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Edward Czekaj Obituary

Edward M. Czekaj December 19, 1921 -November 16, 2009 Edward M. Czekaj, 87, of State College, died peacefully Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at The Atrium, Village at Penn State. He was born Dec. 19, 1921, in Mt. Pleasant. He was a graduate of Ramsay High School where he played football and basketball. He attended George Washington University in 1943 before transferring to Penn State. As an undergraduate, he played varsity football and basketball in 1943, 1946, and 1947. During 1944 and 1945, Ed served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps seeing action in Guam, Okinawa, and China. He served his country again in 1951 and 1952 in Korea and achieved the rank of captain. Ed then returned to Penn State and played tight end and place kicker on the Nittany Lion's unbeaten 1947 team which played in the historical 1948 Cotton Bowl. He received a BS degree in physical education from Penn State in 1948 and was then hired by Johns Hopkins University as a football and baseball coach from 1948 until 1951. On Dec. 22, 1949, he married the former Virginia Gallup (PSU 1948 and cheerleader), of Port Allegany. Ed, once again, returned to Penn State in 1954 after being hired as graduate manager of athletics. In 1955, he became ticket manager and assistant business manager, and in 1957, was promoted to business manager. Ed was then named associate athletic director in 1967, and became athletic director in 1969. He continued as AD for the next 11 years. He thoroughly enjoyed organizing and implementing many post season bowl trips and was highly respected by every bowl committee. Accomplishments during his tenure at Penn State included: President of the College Athletic Business Assoc. 1965, 1968 College Athletic Business Manager of the Year, member of numerous NCAA committees, member of the U.S. Gymnastics Federation Council, executive committee member of the National Assoc. of College Directors of Athletics, member of the board of directors of the College Football Assoc. and President of the major independents in division I football, served on the honors court and selection committee for the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, was inducted into the Central PA Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, received the 1982 Hummel Fishburn Humanitarian award, Vice President of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, and President of the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League and Wrestling Assoc. and meet director for the NCAA Gymnastics and Wrestling Championships. Following retirement from Penn State in 1982, Ed served as the northeastern representative for the Cotton Bowl selection committee for 10 years. Ed was an avid golfer, hunter, and fisherman, and in his "spare time" made numerous pheasant feather ties and hats. He was also known to maintain an "immaculate front yard" of his Park Hills home. Ed was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Phi Epsilon Kappa, Skull and Bones, Centre Hills and Philipsburg Country Clubs, Penn State Golf Courses, VFW, American Legion, Our Lady of Victory Church followed by the Catholic Campus Ministry at PSU, and a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Assoc., Nittany Lion Club and Lettermans Club. Most importantly, Ed was known and will always be remembered for his flashy sport coats and slacks and "blue and white" attire. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Caroline, six brothers and two sisters. In addition to his wife, Ginny, he is survived by his daughter, Leanne; son, Randy; and two grandchildren, Nicholas and Madison, all of State College. Also surviving are his younger brother, Leonard Czekaj and sister, Jen Etling, of Mt. Pleasant. There will be a Memorial Mass at The Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the Penn State Campus at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Burial will be private at the discretion of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the PSU Nittany Lion Club or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements by Wetzler Funeral Service Inc., Bellefonte.

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Published by Centre Daily Times on Nov. 18, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Edward Czekaj

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Ron Braund

March 26, 2010

Dear Mrs. Czekaj and family,

My father and I went to Camp Rockspar with Ed several times a year for many years. He would also make it a point to stop by the Dave Bates/Bill France tailgates. We always enjoyed his company. He would prepare appetizers at camp, and always have new stories to tell, keeping everyone entertained. Of course, someone always got around to reminding him of the Cotton Bowl. We had a great time with Ed, and miss him. My sincere condolences.

Sherman Hostetter

January 17, 2010

Leanne & Randy - I was sad to hear about the passing of your dad. I just read it in the Nittany Lion Club Newsletter. He was a good guy and a great example to many. I have many great memories with the Czekaj family. My sincere condolences to both of you and your families. I just lost mom at 80 years of age on December 21st, 2010. It is our loss but their gain. May God Bless all of you in your time of need. Your Friend Sherman Hostetter

Wendy & Ken Parmelee

December 29, 2009

To the Czekaj Family - Our sincere condolences to you. We met the Czekaj family through (daughter) Leanne while working at Penn State Hershey Medical Center...and knew just how special her Dad was to her. Our love and prayers are with each of you.

Kevin Swartz

December 10, 2009

My condolences to the Czekaj family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

December 9, 2009

Virginia,
Sorry to hear of the sadness in your family. Peace be with you
Gloria Caskey Wood

Fred Gruninger

November 23, 2009

Ed was a very special friend to me and Rutgers University during my Athletic Director's tenure. We enjoyed and respected the comradery and friendship that Ed showed us in our professional association. Condolences to his family.

Charles Enis

November 23, 2009

I will sincerely miss Ed. My condolences go out to his family.

Paul & Claudia Boltz

November 22, 2009

A special kind of person who loved life & family; surfacing so many moments of reminiscence - so glad we crossed paths and broke bread so many times.

John Warr

November 21, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Leonard Czekaj Family

November 20, 2009

Our condolences to Ginny, Leanne, Randy and all the family, our thoughts and prayers are with you and my brother.

Leonard and Helen Czekaj and Family

November 19, 2009

My condolences to the Czekaj family. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. May God continue to hold your hurting hearts and give you His strength and peace.

God Bless

Marion Faulhaber (Amato)

Helen and Art Gottlieb

November 19, 2009

Dear Ginny and Family,
The news of Ed;s passing came as a shock and a feeling of great sadness. We have known and loved Ed from the early days of our Dinner Club.The last time we saw him was at the Village during our last visit to State College. He will always be in our thoughts as a dear friend, great golfing partner, and the source of many happy days together. We will cherish the memory of the tall, viril, versatile fellow with the flair for resplendant clothes. Please accept our heartfelt condolences.

Kathy Flebotte Carlidge

November 19, 2009

Dear Ginny and family,
You are all in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. I will always remember Ed working in the yard at your yellow house up the street from mine. Always welcoming me into your home. My deepest sympathy goes out to all of you.

Edward Keynes

November 19, 2009

Dear Ginny and Family,

My deepedt smpathy to all of you at the loss of your husband, father, grandfather,Ed. I have many fond memories of him over the years as a member of our Faculty Club luncheon group. He expressed his devotion and loyalty to Penn State by giving us Nittany Lion lapel pins on a number of occasions. My brother in Seattle wears his pin proudly as a member of the Penn State family. We will miss Ed very much!

Yours,

Patty Nellis

November 18, 2009

Dear Ginny & Family,

My deepest sympathies go out to you and your family. Mr. Czekaj was one of my favorite members at The Penn State Golf Courses. He will be sadly missed.

Joseph Kapelewski

November 18, 2009

Condolences to Randy, Leanne, and the rest of the family.

Joe & Brenda Kapelewski (Louise, Andrew, & Mary)
(Son of Betty Czekaj & Edju Kapelewski)
(Grandson of Jake and Catherine Czekaj)
Sooooo Many Czekajs.....Past, Present, and Future.

Bonnijean Cooney Adams

November 18, 2009

To the Czekaj Family,
While at work last night as a news editor at The Daily News in McKeesport, Pa., I saw an advisory with the word "Czekaj" that brought back memories, and I checked it at the end of my shift to learn of Ed Czekaj's death. My name is Bonnijean Cooney Adams, and I'm the daughter of Larry Cooney, one of his teammates on the '47 Cotton Bowl team. I'm also a '74 PSU grad and attended Homecoming from the time I was 2. I can remember meeting Mr. Czekaj over the years at Homecoming and the various team reunions. He was always such a pleasant, definitely colorfully dressed and well-respected man. My dad died in 1979, so I've been out of touch with most of his teammates.
My sympathy goes out to all of you on your loss.

Ann Bellotti

November 18, 2009

My deepest condolences to the entire family. I have great memories of growing up across the street from such wonderful neighbors.

Regina Czekaj-Spinella

November 18, 2009

I am sorry to hear about the death of Uncle Ed. I am sending condolences from my family, niece Regina Czekaj Spinella daughter of Jake and Catherine Czekaj. Along with my family, husband Don Spinella and children: son D.J. Spinella, wife Joan and children Hannah and Michael. Daughter Cheryl Spinella Hall, husband Keith and children Alex, Zachary and Samantha. Our thoughts will be with you during this difficult time.

Gary Bagshaw

November 18, 2009

My condolences for your loss --
Mr. Czekaj (as I knew him back in the mid-seventies as a student employee at Rec Hall) was a truly colorful and generous man in not only his attire but also his demeanor towards all who worked around him. My father worked in the Equipment Room at Rec Hall and when I was working there, Ed would almost always stop in first thing in the morning to get his first cup of coffee for the day -- he would give me $5 for a run to Mr. Donut for a couple of dozen of donuts and he would partake in one or two with my dad and I then take the other dozen up to share with his staff upstairs -- another time I housesat for him while he and his wife were off on a bowl trip -- he was a very kind and generous person. He will be greatly missed.

doreen diehl

November 18, 2009

Dear Leanne and Family,

Sorry to learn of your father's passing. May the memories of joyful moments carry you through this difficult time. Our thoughts are with you.

Doreen (Tennis) Diehl and Margaret Tennis

November 18, 2009

Randy and Leanne, we're sorry for your loss. We always did admire your dad's sports coats. Our thoughts are with you. Charlotte Harpster and Scott Kulp

Tony Bellotti

November 18, 2009

My condolences go out to Mrs. Czekaj, Randy and Leann. Your family were the best neighbors anyone could ask for. Always loved Ed's sportcoats on game days He was the only person that could get away with it and look great.

Gayle Flick

November 18, 2009

What a sweetheart! I was a cashier at Bi-lo and we could always count on him to brighten our day, both with his personality and his "attire"! The happiest I ever saw him was the day he became a grandfather! He was a GOOD man .

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