H.R. Downey

H.R. "Dick" Downey, 85, of Nokomis, Fla., died March 5, 2015, in Pittsburgh. He was the beloved husband of the late Patricia; father of Dianne (Tim), of Philadelphia, Beth (Dennis), of Philadelphia, Nancy (Eric), of Pittsburgh and Richard (Jodine), of Pittsburgh; and grandfather of Richard and Daniel. Born in Greensburg, Dick graduated from Penn State University in 1951, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. After college, he served in the Korean War stateside. Dick spent 39 distinguished years with Alcoa beginning his career in 1954 with subsidiary Wear-Ever Aluminum in New Kensington, and moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1967. While with Wear-Ever, Dick led the development of the "Super Shooter" Cookie Gun. After transferring to Alcoa in Pittsburgh in 1976, Dick held significant corporate marketing positions. In 1977, he began working on aluminum can growth and recycling promotions. Dick's contributions, most notably the innovative "Fantastic Finishes" television commercials for the NFL and NBC Sports, helped make the aluminum can the most well-known and successful package in history worldwide. He also created an aluminum can recycling program in Saudi Arabia. Dick was a loving father who spent hours teaching his children how to play and enjoy sports and to work hard and strive for success. He was also known for his sense of humor and lived life to its fullest. An avid golfer, Dick scored a very rare hole in one at Oakmont Country Club. His playing partner duplicated the feat, but with a higher handicap, won the hole because he received a stroke making his score a net zero. Dick was recognized for this accomplishment in Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association (PO Box 15120 Chicago, IL 60693). A private service will be held at a later date.