Stanley "Stush" Gladysiewski

1930 - 2021

Stanley "Stush" Gladysiewski Ford City

Stanley "Stush" Gladysiewski, 91, of Ford City passed away Sunday, October 17, 2021, peacefully at home surrounded by his family and close friends.

He was born September 13, 1930, in Ford City, and is the son of Aldolph D. Gladysiewski and Sophie (Kijowski) Gladysiewski.

Stush was enrolled in Ford City Elementary School in the fall of 1936 and completed his education by graduating from Ford City High School in 1948. Upon graduation, "Stush" secured a stint with the Chicago Cubs baseball team as a shortstop. The pay at that time was very poor, however; so, he returned to Ford City and began an employment period with the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S Air Force, rising as a Staff Sergeant of a B-45 Jet Bomber in the 85th Bomber Squadron. Those planes were part Tactical Air Command (T.A.C) and were the planes which carried the Atomic Nuclear Device (Atomic Bombs). In 1954, Stush received his honorable discharge and returned to the United States and his home in Ford City. He was a Penn State University graduate in 1958.

Stush returned to work at Pittsburgh Plate Glass and worked in Works No. Four and Works No. Six Optical Department until his transfer to the Cumberland, Maryland which was known as that time as the "float-glass" plant. After four years in Cumberland, he resigned his position with PPG and returned to Ford City to begin a new career as a teacher at FCHS in the English and Social Studies departments. During his teaching career he sponsored many student group activities and sports where he established a golf program. In addition to being the golf coach, he coached baseball for a numerous year, during which several teams advanced to varies levels culminating with a PIAA State Championship in 1987. He was the type of educator who as always there for the type of students who needed him. Not one to remember names, he was always using some creative nicknames for students. Stush was a teacher within Armstrong School District for 25 years.

After retirement he enjoy spending time at the family camp along Crooked Creek. He was a sports enthusiast of Penn State and Steeler football and golf. On the rare occasion he was seen around town, it prompted a life-long friend, Mr. Joe Cippel, to quip that there was a "Stush" sighting. Additionally, anyone who spent any amount of time with Stush in his later years come to realize that he was exceptionally regimented in his dayto day activities.

Stush was active with Boy Scouts of America, was a charter member at the inception of the Ford City PPG Credit Union; a charter member of the group that developed the Lenape Vocational Technical School concept, a member of the Elks in Kittanning, the Ford City VFW, Ford City Eagles, and Polish Falcons. He was a member of the Ford City Renaissance Council in 1972 and 1973 in which a municipal building was built, a new storm sewer system was installed, money was raised for a new library through donations, two playgrounds were built, and PPG gave the borough all of the recreational land and ballfields along the Ford City- Cadogan Road for one dollar. He was also a member of the Ford City Union School District Board of Directors before it became the Armstrong School District. Stush was the secretary of the Board of Directors of the Lenape Heights Development Corporation leading to the inception of the eighteen-hole golf course and event center as it is known today. In 2007, Stush was inducted in the Ford City Hall of Fame with the 1987 PIAA Champion Ford City High School Varsity Baseball Team.

Stush was a role model to numerous students during his teaching career at Ford City High School and coaching numerous golf and baseball players through his career.

Stush well known for his outgoing nature and sense of humor enabled him to mentor and inspire many young people, as well as foster true, lifelong friendships with countless others.

He is survived by his loving wife ten days shy of 65 years, Rose Marie "Kamas" Gladysiewski; daughters, Tanya Gladysiewski, Stacy Gladysiewski Klukan and Gary of Ford City; sons, Derek (Cheree) Gladyisewski of Meadville, Todd (Pam) Gladysiewski, of Manorville; grandchildren, Tyson, Krista, Nina, Alex, Katie, and Mya. Also survived by his sisters, Joann Walbert of Kittanning, Dolores (Francis) Bondi, of Ford City, and nieces Nicole Fox, nephews, Curtis Walbert, Jasen Bondi, Corry Bondi. Also survived by his beloved friend Jay Toy, and beloved nurse and dearest friend Andrea Fennell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, father, Adolph D. Gladysiewski and mother, Sophie "Kijowski" Gladyiewski; brother-in-law, Fred Walbert Jr. and nephew Fred Walbert III.

Visitation will be held from 4-8p.m. Friday, October 22, 2021, at the Mantini Funeral Home, Inc., 701 Sixth Ave., Ford City, Pa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. at Christ Prince of Peace Parish, 740 Fourth Ave., Ford City, with Fr. Alan Grote, officiating. Interment will take place at St Mary's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Ford City Public Library, 1136 Fourth Ave, Ford City, Pa 16226 or Divine Redeemer School, 726 Fourth Ave., Ford City, Pa 16226.

A special thank you goes to Three Rivers Hospice for the care of "Stush" and the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital Emergency Room staff and Philip A Gelacek & Associates.

The family asked due to COVID-19 that masks are strongly encouraged for the safety of any family members that are immunocompromised.

Certain highlights of Stush's life is documented in the Ford City Centennial 1887 to 1987 book by John F Englert.