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John J. "Baldy" McGrane Sr.
John J. "Baldy" McGrane Sr.
Obituary
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John McGrane Obituary
McGRANE
JOHN J. SR. "BALDY"
Age 85, of Lawrenceville, on Thursday April 21, 2005; beloved husband for 62 years of Clara "Cookie" (Baden) McGrane; father of John (Darlene) McGrane Jr., Trish (Perry) Hartge, Edward "Bud" (Mary) McGrane, Robert "BJ" (Avis) McGrane, Mickey, Tim, Suzie and Dave McGrane; grandfather of Perry Jr., Mike, Kim, Sherri, Kristy, Richard, Meagan, Melissa, Michelle, Eddie, Bobby and Katie; also 9 great-grandchildren. Friends received at the WALTER J. ZALEWSKI FUNERAL HOME, 216 44th St., Lawrenceville Saturday and Sunday 1-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass in Our Lady of The Angels Parish, St. Augustine Church on Monday at 10 a.m. Family requests donations to the 9th Ward Youth Assoc., 4623 Carlton St., Pgh., PA 15201.
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
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Conley Family
May 13, 2005
Cookie and family
Gil and I want to convey our sympathy and prayers for Baldy. We were in Florida and are sorry we could not get to visit to pay our respects. I hope he runs into our Gibby up there and gives him our love.
Bonnie DeBasi (Scheibel)
May 13, 2005
Mickey,
I was so sorry to hear the news and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Your father was a genuinely wonderful man, he had nothing but kindness to spread and he lead his life to the fullest, didn't he? He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Alma Wisniewski
May 4, 2005
To the McGrane Family,
It has been an honor to know a true hero of the community. His spirit will live on in Lawrenceville and everywhere we have gone.
With Sympathy
Alma Wisniewski
Scott Delach
May 2, 2005
Dear Mickey and Family,
My deepest condolences to you on your loss. I was saddened to hear of Mr. McGrane's passing. The life he led, truly is one to be admired. In the story from the PG, they write of the generations of youngsters he and the 9th Ward Youth Assoc. helped keep out trouble by providing sports as an outlet. The impact he's had and continues to have on Lawrenceville is immeasurable. Mr. McGrane constructed a means for youngsters to learn to have confidence in their abilities, and the values of teamwork, work ethic, and friendship through sports. When I look back at the many influences that have made me the man I am today, I can proudly say 9th Ward baseball is one of the most important, and I am proud of the fact that I was able to play a couple years of ball with Mr. McGrane as my coach. He will be missed.
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Scott Wedner
May 1, 2005
Dear McGrane Family,
I never knew Mr. McGrane as "Baldy", I only knew him as Johnny. In 1968 as a 16 year old, I began coaching baseball in Stanton Heights. Johnny Mcgrane was already a fixture and legend in Lawrenceville. We metfor the first time at the old Allegheny Valley Baseball League meetings at your 9th Ward Field and over the years Johnny and I became friends. I purchased trophies from him for our league and he was always a gracious host when we came to play 9th Ward.
In later years we lamented about the decline in the level of dedication and discipline of the youth ballplayer. The young people of Ninth Ward lost something very valuable with John's passing. He was a fine gentleman, he will be missed and I was sorry to hear of his passing.
With deepest sympathies,
Scott Wedner
Denise Sutton
April 29, 2005
Susie,
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your father.
Judy Magill
April 28, 2005
Ed, Mary Jean & Family,
So sorry to hear of your loss. With our deepest sympathy,
The Magill Family
Mike "Pugs" Sullivan
April 27, 2005
Dear Mick and Family
I'm sorry to hear of the passing of a great man. He always had a great story to share, and he always had that fire when it came to 9th ward. He will be missed greatly.
Michael Antkowski
April 27, 2005
Tim/Mickey/Cookie/Family,
My deepest sympathy to you on your loss. John was truly a wonderful and kind gentleman. I always enjoyed talking with him and will especially remember his kindness and caring for my kids during our time in 9th Ward baseball. I am so sorry that we were out of town and could not come by to pay our respects. Thank you for sharing John "Mr. McGrane" with everyone. He truly made Lawrenceville a better place. We have all lost a hero.
Nanci Sadowski
April 26, 2005
My deepest sympathy
renilda sadowski/murphy
April 26, 2005
My deepest sympathy to the whole McGrane family.He will be deeply missed by all.
Maria Sticco (L. Easton's aunt)
April 26, 2005
Dear Michelle, Mrs. Easton told me about the loss of your Grandpap. Please accept my deepest sympathy. I was fortunate to have one of my gramps until 1995. Grandparents are such a wonderful gift. I trust you have happy memories. God bless you and your family.
Char Yoest
April 26, 2005
Trish,
We were so sorry to hear about your dad. All of Lawrenceville lost a very caring, loving man. Thank you for sharing him with us. He will truly be missed by all who knew him. Please pass our condolences to the rest of your family. Rest in peace Mr. McGrane.
Ed and Char Yoest
Bill McGee
April 26, 2005
Dear McGrane Family,
I wish to extend my condolences to your family. We will all miss John on the baseball field. I can only say how lucky I am for having known him.
Sincerely,
Bill McGee, Coach
Penn Hills American
Legion
Shawn Belsterling
April 26, 2005
McGrane Family,
The world has lost another great human and Mr. McGrane will be missed. During my years of playing sports with 9th ward one story stands about Mr. McGrane. It happen in 1988 Flag Football Season. I was playing in a game and Mr. McGrane was working the yard sticks. I had to make a block so we could make a first down. Now when I say I blocked the guy trying to stop us is an understatement. I crushed this kid and he flew and landed at the feet of Mr. McGrane. Now I was in shock over the hit, Mr. McGrane looked at the kid and then at me. I will never forgot how Mr. McGrane looked at me and with a little smile said Shawn with a hit like that you should be kicked out of the league then gave me a little wink. Being a part of the 9th Ward Youth Association helped me grow up and stay out of trouble and for that I thank Mr. McGrane and his family. I will always be there for The McGrane Family if they need me to pass along the knowledge and respect I was taught to the new breed of kids starting out with 9th Ward Youth Association. John "Baldy" McGrane you will be missed!!!!!!!!!
Cheryl (Czolba) Ditz
April 26, 2005
To: The McGrane Family
Growing up in Lawrenceville, I participated in the basketball and softball programs. Went to grade school at St. Mary's and high school at St. Aug's with Trish. Mr. McGrane taught me basketball at the Lyceum when I was 9 yrs. old, playing grade school and CYO b-ball at the Lyceum and then high school ball at St. Aug's. He was one of the kindest, gentlest, loving man I ever met who devoted his life to Lawrenceville sports and youth. And, he and Mrs. McGrane raised wonderful children.
God bless you, Mr. McGrane, and may your legacy live on. RIP.
Cheryl
Fr. Tim Whalen
April 25, 2005
Dear Mickey & Family,
Peter Jennings has nicknamed John and his friends "The Greatest Generation" and it's very obvious why the name has stuck. It hurts a little to admit it but Lawrenceville will never be the same without characters like Baldy and neither will our country. They loved their families, their churches and their neighborhoods and without that type of love we'll all be a little poorer. Thank God he lived till he was 85 because every moment he lived he inspired everyone around him to live their life a little better. I'll be remembering John and all of you in my Masses this week.
Chris Retenauer
April 25, 2005
McGrane Family
As a novice basketball player in December '67 I first met Johnny.
As a novice coach in December '75 I met him again.
Then, as a PIAA official in November '89, again.
I have never met a more giving & responsible individual both in the world of amateur sports & life in general. Your family has certainly been blessed. The lyceum will never be the same...
God bless.
Chris Retenauer
Thersa Ruffner
April 25, 2005
Cookie and Family;
I was so sorry to hear about John. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.He will be greatly missed. My prayers are with you and your family.
Beverly Morrow-Jones
April 25, 2005
Susie,
What wonderful stories your family has to tell! Hearing about your Dad and reading about him told me how special he was to you, his entire family, and his very large community. Your tribute was lovely. My heart goes out to all.
Bev
Rich & Renee Jenca
April 25, 2005
Dear McGrane Family, We are very sorry for the loss of your loved one. Our prayers and thoughts are with your whole family at this sad time. We are all better people for having known John "Baldy" McGrane.
Bill Rose
April 25, 2005
Mickey and your family
I am so sorry for your loss. Your father was one of the best human beings to be born in this world. He never worried about himself. He was always looking out for the kids and his family. A person like him only comes around once in a life time. I am so glad that I got to know him. He will never ever be forgotten.
Bill Rose
Kevin Best
April 25, 2005
Hello to the Mcgrane family and hi.I just want to say that i knew Mr.McGrane when i was a youngster,he was a very good,nice and kind hearted man. I'm very much from Lawrenceville and played a lot of baseball and softball there too. Mr.McGrane had a lot of very good baseball teams over the years and made sure there was always some place to play. I've known Mickey for years,Tim is a fratenity brother of mine and Jeff Divenny and John Jr,i've known too for a while. Mr.McGrane will be very sorely missed by all of us that knew him. God bless his whole family and friends. Thank you. Kevin Best.
Danny Tobin
April 24, 2005
Mick, and your entire family;
Our deepest sympathy on the passing of "Mr. McGrane". The lyceum and the field won't be quite the same.
The Tobin's
Alan Lawyer
April 24, 2005
I am an old friend of Tims. Before I retired,we worked together at WQED. I am sorry to hear of your loss. I never met him but he must have been a very good man. You have my deepest sympathy.
Michelle McGrane
April 24, 2005
I just wanted to thank everyone who came to the viewing tonight, and for all the people that will show up tomorrow. My grandpap was a great man, and he did so much for everyone, he shouldn't be remembered any other way.
Humphrey Salerno
April 23, 2005
Mr. McGrane was my basketball coach at St. Mary's. I have never forgotten the values he had instilled in me. I have fond memories of him, as he was not only a great coach but a wonderful man, who always had time to listen. To his family I would like to say he is not gone he is just away. He enriched my life as I am sure he has with everyone he has met. He will be truly missed, and thank you for sharing him.
Bob & Donna Heiter
April 23, 2005
Donna and I want to send our deepest condolences to the McGrane Family. We are truly sadden at the loss of such a great man as "Baldy." There are no words to express what a true, real, one-of-a-kind father and friend Mr. McGrane was. He always put himself second. He gave tirelessly to the sports organizations in Lawrenceville and to the children involved. More than that, he gave himself, totally, to his family. He was the richest man I have and most likely, ever will know. Baldy was rich in the things that really matter in life. Things that you can not put a price on. He talked(did he ever:-) )he listened, he told countless, corny, clean funny jokes, he was full of compassion and goodness. The list goes on and on. Most of all he LOVED. Loved his family, life, children, friends and his beloved Lawrenceville. Mr. McGrane was a true cornerstone of the Lawrenceville community. His passing is a tremendous loss to all who were blessed to have been in his company for a moment or for years like Donna and I. We have lost a mamber of the family today. We thank The Lord to have lived and learned from this great man. God truly "broke the mold" whan he created "Baldy" McGrane. Rest easy in the loving arms of God Baldy. No one deserves it more. We love you.
Judy Stadelman
April 23, 2005
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the family. Thanks for all the memories Baldy!!
Love, Punchin Judy
Bill and Betsy Waxman
April 23, 2005
Ed, MJ and family....We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. We will be thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.
Love to all... Bill and Betsy
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