Valley native pens memoir about his eclectic upbringing amid the collapse of the region’s steel mills

Bob Dzik’s book, “The Cigarette Ballet” is a humorous, yet touching memoir of growing up in Donora.

When you talk with Bob Dzik, you quickly feel as if you’ve known him all your life. It probably wasn’t supposed to be that way. Enthusiastic and genuine, Dzik would just as soon interview an interviewer than talk about his own life. The Texas transplant, 69, says he had a “traumatic, but great and fantastic” upbringing in Donora, “The Home of Champions,” he touts.

Bob Dzik’s book, “The Cigarette Ballet” is a humorous, yet touching memoir of growing up in Donora.

Dzik had a difficult time growing up in the small Washington County town. When his parents divorced, Dzik stayed with his mother. “Mom had five kids,” he explained. The ups-and-downs of life in a smoke-filled environment fuels his memoir, “The Cigarette Ballet.”

Friend and musician George Murphy calls it a “deeply moving, often hilarious story of a mother’s unraveling, a son’s resilience, and the fallout from divorce.”

In the book’s “Disclaimer,” Dzik starts with: “In the pages you are about to read, I am going to drag as many of my no-good, rotten, chain-smoking, chain-swearing, largerthan-life family members through the mud. Please understand, I do so not out of revenge but out of sheer awe.”

Immediately, one is disarmed at the coming-of-age story’s joy he is about to partake, even if it is unique. The paragraph screams “David Sedaris,” a humorist and writer Dzik touts as an influence. It is a love letter to his life and family.

“I have 32 cousins,” he jokes.

After a tumultuous time in the 1960s and 1970s, Dzik was the editor of the Mon Valley Catholic school newspaper before graduating and attending Point Park University for journalism. Intuitively, he knew journalism wasn’t going to afford him the lifestyle he wanted, so he transferred to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (his high school sweetheart at the time, now wife Lois, attended classes there) and switched to business. Upon graduation and when Tenneco Oil in Houston, Texas called, he answered. He quickly moved on to Westcap Securities, where he settled in nicely.

However, the idea of writing never left. He credits “Mr. Kish,” a teacher who encouraged him to keep writing. After moving to Texas to launch his career, Dzik wrote a business newsletter and at 40 joined a neighborhood writers’ group.

That’s when he first started to pen what now is “The Cigarette Ballet.” He entered drafts into contests, he started winning and got an agent. He was frustrated and put the memoir down, then would work on it more and submit it to literary magazines.

“I was feeling pretty good, but couldn’t get ‘over the hump,’” he said.

He understands the story of a mill town kid struggling with “Mert,” a mother who at first believes she is being poisoned by the mob, then maybe formaldehyde, and possibly living room paneling, might not be a mainstream hit. “It has serious themes,” he said.

The book’s back cover asks: is Bob’s headstrong mother losing her mind? Were sinister forces at work?

It’s also a story of forgiveness. “Prayer and forgiveness play a huge role in the memoir,” he said.

Dzik still feels the angst of being a member of the “Childhood Divorce Club.” He understands divorce, but also writes about “freedom” and opines that people “quit too early.” The ramifications, he says, “never goes away.”

Dzik compares the book to works by Kurt Vonnegut, as well as “Empire Falls,” Richard Russo’s popular 2001 book featuring colorful characters in a fictitious smalltown adventure. “They can be funny and serious at the same time.”

His story, however, is based on real people and happenings. Initially, the book’s first draft was angry.

“Now it’s written with love,” he said. “I look at it as a gift. I appreciate it.”

In addition to roles in high finance and a complicated memoir, Dzik serves as “Pittsburgh Bob,” a singer/ songwriter and guitarist for “Titans of Soul,” a four-man band influence by The Temptations, Smokey Robinson “and merged into an eclectic blend of witty lyricists/musicians such as Van Morrison, John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Delbert McClinton, Elvis Costello, David Bromberg and many more.”

Earlier this year, they began a residency Live At Betsy’s in Bellaire, Texas. His music website is pittsburghbob. com.

But he kept coming back to the book and listening to those, including agent Amy Gash, who advised him to keep moving forward. Even when Gash retired from the publishing industry, Dzik says she wanted to edit the finished work.

In 2023, “The “Cigarette Ballet” was recognized by the St. Petersburg Writers in Paradise Conference. He said that was “another reason why I didn’t give up” with the finished book.

“The Cigarette Ballet” is a fast and fascinating read with people, places and things that will resonate with many in Western Pennsylvania.

Dzik has amassed a loving family with Lois, son Justin (who turns 40 on Oct. 1) and daughter Nicole. He also carved out a successful career in community and business-to-business banking. According to his business website, “Dzik Investments’ history is entwined with the success and growth of Pennsylvania Community bankers. At its core, it is a father/son team humbled by and grateful for the opportunity to work with those Pennsylvania community bankers through the years.” In addition to clients in the commonwealth, he also serves those in Houston.

The family still visits the Mon Valley, namely a family-owned camp in Rostraver Township. “I come home for more focus,” he said. He also plays his guitar at clubs whenever he can.

Preorders for a Jan. 19, 2027, release from Koehler Books are being taken now. Once it hits shelves, Dzik hopes to be back for Mon Valley and Pittsburgh book signings.

“It’s a dream, a cool dream,” he said. For more information, go to bobdzik. com.