Paul Zolak – Belle Vernon
On April 14, 2020, Paul Zolak, passed away at the age of 72, after a long and courageous battle with Inclusion Body Myositis. Paul was born on Jan. 30, 1948, in Donora, to Charles and Alice Kuzemka Zolak. Paul was a 1965 graduate of Donora High School, where he starred in baseball and football. He received his undergraduate degree from the California University of Pennsylvania where he was kicker and quarterback for the football team. He went on to earn his graduate degree from West Virginia University. In 1967, he married the love of his life, Daryl (née Dacko). They raised their two children, Scott and Heather while living in Belle Vernon. Paul was well known for his kind, compassionate and caring demeanor. He had an unmatched ability to make everyone in the room feel important. Paul had a passion for all things sports. He spent several decades working with the Ringgold and Bethel Park school systems, serving as both a football coach and later as a director of athletics. He loved interacting with his student athletes and always wanted the best for each and every one of them. He developed many strong relationships with his colleagues and others in the field of athletics and considered them as family. During his athletic administration career, he was a member of the WPIAL’s basketball, football, baseball and softball committees, as well as the WPIAL Board of Control as the athletic directors’ representative. He founded and was past president of the Tri-County Athletic Director Association. His top honors included the Pennsylvania State Athletic Director Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the Dick Kohl Tri-County Memorial Award, the California University Alumni Association’s Michael Duda Award for Athletic Achievement and the Region IV Athletic Director of the Year award. In addition he was inducted into the Mid-Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 where he joined his son, Scott, who was inducted in 2004. A man of very strong faith, he was a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Donora and most recently St. James the Apostle Orthodox Church in Port Saint Lucie, Fla. Paul was preceded in death by his father, Charles, and his mother, Alice. He is survived by his loving wife and caregiver, Daryl; his children Scott (Amy) and Heather (Sean), and his pride and joys, his five grandchildren, Hadley, Samantha, Brody, Dylan and Tyler. In addition he is survived by his brother, Charles (Joan) Zolak and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. A special thank you to his nephew, Dr. Jason Zolak, for providing us his medical expertise in the field of pulmonology during the course of his illness. We know that Dad impacted many lives but unfortunately due to coronavirus we aren’t able to provide everyone the opportunity to say their farewells at this time. We will be holding a private funeral and burial at Mon Valley Memorial Park. We plan on holding a celebration of Paul’s life at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANTHONY L. MASSAFRA FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE INC., 40 Second St. Ext., Carroll Township, Donora, PA 15033, 724-379-6900 The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Paul’s memory to the Faustman Lab at Mass General Hospital for type 1 diabetes research in honor of his granddaughter, Samantha. www.faustmanlab.org/donate/. To share a condolence please visit www.massafrafuneralhome.com.
