Joseph D. Lavrich Jr.

Not every successful man is a good father. But every good father is a successful man. – Robert Duvall 

Joseph D. Lavrich, Jr., a hard-working, dedicated family man, died suddenly at home on Monday, April 14, 2025. He was 86.

Joe was born on January 24, 1939 in White Valley, the son of Joseph and Jennie Senchur Lavrich.

After serving as an U.S. Army tank driver stationed in Germany with the 11th ACR Blackhorse Division, he returned to Pittsburgh where he became a registered land surveyor and eventual partner in Gateway Engineers, a full-service civil engineering firm. He was the appointed township engineer representative for several of the firm’s municipal clients, providing ongoing counsel and project review. He contributed to many projects that dot the Pittsburgh landscape.

A man of prodigious skills and appetites, Joe enjoyed woodworking, doing yardwork, snowmobiling, traveling, hosting pig and lamb roasts and, above all, spending time with family.

Joe’s sense of adventure would take him and his family on memorable travels. He introduced them to the thrills of snowmobiling through ungroomed back-country trails in Quebec, Michigan, Maine and Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Other favorite journeys included trips to the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Everglades and visiting children in Colorado and Kentucky.

Joe also relished the rewards that come with making something beautiful and useful out of wood, crafting custom kitchen cabinets, furniture, doors and household items in his home workshop. He shared many of his creations with others and his works of art will be precious memories to all. In retirement, Joe formed JMN Creations and was among a select group of woodworkers to exhibit in juried craft festivals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Joe possessed a mastery of all essential building elements ranging from electrical, plumbing, carpentry and painting. Each home project offered the opportunity to pass along wisdom and know-how to his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. And, as he did, he ensured they had important life skills. Among his varied passions was teaching them how to move large rocks without machinery, standing a slab upright and walking it-corner to corner.

As a youth, he would volunteer with his family at Slovene Day picnics. His parents Jennie and Joe were active in the Slovene community. As his family grew, he instilled in them his pride of his Slovenian heritage and culture.

To his family he was a rock – a reliable source of strength and support in every way. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, godfather, uncle and fast friend. Joe was a faithful attendant at every family gathering, quick to welcome new friends and relatives and engage them in conversation.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy (nee Lubich), and their five children: Nancy Peterson (Todd), Joann, Karen Fry (Chris), Daniel, and Michael (Meredith). He will be forever in the hearts of his 14 grandchildren Sarah, Nathaniel, Rachel, Naomi, Noah, Esther, Trudy, Elias, Deborah, Clara, Joshua, Helen, Miles and Mason as well as his sisters, Genevieve Sartori and Loretta Lavrich. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Frank.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at St. Matthew Parish, All Saints Church (Etna) 19 Wilson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15223. Visitation is private.

The family respectfully suggests tributes to the Slovene Radio Hour, 381 F Street, Pittsburgh PA 15209.