Memorial: Longtime Regent Square Woman Known for Local Work

A Regent Square staple passed away last night.

Peg Donnick, a longtime Regent Square fixture in the business district, passed away in her sleep peacefully Tuesday night. The well-known woman worked at a variety of businesses along South Braddock Avenue over the years, including Dunning's, Regency Cleaners and most recently Katerbean and D's.  Please leave your own memories of Peg in the comments below. Many people knew and loved her throughout the community.

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Sunday Reflections: Celebrating the Epiphany

Reflect on the wonder of now.

By Rev. Beckie Hickok We are now in the season of Epiphany—from the Greek word, epiphanos—“to appear openly." The Season of Epiphany from Jan. 6 until Ash Wednesday is the time of the church’s proclamation of the appearance of Christ to the world. The story of the Magi or Wise Men or astrologers or Kings, whatever we call them, in Matthew’s gospel reminds us of that proclamation and that promise. It is the story of Three Men and a Baby. Three men who saw a star shining brightly in the night sky and, with hearts full of curiosity and wonder, decided to follow it.  Westward leading, still proceeding, they travelled until they reached the house of Joseph and Mary, where upon seeing, “the child with Mary his mother ..they fell down and …

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Remembering Lower Burrell Officer Derek Kotecki

Kotecki was killed Wednesday night in the line of duty near the Plum/Lower Burrell border. Post your condolences and prayers for Kotecki's family and friends after this tragic loss.

Lower Burrell officer Derek Kotecki, 40, was shot and killed Wednesday night after an incident at a Dairy Queen on Greensburg Road, near the Plum/Lower Burrell border. Kotecki was an 18-year veteran with the Lower Burrell Police Department. Most recently, he was the department's K-9 officer who worked with canine, Benny. Kotecki was shot and killed by Charles Post, 33, of Lower Burrell, who then killed himself. For more information about the incident, see this article in the Valley News Dispatch. This happened very close to home, and Patch wanted to give the community a chance to post condolences and prayers for Kotecki's family and friends. Feel free to show support or share memories in the comments section. A Facebook group also has been…

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Longtime PNC Park Vendor and Regent Square Resident Dies at 64

Kenny Geidel was known for his loud calls of "Beer here!" and "Lemonade!" over the last 30 years.

Kenny Geidel had a stadium full of friends. The beloved PNC Park vendor with the loud and unmistakable voice had a work ethic that never tired, and an obvious passion for a job at Pittsburgh Pirates games that he held for more than 30 years. Geidel, who lived in the Wilkinsburg portion of Regent Square on Biddle Avenue, died Monday night at the age of 64. “In all honesty, we were surprised,” said Paul Geidel, Sr., Kenny’s brother. “He worked down there for years and was really popular. People wanted his autograph. It’s a phenomenon.” Paul said his brother had passed out while working on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park. He described the death as sudden, as Kenny Geidel died Monday night after doctors found complications after a hernia. Kenny …

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Memorial Mass Scheduled for Dick Lithgow

The former owner of the Edgewood Pharmacy leaves a legacy of giving back.

Susan Lithgow’s childhood memories live on at a storefront on Edgewood Avenue. The signs are gone and a new business is there, but for Lithgow, the space will always be known as “The Druggie,” the former Edgewood Pharmacy’s nickname. Edgewood Pharmacy, owned by Dick Lithgow, who recently passed away, was one of the last mom and pop pharmicies in the neighborhood. It was also Susan's favorite babysitter. “Every month when the new comic books came out, we would stay all morning and read them,” she said. “We all had our first jobs there.” Her father passed away March 23 at the age of 82 in Florida, where he had moved several years ago. A memorial service mass will be held for him at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Wilkinsburg at 10 a.m. …

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Forest Hills' Peter Kliment Remembered

Owner of longtime garage had former Studebaker franchise

In 1966, the last Studebaker car rolled out of a factory in the United States, but that didn't stop Peter Kliment from marketing a secret cache of the bygone vehicle's parts from his garage in Forest Hills. Kliment had a family Studebaker franchise himself and didn't let the beloved car's era pass before he had collected and stored brand new parts to let the vehicle live on in his own neighborhood. "He had one of the last Studebaker parts franchises in America and that's a claim to fame," said Forest Hills Mayor Marty O'Malley. "For years, people knew if they were Studebaker fanatics, they knew he had brand new parts for Studebakers." Kliment, 90, of Forest Hills died of prostate cancer Dec. 3. He is the former owner of Kliment Brothers' …

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Alice Buff (Redinger) Mohnach

Swissvale Woman Dies

Alice Buff (Redinger) Mohnach, 91, of Swissvale died Nov. 30. She was the wife of the late John Redinger and Joseph Mohnach, Sr.; sister of the late Ronald (Jean) and William (Helen) Buff; aunt of Ronalda Demmy (James), Lynne Fitzgerald (George), Dorre Bartley (Richard), Veryl Springer (Gary), Wayne Buff (Karen) and Lisa Buff. She also is survived by many great nieces and nephews. A service was held Dec. 4 at the Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home in Swissvale.