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Salvatore Paul Mollise

Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | July 10, 2023

Salvatore Paul Mollise, age 80, of Elizabeth Twp., passed away on Monday, July 10, 2023. Sal was born at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh on March 25, 1943. Sal was the devoted husband of wife Nancy (Kovac) Mollise, who passed away in September 2022. Nancy and Sal would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary last September. Sal is survived by his three children, Maria (Robert Svedberg) Mollise of Atlanta, GA, Michele (Michael) Pirrone of Atlanta, GA, and Salvatore Paul (Jennifer Diak Bickerstaff) Mollise II of Elizabeth Twp.; sister, Barbara (Robert) Whiteacre of Washington, PA; sister-in-law, Dorothy Kovac of McKeesport; grandchildren, Jacob and Joseph Svedberg; stepgrandchildren, Clay, Trinity, Madison and Beau Pirrone. Sal was pre-deceased by his parents, Eleanor (Kaczmarski) Mollise and Frank “Peanuts” Mollise of West Mifflin; in-laws, Anna (Mital) Kovac and John Kovac; sisters-in-law, Charlotte and Joan Kovac; and brother-in-law, John “Fooz” Kovac, all of McKeesport.

Sal spent much of his childhood in the Polish South Side and Italian Lower Hill communities of Pittsburgh. Those cherished childhood memories brought comfort to Butchie (as he was known on the South Side) in recent years, as Parkinson's wreaked havoc over his body, mind and spirit.

Sal was a dedicated member of St. Michael Catholic Church of Elizabeth Township for more than 50 years. He truly enjoyed supporting the congregation by maintaining many John Deere tractors over the years for the church grounds, and also working with his fellow Ushers Club friends and neighbors.

Sal was an alum of Fifth Avenue, Epiphany, St. Adalbert’s and Homeville schools in Pittsburgh and graduated from Homestead High in 1961. After graduation, Sal served in the Army at Fort Benning, GA as a heavy vehicle driver between 1964 and 1966, achieving the rank of Private and receiving the National Defense Service Medal and Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14) Medal. Pvt. Mollise was Honorably discharged in December 1966 and returned to his loved ones in Pittsburgh.

Sal started his career in the trucking industry as a driver for Helms and Coca-Cola and later joined United Parcel Service as one of their early “feeder drivers.” While delivering packages for UPS along Penn Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh, he met his beloved Nancy. They wed, moved to “the country,” built their lifelong home in Elizabeth Township, raised their children, and chased Sal’s dream of being a farmer - raising Brittany Spaniels, ducks, chickens, a sheep, and other animals. During his career with UPS, Sal was awarded numerous accolades for his achievements as a feeder driver. He was known throughout the Pennsylvania and Ohio trucking routes by his CB handle, “Bird Dog.” He was a Mack Truck Million, Two Million and Three Million Miler inductee, driving his 18-wheeler hauling double trailers from the UPS Beaver Avenue hub in Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, and later from New Stanton to Harrisburg, and New Station to Columbus, OH. He set an extremely high bar with his intense work ethic, and was an inductee into the prestigious UPS Circle of Honor in 1990. His safety and driving expertise led to mentoring and training many new UPS drivers through the years. As an active and proud member for more than 40 years with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 249 and Local 30, Sal participated in many 1970s-era transit-industry labor activities supporting his Teamster and union brothers and sisters in Pittsburgh. Sal retired after 38 years with UPS, having an impeccable safe driving record of more than 3 million miles.

Sal spent much of his time outside the truck cab ardently attending to his and Nancy’s beautifully manicured vegetable and flower gardens and lawns. Sal was an original member of the Elizabeth Township Sportsmen’s Club, and member of the Slovak American Beneficial & Sportsmen’s Club (HECLA), Disabled American Veterans, Elizabeth Township Seniors, and the American Legion.

The Mollise family expresses its sincere gratitude for the countless medical professionals who have helped and compassionately cared for Sal, including Elizabeth Township EMS, Central Volunteer Fire Department, Paramount Senior Living, and Suncrest Hospice.

Friends will be received in the Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home, 221 North Second Avenue, Elizabeth on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, July 13 at St. Michael Church at 10 AM with Fr. Miroslaus Wojcicki officiating. Burial will follow in Round Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth Twp. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations be made to Central Volunteer Fire Department, 425 Scenery Drive, Elizabeth, PA 15037, or Southeast Regional Emergency Medical Services Station 600, 2121 Century Drive, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025. Offer condolences at www.bekavacfuneralhome.com.

Originally published July 10, 2023.

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