DR. HARRY CHARLES MAVRINAC
DR. HARRY CHARLES MAVRINAC
Obituary
Guest Book
HARRY MAVRINAC Obituary
PATRICK, PhD
On September 30, 2010, surrounded by his family who were praying the rosary, Dr. Harry Charles Patrick Mavrinac, PhD, age 85 ½ years, left his earthly home for his heavenly reward. Harry died after several weeks of valiantly fighting the complications of pneumonia. A World War II veteran, an educator, a school administrator, and an inspirational leader, Harry is survived by his wife of 58 years Catherine (Cathy) Fitzgerald Mavrinac and his five children: Paul A. and Joan M. of Pittsburgh; Michael (Nathalie Charpentier) and grandson Alexei Nicolas of Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France; Maureen A. and Jim of California. He was preceded in death by his Croatian immigrant parents, Marija Teresa Kvaternik and Anton (Tony) and brothers Albert Anthony of Waterville, Maine and Edward William of Pittsburgh. Harry is survived by his brother Frank Richard (Shirley Phillips) Marvin of Arlington, VA; sisters-in-law Marilyn (Sweeney) Mavrinac of Waterville, Maine and Kathleen (Desmond) Fitzgerald of Pittsburgh. He is also survived by brothers-in-law Brother James F. Fitzgerald, C.P. of Union City, NJ and Denis R. Baier of Pittsburgh, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Harry was a retired administrator with Mt. Lebanon School District and Pittsburgh Public Schools. He was proud to help children become responsible, productive adults. He did so through his passion for teaching and learning. Harry was active, curious, interested, and interesting. Harry was a committed volunteer with the IRS (VITA) and had a passion for continuing education in diverse areas. Friends and family will be received at the JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Rd., Brentwood 15227, Saturday from 7 - 9 p.m. and Sunday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral prayer will be held Monday morning at 9:15 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Pleasant Hills at 10:00 a.m. A celebration of Harry's life will be held at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association (PAA) in Oakland immediately following interment in Calvary Cemetery. PLEASE OMIT FLOWERS. DR. MAVRINAC WOULD APPRECIATE MASSES FOR HIS SOUL. Please send condolences to WWW.JOHNFSLATER.COM
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Ingrid Henar
September 26, 2020
Gone to heaven but not forgotten
Linda Deatherage
November 3, 2010
Dear Mavrinac family and friends,
Harry’s memory will always live in our hearts and prayers. The pride and passion he showed helping children become responsible, productive adults went further than enriching his student’s and family’s lives. Harry’s compassion, pride and passion are carried on through his son, Paul, who affects the lives of everyone he encounters. Paul, like his father, contributes to the success in careers and lives of his friends and acquaintances and more specifically, my success and that of my son who is now serving proudly in the US Navy. Thank you Harry for providing direction to your family who continue to share your gifts with so many.
Mary Laufer Francis
October 21, 2010
I was sorry to hear of Dr. Mavrinac's passing. My sister Joan and I were very touched when he and his wife (and later Paul) came to our mother's wake last April and said so many nice things about her as a teacher of their 5 children. Our condolences to the family.
Shameme Manjoo
October 8, 2010
Dearest Cathy, Joan, Paul & the Mavrinac Family. We cherish fondest memories of Harry. May God enfold his soul with Everlasting Love. We love you and are thinking of you. Letter following. Shanthee and Shameme Manjoo, Jow'hara, Shahir and Shahan Chundra Family Johannesburg South Africa
How you can show support
Notify Me
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Kate (Heidkamp) Willis
October 7, 2010
Dear Mavrinac Family
My deepest sympathy in the passing of Dr. Mavrinac. I would always run into him at the store or the Willock club. Jim, sorry I missed the funeral.
Prayers to all of you from the Heidkamp family.
Ruth Feathers
October 6, 2010
Dr. M was a dear friend to my mother, even after she retired from Mt. Lebanon. He will be sadly missed.
October 5, 2010
Dr. Mavrinac was a gentleman among his colleagues -- an honorable leader. He was my supervisor for a time at Mt. Lebanon and he was noble.
Jane Offutt
October 5, 2010
Please accept my sincere sympathy on the passing of Dr. Mavrinac. His time at Cornell High School may have been short, but I carry with me his kindness and fairness that he showed to all of his students. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. It was a potentially difficult time with the merger between Cornell and Neville Island. "Harry" led the smooth transition that set the standard for what is great district. He will be missed.
J. Cellante, Coraopolis
Roberta Bullock
October 5, 2010
Dear Mavrinac Family,
I met Harry twelve years ago at the copier in the Finance Department located in the City/County Building. Ever since we have been very close friends. Every year he return he would notice every little change I made to myself, being a new hairstyle or losing weight etc. Every Easter, Harry would leave me some chocolates on my desk and say that the Easter Bunny stopped pass to say "Hello." He was my very dear friend and I will miss him dearly.
nancy bies
October 4, 2010
Dear Joan,
So sorry to hear about your father.
We think of you often and are praying for you and your family in your time of sorrow.
Marty Coyne
October 4, 2010
Dear Mavrinak Family,
I met Dr. Mavrinak when I was teaching fitness classes at CCAC South. Dr. Mavrinak shared the wisdom he had in regards to teaching with ma and I will always be thankful for being fortunate enough to learn from him. I use what he taught me daily in my classes at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Marty Coyne - Jacksonville, FL
October 4, 2010
I'm sending condolences to the family of Dr. Harry Charles Mavrinac. My name is Dorothea Peniel, Harry was a very beautiful, knowledgeable, generous, patient, thoughtful man. Harry would always ask me about my family and would always ask how I was doing. I met Harry from doing my taxes in the City County Building in downtown Pittsburgh. His lost touches me very deeply. My children will miss him as well because he would always bring me Easter candy for them each year. I am hoping that I can go on remembering his kindness without feeling saddened about his homegoing. God bless the family.
Donna Motyl Belas
October 3, 2010
Dear Mrs. Mavrinac,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Dr. Mavrinac. I first met Mr. Mavrinac, as his title was back then, when the University of Pgh. assigned me to student teach at Cornell High School on Neville Island. Since I was a Brentwood girl commuting to Cornell (Coraopolis/Neville Island) via the PAT bus line, Mr. Mavrinac and I often rode the bus together to and from Pittburgh. The following year an English position opened and I was hired. Mr. Mavrinac always challenged me to think and reflect on my teaching. The following year I was transferred to Cornell Jr. High School and I didn't have much contact with him. However, I sponsored the school newspaper and I would always send him a copy at the Sr. High. He always responded with a positive note. It has been 35 years since I began my career at Cornell SD and now that I am an administrator I always take the time to write a note to teachers and staff to commend them on their accomplishments. His practice of doing that has always stayed with me. In fact, when the Post-Gazette did a story about my becoming the Superintendent of the Cornell SD, Dr. Mavrinac sent a letter of congratulations.
A few years ago, my mother passed away and the viewing was at Copeland's in Moon Township. I was surprised that Dr. Mavrinac had traveled all that way for the viewing. He said he saw her name in the newspaper and came to pay his respects. (He had often seen my parents at various places in the South Hills.) I was deeply moved that he would even remember me after all these years.
I am certain that I am one of many who has a story like this to tell about your husband. He was a gentleman and scholar. I am proud to have known him.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this most difficult time.
Donna & Jerry (Meyer) Rogers
October 3, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Lillian LaJevic-Augustine
October 3, 2010
Dearest Mavrincac Family, Students who attended Mt. Lebanon Junior High School will always remember Dr. Mavrinac's famous words every morning over the announcements, "Character is who you are when no one is watching". I was proud to be a fellow educator with him. He led by example and lived by those words, a constant inspiration to us all. May he be enjoying that great polka in the sky.
Corrie Manjoo
October 3, 2010
Our condolences to Cathy and family. Harry was a lovely man whose kindness, curiosity, and zest for life touched everyone who knew him.
Corrie, Jas, Jehan, Ariel, Shanthee, Gurmit, Anita, Shameme, Raj and the rest of our family.
October 2, 2010
Dear Mavrinac Family,
Deepest sympathy. Our thoughts are with you.
Sincerely,
Anita Sandhu and Michael Giuliani.
Bobby & Debbie Meyer
October 2, 2010
Please accept our condolences on the passing of Harry. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Cathy, and your entire family during this most difficult and sad time.
Marianne Quinn
October 2, 2010
Dear Mavrinac Family,
I was so sorry to hear of the loss of Mr. Mavrinac. I can still see him standing on our front steps saying "Hi, Julie". He was such a good friend and neighbor to my parents all those years and continued to be a friend to my Mum after she moved. She always enjoyed her cards from Cathy and Harry. Roberta Drive was a special bond.
You are all in my prayers.
Love,
Marianne Quinn
HUGH TERRY
October 2, 2010
Harry was concerned about all taypayers. He always went of his way to help and assist everyone with tax problems and fully explained each item of the tax return to their satisfaction.
HUGH TERRY Pittsburgh PA
Ingrid Henar
October 2, 2010
My condolences to the Mavrinac family for the loss of Harry.
He will rest in peace. Ingrid Henar , Boston MA
Fran Pischke
October 2, 2010
Dear Mavrinac Family,
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of Harry. I've known Harry as a VITA volunteer at the City-County Building and looked forward to seeing him each tax season. Harry also knew my father from growing up in Lawrenceville and each year would tell me a story. I was so appreciative when he came to the funeral home last year to see him. I will miss seeing Harry next year. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sincerely,
Vince Carr
October 2, 2010
Please accept my sincere sympathy on Harry's passing. He was a true gentleman and a fine administrator.
Showing 1 - 24 of 24 results
Make a Donation
in HARRY MAVRINAC's name
How to support HARRY's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor HARRY MAVRINAC's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
