Frank T. Vertosick

Frank T. Vertosick

of Natrona Heights, PA

Frank T. Vertosick (92) died at home in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania on March 4 in the loving presence of his family to whom he was devoted. He was born in Harwick, Pennsylvania on April 12, 1928, to the late Stella (Valla) and John Vertosick, Sr.  Frank was always grateful for his idyllic childhood.  He graduated from Springdale High School and completed an Associate’s degree in Business Administration through Allegheny Community College by attending night school for five years.  It was an achievement of which he was immensely proud and just one example of Frank’s character: “If I start something, I’m going to finish it”.  He was employed by Allegheny Ludlum in Brackenridge, retiring as a foreman in bearing repair in 1990 after forty years.  His yearbook noted that he was “good looking, but shy.”  Those who knew him later in life found him anything but.  Genuinely caring about people, warm and funny, he was an amazing storyteller - intellectually curious until the end of his life and never lacking in opinions.  Frank tried his hand at anything that captured his attention: flying, model building, ham radio, bonsai, martial arts, painting, mountain dulcimers – but his enduring passion was golf and he was an exceptional golfer.  One of Frank’s early jobs was maintenance at the Ches-A-Rena, and that’s where he met Veronica.  He was an accomplished roller skater, but she wasn’t.  They fell in love anyway.  She often said all the girls at the rink had their eyes on him with his good looks and skating abilities.   But Frank said that once he saw Veronica, “something lit up inside him” and he knew that she was the girl he would marry.   As a very young husband and father, he built a house in Harwick, mostly by himself and without having built one before.   At his core he was an artist – blessed with a beautiful tenor voice that he shared with a number of church choirs in the area for many years.  Music was his joy and his comfort.  He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 69 years, Veronica M. (Kuchta) Vertosick and his brother, John Vertosick, Jr. He leaves behind his beloved children and their spouses, Suzanne Vertosick of Natrona Heights, Christine Vertosick of Los Angeles, Drs. Frank Vertosick and Katherine Counihan of Fox Chapel, Paula Vertosick Bester of Natrona Heights, and two grandchildren, Emily Vertosick of Queens, and Elizabeth (Nicholas) Popp of Cleveland.   He also leaves behind his treasured sister, Irene Marmo, nieces, nephews, and many special neighbors and friends. Frank’s family is grateful for the generosity of all who supported them and contributed to Frank’s care, especially Frank’s cousin, Neal Leskovic of Butler and Cynthia Adams of Natrona Heights.  Frank and Veronica made many sacrifices to provide their children with a wonderful childhood and the best education they could afford, as well as the freedom to pursue their dreams.  Frank and Veronica always were and always will be “the wind beneath our wings”.

 A celebration of Frank’s long life will be held later in the spring.  A private burial will be held at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Tarentum, PA. Arrangements are under the care of the ROBERT PETERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 1521 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, PA 15065.  For online condolences please visit us at www.petersfamilyfuneralhomes.com.  

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