Obituary of Michael Milan Pantelich

PANTELICH Michael Milan Age 95, of Mt. Lebanon passed away on Saturday, August 4. He was born October 15, 1922 in Akron, OH to Rose and Nicklos Pantelich who had immigrated from Croatia. He graduated from South High School in Akron and had fond memories of playing pick up basketball with Ara Parseghian. He served in the US Army during WWII. He attended the University of Akron, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and received his BA in business in 1948. He was the recipient of a grant scholarship from the Knight Newspaper Foundation to attend the University of Pittsburgh and received a Master’s Degree in Retailing in 1949, while interning at Joseph Horne’s. He began his career in Retail Management at Halle’s in Cleveland, OH and then moved on to become a buyer and manager of floor coverings at Stern’s in New York City. While living in Leonia, NJ, he served as a Cub Scout leader with Gene Shalit. After working at several other stores in the NY/NJ area, he moved with his family to Pittsburgh, PA in 1966 and worked at Gimbels and Kaufmann’s before retiring in 1980. He then worked at Hechingers and Lowe’s and had his own business as a carpet inspector, well into his eighties. Preceded in death by his wife, Laura Irene Pantelich and his sister Mildred Chudik. Survived by his six children: Anne Pantelich (Douglas Hepper) of St. Paul, MN; Katherine Miller (Mark) of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Michael L. Pantelich of Mt. Lebanon, PA; John Pantelich (Debbie) of Limerick, PA; Elizabeth Lefevre (Peter) of Wauwatosa, WI; and Ellen Whyte (Kevin) of Upper St. Clair, PA. Also survived by seven grandchildren: Claire Hepper McManus (Chrishon), Brian and Matthew Pantelich, Adam and Olivia Lefevre, and Ryan and Cassandra Whyte. He was a great dancer and enjoyed dancing at his granddaughter’s wedding at age 93. The family wishes to thank his doctors Dr. Richard Egan, and Dr. David Geller of the UPMC Liver Cancer Center, as well as the nurses and therapists at the Allegheny Health Network. Interment will be private. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Warchol Funeral Home, 3060 Washington Pike Bridgeville, PA 15017 (412)221-3333