts take the form of contributions in Mr. Bartolovich's name to the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, Ohio 44514.
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
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