Anthony “Babe” Santaguida
Babe passed away peacefully Friday, May 15, 2020 surrounded by his family at his son’s home in Florida. He grew up in the Larimer district of Pittsburgh but spent most of his life living in Highland Park and O’Hara Twp.
He was married to his beloved wife, Marianne (D’Onofrio) Santaguida for 52 years before her passing in 2014. He is survived by his sons; Anthony (Jean) and Thomas (Leslie) Santaguida; grandfather of Jessica (LaDon) Hall; great-grandfather of Maria and Lena Hall; brother of Joseph Santoquido and the late Sara Paravati and Nancy Downs.
Babe was a veteran of the US Army and discharged in 1958. He then went on to join the Cement Mason’s Local 526 where he worked as a cement finisher until retiring in 1996 and remained a member of the union group totaling 60 years.
Friends received in William F. Gross Funeral Home 11735 Frankstown Rd. (at Rodi Rd.), Penn Hills Friday, May 22, 2020, from 3-8 p.m. A blessing service will be held Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 10 a.m. with burial to follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. We will be following COVID-19 State guidelines for distancing with no more than 25 people.
Dorothy F. “Dee” Gray
Of Penn Hills, passed away, Friday, May 8, 2020. Beloved wife of the late George E. “Buddy” Gray; daughter of the late Margaret Delaney; mother of Jane (Robert) Greene; proud grandmother of Robert and Stephanie Greene; sister of the late Jack Delaney and Elizabeth Bittner; also survived by nieces and nephews. Service and interment Private
Glenn E. “Mac” McMurdy
Age 82, of Penn Hills, formerly of Bloomfield, passed away Monday, April 27, 2020. Beloved husband of the late Mary L. (Colosimo); step-father of Elaine Rainey and Patricia (the late Donald) Wilson; grandfather of Don Wilson, Darlene Ziolkowski, Matthew Wilson and Vincent DelleDonne; great-grandfather of Marissa, Spencer, Tyler, Preston, Pierce, Hunter, Roman, Gavin and Kaylee; brother of Charles (Patricia) McMurdy, Carol (the late Chuck) Brace; uncle of Charles and Scott McMurdy; great-uncle of Megan, Kelly, Jake and Kayla. Glenn was loving, loyal, hardworking and will be missed by all. If you feel inclined to send flowers, please send a potted plant so his memory will last for time to come.
A private family service and burial will be held for Glenn.
Robert A. “Rob” Brown
Age 72, of Penn Hills, formerly of Gilbert, AZ, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2020. Beloved husband of Debbie Brown; stepfather of Stephanie (Anthony) Casciato, Donald (Christie) Chichilla and Kelly (Paul) Moore; also survived by many loving family members. Rob is retired from Westinghouse with 30 years of service. Services private.
Leo T. Plunkett
Penn Hills residents will no longer spot that dapper gentleman driving his sport convertible with the Duquesne University license plate around town. Leo Thomas Plunkett, 103, passed away peacefully at his son Leo’s home on April 24, 2020.
Leo was born on September 22, 1916, in Lawrenceville, PA, to Leo J. and Kathryn Mulvihill Plunkett. He attended Peabody High School and graduated from Duquesne University Prep School. Leo then attended Duquesne University from 1934-1937 where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Phi fraternity and the co-editor of the sports section of The Duke.
Although Leo was not able to complete his degree due to the Great Depression, he was honored in December 2016 with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters bestowed on him by Duquesne University President Ken Gormley.
Leo served his country during World War II as a Chief Warrant Officer in the US Army earning a Bronze Star for distinguished service in the Pacific Theater. The majority of Leo’s career was spent working for the Army Air National Guard.
Leo married the love of his life, Ruth Mary Morrissey, in Duquesne University’s Chapel on November 22, 1947. Leo is survived by his children Patrick J. (Kathy Matesic), Edith “Missy” Turna (Ayhan), Mary Beth Paladino (Bernard dec.), Leo T. II (Mary Kay), Kevin (Donna), and his 12 grandchildren Patrick M. (Sarah), Catherine, and Teresa Plunkett; Elana, Bernadette, and Michael Paladino; Brandon, Leanna, Tyler, and Lily Plunkett; and Daniel (Becca) and Michael Plunkett. He is also survived by his six great-grandchildren Amber Penick, Caroline Leone, Rhys and Cole Plunkett, Michaela Lash, and Dierre Johnson.
Leo was predeceased by his wife Ruth, his daughter Maureen Thoman (John), his granddaughter Elizabeth Paladino, and his sisters Dolores P. Gibson and Ann Kathleen Farrell. Until his illness, Leo was a participant in daily rosary and mass at St. Bartholomew parish where he was a parishioner for 67 years and a Eucharistic Minister.
Faith and family were the pillars of Leo’s life. He lived a full life, enjoying golf, tennis, watching his Pittsburgh sports teams, reading voraciously, volunteering for years in the library at the Woodland Hills School District, working crossword puzzles, spending time with family (wherever they lived in the country), and since his 90th birthday, driving his sporty convertibles.
The Plunkett family thanks Jessica Gosnell, Leo’s caregiver for the last six months, and the staff and volunteers at AseraCare Hospice for caring for Leo during the last year of his life.
You can honor Leo with a gift to Duquesne University, Development Office, Two Chatham Center, Suite 450, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, in memory of Leo T. Plunkett ’37 and 2016.
Due to the restrictions related to the COVID-19 virus, a memorial mass and celebration of Leo’s life will be held at a later date, but please remember Leo in your prayers.