Steve Lovasic – Washington Township

Steve Lovasic, 91, of Washington Township, Fairhope, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2019, at home, peacefully surrounded by his family. He was born on Sept. 23, 1927, in West Brownsville, son of the late Josip and Anna Androvich Lovasic. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Bertha; a brother, Joe of Glassport; and a sister, Helen Hadden of West Brownsville. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Catherine J. Letrick; a son, Steven Lovasic of Belle Vernon; and Sharon (Paul) Bisio of Lansdale, Pa. In addition, he is survived three grandchildren, Alyssa (David Binck) of Bethel Park, Vicki Bisio of Hong Kong and David Bisio of Pittsburgh; and one great-grandson, Harrison Binck. After graduation from Brownsville High School, Steve enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a radioman aboard the heavy cruiser USS St. Paul (CA-73), flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. He finished his tour as part of the nuclear weapons test program at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and on-board the battleship U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61). After World War II, he graduated from Central Technical Institute in Kansas City, Mo., as a studio and transmitter engineer. He was recalled to active military duty for the Korean conflict and served as a transmitter engineer and watch supervisor of the Navy’s largest transmitter in Hawaii. He worked for Westinghouse at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in West Mifflin for 37 years from 1956 to 1993. Steve worked to design, develop and test reactor plant control systems for the U.S. nuclear navy. He directed operation of the mechanism lab for 20 years. He traveled to many shipyards to service nuclear surface ships and submarines. He was also involved in underwater explosion and vibration testing while at the laboratory. Steve enjoyed ham radio, woodworking, gardening and traveling with his wife Catherine. Steve traveled extensively, visiting 49 of 50 states, seven Canadian provinces, over 30 foreign countries and many Pacific Islands. Steve was a Mason for over 50 years and member of Tri-County Lodge No. 252. He served as worshipful master of Belle Vernon Lodge No. 643 in 1974 and as lodge secretary for 29 years. He was also a member of the Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, Tall Cedars of Lebanon No. 138 in Mc-Keesport, a life member of Belle Vernon VFW Post No. 699, Belle Vernon American Legion Post No. 0659 and a 50-plus year member of the Croatian Fraternal Union. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon.   www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com, 724-929-5300. A funeral service will be in held in the funeral home at 10 a.m. Monday with Pastor Timothy Dawes officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of Tri-County F.&A.M. Lodge 252 will meet in the funeral home to hold services at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.