Frank Samsa

1951 - 2016

Frank Samsa, 65, formerly of Turtle Creek, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at Concordia of Monroeville, where he had been a resident. He was the beloved husband for 39 years of Donna (Zeleznak) Samsa and was the father of and hero to Danielle Pellegrino (Michael), of Harrison City, and Nicholas Samsa, of Penn Hills; proud grandfather of Michael and Dominic Pellegrino; and dear brother of Veronica Pecora (Rich), Robert Samsa (Marian), Greg Samsa (Kathy) and John Samsa (Kathy). He was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Frank was one of the greatest natural athletes to hail from the Turtle Creek Valley area. He was a member of the 1964 state-champion St. Colman Grade School basketball team and was a key player as a sophomore on the 1967 Turtle Creek High School basketball team, which won the WPIAL Class B championship. While in high school, he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. In football, he was named WPIAL Class B MVP, selected to the Big 10 team and named most valuable back during his junior year. Frank was offered many scholarships to play football, choosing to enroll at West Virginia University and play for coach Bobby Bowden. He was named by Sports Illustrated as one of its Top 10 Freshmen. A highlight of his career was playing in the Peach Bowl vs. North Carolina. In 1987, Frank was inducted into the East Boros Sports Hall of Fame. After college, Frank was employed by Westinghouse, East Pittsburgh. Following the plant's shutdown, he worked as a bus driver for Port Authority of Allegheny County, but his career was cut short by multiple sclerosis. He waged a daily battle for 32 years against the disease, approaching it the same as he did with his athletic career -- and he was victorious, because MS did not claim his life. He lived every day with joy and shared that happiness with anyone he met. When asked how he was doing, even while confined to a bed or wheelchair, he always responded that he was doing fine and instructed folks not to worry about him. Frank died as he lived, as a champion.
Friends are welcome from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at PATRICK T. LANIGAN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, Turtle Creek/Monroeville Chapel, 1111 Monroeville Ave., at James Street, Turtle Creek (412-823-9350). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Colman Church.