Edward P. Demansky

Edward P. Demansky, 84, of Bangor, passed away Nov. 1.

He was a son of the late Edward M. and Anna Bodyk Demansky, Shenandoah.

He graduated from West Mahanoy Township High School, where he was a star football player. Ed was an active co-chairman of the West Mahanoy Class of 1948 reunion committee.

He worked for Rich Coal Co. from 1949-52 as a yuke driver.

As a corporal in the Marine Corps Air Wing, he served in Korea from 1952-54.

In 1957, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in art education from Kutztown University, where he played varsity football and was awarded the Runyon trophy for most valuable senior player. He taught junior high school art in Canton, where he was assistant football and basketball coach. Ed received his master's degree from Pratt Institute and matriculated for post-masters graduate studies at Temple, Penn State and Columbia universities.

He taught junior high school art in the Bangor Area School District from 1958-68, where he was an assistant football coach. He redesigned the art room for the Bangor Area High School to be built at the Five Points campus. The architect praised Mr. Demansky for his ability to make the plan more functional. He was professor of art at East Stroudsburg University from 1968 until his retirement in 1986.

Ed was a member of the United Mine Workers of America, the National Education Association and East Stroudsburg University Faculty Union and a former member of the VFW and Bangor Elks.

His greatest enjoyments were his children and grandchildren, restoring his 1933 Willies Overlander, flea marketing and spending time in his studio "barn," where he created unique jewelry, stained glass and custom model airplanes. He was a true "Renaissance Man."

From 1985 to 1990, he served as a Bangor Borough councilman and was a photojournalist for the Bangor Daily News. He was a member of the Slate Belt Heritage Committee Executive Board and hand carved the Slate Belt Heritage sign, which adorns the building today. As an avid bowler in the Slate Belt and Stroudsburg leagues, he won many trophies. Ed was also an American Jr. Bowling Congress certified instructor at the Bangor Bowling Center from 1961-66.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Daniel, Joseph and George Demansky.

Surviving are his wife, Linda Fremount Demansky, Bangor; daughters, Deanna Hart Rodman and husband, Matt, Connecticut, and Christy Demansky Talese, Columbus, Ohio; grandsons, Matthew Talese and wife, Bethany, Michael Talese and Nina El-Khoury; granddaughters, Brielle Hart Grassey and husband, John, and Hollie Hart; extended family, Carol and Tom Guertin, Delaware; grandchildren, Jeffery and Emily Guertin and Greg Talese, Wooster, Ohio; and a brother, Bobby and wife, Barbara, Shillington. Uncle "Babe" was loved by his nieces and nephews.

A private family ceremony is planned. Arrangements have been entrusted to James B. Gaffney Funeral Home, Bangor.

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