Albert D. ‘Bert’ Rechichar – Rostraver Township
Albert D. “Bert’’ Rechichar, 89, of Rostraver Township, died Friday, July 19, 2019. Born in Rostraver Township on July 16, 1930, he was the son of the late Paul and Mary Ann Tomecsko Rechichar. Bert was a 1948 graduate of Rostraver High School. A talented football and baseball player, Bert was recruited by the University of Tennessee, where he was an all-conference and All-American football player, winning the national championship in 1951 against the University of Maryland. He was the 10th overall pick in the 1952 NFL draft, being selected by the Cleveland Browns. He was traded in 1953 to the Baltimore Colts, where he kicked a record-breaking 56-yard field goal and held the record until 1970. While in Baltimore, Bert was a two-time NFL champion and three-time Pro Bowl selection. Bert then played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1960 and finished his career in 1961 with the New York Titans. Also, while at the University of Tennessee, he led the Volunteers to a College World Series in 1951 and played professional baseball in the Cleveland Indians’ farm system. He was inducted into the Mon Valley Hall of Fame in 2000. After his retirement from the NFL, Bert was Rostraver Township road supervisor, a bus driver for BVA and safety manager for Donegal Construction. He is survived by his wife, Myrtie Francine Debusk Rechichar; son, Donald H. (Lisa) Rechichar of Rostraver; daughter, Gail Davis of Cumberland, Md.; stepsons, Dennis (Michele) Chadwell of Rostraver and John Chadwell of Tazwell, Tenn.; stepdaughter, Pat (William) Reed of Illinois; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Estok of Pittsburgh; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Bert Rechichar; great-grandson, Presten Evans; brothers, Frank, Steve, Paul, Martin, John and Tom; and sisters, Mary Lux and Catherine Indof. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC., 580 Circle Drive, Rostraver Township, 724-929-7934, www.jamesstumpfuneralhome.com, where a funeral service will be held Monday following visitation at 8 p.m. Interment will be held privately at Olive Branch Cemetery.
