PAJAK ROBERT A.
Age 60, of Pleasant Hills, on June 26, 2007. Son of the late Andrew and Margaret Pajak. He is survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins. Bob was the Athletic Director for the Pittsburgh Public Schools for almost 25 years.
Bobby was one of the Lincoln Place guys, went to Mifflin School. He loved baseball -- played second base in Little League, Pony League, Prep League -- and on our 1964 City League Championship team, if I recall correctly. He was also an avid bowler, was very proud his 300 game(s). His dad, who coached youth basball in Lincoln Place, died young from coronary heart disease, and Bobby worried about that too. When I was Director of the Cardiac Center at Wheeling Hospital 1978-1988, he came down to see me to have a stress test to check out his heart. It was fine. From his obituary, which I found on-line, he died from pancreatic cancer.
As Sally Hipps notes, Bobby returned to teach and coach in Pittsburgh, eventually at at Allderdice, after graduating from Slippery Rock State College. Pepe Giovane was his good friend and mentor. Bobby later served as Athletic Director for the City of Pittsburgh Public Schools for 22 years.
Bobby was one of my favorite people in our class. While he was at Slippery Rock, I got to see him every year when they played Pitt in baseball, which was usually at least twice a year back then. I covered the team for the Pitt News so I got to see him whether the game was up there or where Pitt played its home games, which back then was off of Washington Boulevard almost across the street from the place where they gave the driving tests. Tom Beckett played for Pitt those same years. One year I happened to get there real early and Bobby was in the infield. One of the SRSU coaches was hitting fungos to the outfielders and Bobby was catching everything that was mishit and ended up as an infield fly. He grabbed a first baseman's glove from their equipment bag (since I am a lefty) and had me join him. I quickly discovered that a pop fly carries farther when hit with a fungo bat than you would expect. Bobby taught me how to judge the ball correctly. He was teaching way back then.
I think Bobby was born to be a teacher and coach, and I'm glad he got to do what he loved doing, although he passed away far too early.
Sallie Hipps (Dent)
Bob Pajak's passing was a loss for all who knew him. A true "gentleman" in every sense of the word.
As a member of several reunion committees, Bob was diligent and serious about any task that he undertook.
We always enjoyed his company, sense of humor and natural ability to laugh at life.
Bob lead a wonderful life as an athelete, educator and Athletic Director of the Pittsburgh Public School District.
His life was guided and inspired by his hero and mentor, our beloved and still very active Coach Pepe Giovane, who is an inspiration to all of us.
Guy & Sallie Dent
Tom Allison
Bobby was one of the Lincoln Place guys, went to Mifflin School. He loved baseball -- played second base in Little League, Pony League, Prep League -- and on our 1964 City League Championship team, if I recall correctly. He was also an avid bowler, was very proud his 300 game(s). His dad, who coached youth basball in Lincoln Place, died young from coronary heart disease, and Bobby worried about that too. When I was Director of the Cardiac Center at Wheeling Hospital 1978-1988, he came down to see me to have a stress test to check out his heart. It was fine. From his obituary, which I found on-line, he died from pancreatic cancer.
As Sally Hipps notes, Bobby returned to teach and coach in Pittsburgh, eventually at at Allderdice, after graduating from Slippery Rock State College. Pepe Giovane was his good friend and mentor. Bobby later served as Athletic Director for the City of Pittsburgh Public Schools for 22 years.
Michael Brourman
Bobby was one of my favorite people in our class. While he was at Slippery Rock, I got to see him every year when they played Pitt in baseball, which was usually at least twice a year back then. I covered the team for the Pitt News so I got to see him whether the game was up there or where Pitt played its home games, which back then was off of Washington Boulevard almost across the street from the place where they gave the driving tests. Tom Beckett played for Pitt those same years. One year I happened to get there real early and Bobby was in the infield. One of the SRSU coaches was hitting fungos to the outfielders and Bobby was catching everything that was mishit and ended up as an infield fly. He grabbed a first baseman's glove from their equipment bag (since I am a lefty) and had me join him. I quickly discovered that a pop fly carries farther when hit with a fungo bat than you would expect. Bobby taught me how to judge the ball correctly. He was teaching way back then.
I think Bobby was born to be a teacher and coach, and I'm glad he got to do what he loved doing, although he passed away far too early.