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| Matt Maharick |
| Date Of Birth: | March 3, 1918 |
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| Date Of Death: | November 7, 2011 |
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| Service Date: | FUNERAL ~ Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 10:00 am at the Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home
CALLING HOURS ~ None
BURIAL ~ Girard City Cemetery |
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MATT MAHARICK, passed away
peacefully on Monday, November 7, 2011 under the care of Hospice
House in Poland with his loving family by his side.
He was born in Colliers, West Virginia on March
3, 1918 the son of Mates and Frances (Rubesa) Maharick. His
family moved to Youngstown's east side in 1927, where his father
worked for the New York Central Railroad. Upon the death of
his father, the family relocated to Niles and remained until
1976.
At age 15, Matt volunteered for the 3-C Camp
(Civilian Conservation Corps) at the Madison Armory in
Wisconsin. He worked in forestry, surveying and soil
conservation assisting in building erosion dams, planting trees and
constructing fences for farmers.
While in 3-C Camp he joined the 3 I's Baseball
League (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana). Bob Feller, an American
League All Star pitcher, observed his skills while he was playing
ball in Van Meter, Iowa. In 1940 his talents were recognized
by Heine Groh (third baseman for the New York Giants) who was
instrumental in his being drafted as a pitcher with the New York
Giants Baseball Team. In 1941, his baseball career was cut
short when he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in WW
II.
Matt entered the Army and served in the Tank
Division. He rose to the rank of Sergeant and Tank Commander
under the leadership of General George Patton at Fort Benning,
Georgia (known as Sand Hill). Later he was commissioned as a
First Lieutenant and transferred to the Mojave Desert, Calif.
While there he made application for the Air Corps division of the
U.S. Army. After intense testing he was accepted and sent for
training to Knoxville, Tenn. and Montgomery, Alabama in 1944.
After completing his training, he was assigned as an Aircraft
Commander of a B-17 Bomber, which he named "The Homesick
Angel". His assignment took he and his crew to England where
together they completed 33 missions over Germany and in support of
D-Day with the 401st Bomber Group. Matt's service to his
country was recognized with an Honorable Discharge in 1946.
Matt enjoyed an early career as a
semi-professional baseball player, playing against famous people
such as Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. Later on he also
enjoyed his participation on the Professional Bowling
Circuit. He owned and operated the "Niles Bowling Center"
along with partner Joe Perry of Girard. As an accomplished
golfer, Matt had two holes in one. First at Candywood Golf
Course, hole number 14, and then at Cross Creek Resort in
Titusville, Penn. hole number 7. For thirty seven years, he
was a member of the Bronzewood Golf League in Kinsman.
He married Margaret "Peggy" Stephenson on March 12, 1977 and they
enjoyed 34 years together. Spending time with his family and
friends, telling great stories and jokes provided Matt a deep
happiness.
He attended North High School and Rayen High
School from 1933 to1937 and International Correspondence
School for Mechanical Engineering, Scranton, Penn. Until his
retirement in 1980, Matt was employed as a development engineer at
Brainard Strapping, a division of Sharon Steel where two patents
remain in his name. In addition, he also worked for Shunk
Manufacturing in Bucyrus and Youngstown Steel Car Corp. in
Campbell. He was a lifetime member of the Youngstown Baseball
Hall of Fame, Moose Lodge in Niles, VFW in Niles and the Elks Club
in Warren.
Matt's memory will be forever cherished in the
hearts of his beloved family. Loving and devoted wife,
Peggy. Sons, Patrick (Linda) Maharick of E. Liverpool, Vince
(Connie) Restivo of Dublin; daughters, Joan Arnott of Girard,
Shelley (Michael) Hudak of Canfield; brother, Max Mohorick of
Mineral Ridge; nine grandchildren, Heather (Rich) Hamilton of
Pittsburgh, Pa, Noelle (Tim) Domer of Chippewa, Pa, Katie (Tae)
Jung of Canfield, Vincent, Leigh and Lauren Restivo all of
Columbus, Taylor Hudak of Canfield, Maggie and Abbie Maharick of E.
Liverpool; four great grandchildren, Timothy and Carson Domer,
Julianna and Michael Jung along with several nieces and
nephews.
Matt was preceded in death by his parents;
daughter, Kristen Lynn Restivo; brother, Henry (who died in combat
on Iwo Jima in 1945); sister, Mary Bortmas; brother-in-law, Howard
Bortmas; sister-in-law, Grace Mohorick; nephews, Howard "Corky"
Bortmas and William "Bill" Bortmas; niece, Evelyn Bortmas.
The Funeral will be Saturday, November 12, 2011
at 10:00 am at the Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home. At Matt's
request there are no calling hours. Burial will be in Girard
City Cemetery with military honors provided by the Trumbull County
Honor Guard.
The family would like to extend a special thanks
to the Hope Center of Poland, MVI Hospice of Youngstown and the
Hospice House of Poland.
Memorial Tributes in his name may be made to MVI
Hospice 4891 Belmont Ave, Youngstown, OH 44505; Hospice House 9803
Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514; and the Hope Center 835
Southwestern Run Poland, OH 44514.
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