Here is an edited version of the well written obituary of Coach Pavalko which had appeared in the Pottsville Republican:
January 26, 1926 – February 15, 1995
He was a retired coach, athletic director and educator at Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville. He was a 1941 graduate of Blythe Township High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball for four years.
He played football on the 1939 Blythe Township High School state championship team and that year was selected on the first All-State football team. He was honored as a first team guard in his senior year. His selection to the Pennsylvania All-State football team as guard for two consecutive years is a state record.
Upon graduation, he entered Fordham University, New York City, but left to enter the Marine Corps. He spent 18 months serving in the South Pacific during World War II. He received two Purple Hearts for his efforts in Guam and Okinawa and discharged in 1945.
He then enrolled at Villanova University where he played football and was the team’s most valuable player in 1946, graduating in 1950. He received honorable mention in the A.P. All eastern team and the All American team, the A.P. state team and was selected the All Pennsylvania Collegiate Eleven Team. In 1990 he was honored by Villanova University Varsity Club as a Hall of Fame inductee.
He began his teaching career in New Philadelphia and began his coaching career at Pottsville Catholic High School. He joined the faculty at Nativity BVM High School when it opened in 1955. While at Nativity he coached football for twelve years, baseball for ten years and basketball for ten years. He also served as Nativity athletic director for 29 years. He also had various interdepartmental education responsibilities. In June 1988 he retired after 33 years on the faculty. He was the last of the original faculty members at Nativity. In 1988, the Schuylkill County Scholastic Athletic Association honored him for his years of service to high school athletics. In 1990 he was inducted into the Tubby Allen-Chet Rogawicz Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. In 1993 he was honored by the St. Clair Old Timers Baseball Association for his years of coaching.
He was a member of the Holy Family Church, New Philadelphia, The Schuylkill County Coaches Association, and St. Clair Old Timers Baseball Association and was affiliated with New Philadelphia Little League for over fifteen years.
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January 26, 1926 – February 15, 1995
He was a retired coach, athletic director and educator at Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville. He was a 1941 graduate of Blythe Township High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball for four years.
He played football on the 1939 Blythe Township High School state championship team and that year was selected on the first All-State football team. He was honored as a first team guard in his senior year. His selection to the Pennsylvania All-State football team as guard for two consecutive years is a state record.
Upon graduation, he entered Fordham University, New York City, but left to enter the Marine Corps. He spent 18 months serving in the South Pacific during World War II. He received two Purple Hearts for his efforts in Guam and Okinawa and discharged in 1945.
He then enrolled at Villanova University where he played football and was the team’s most valuable player in 1946, graduating in 1950. He received honorable mention in the A.P. All eastern team and the All American team, the A.P. state team and was selected the All Pennsylvania Collegiate Eleven Team. In 1990 he was honored by Villanova University Varsity Club as a Hall of Fame inductee.
He began his teaching career in New Philadelphia and began his coaching career at Pottsville Catholic High School. He joined the faculty at Nativity BVM High School when it opened in 1955. While at Nativity he coached football for twelve years, baseball for ten years and basketball for ten years. He also served as Nativity athletic director for 29 years. He also had various interdepartmental education responsibilities. In June 1988 he retired after 33 years on the faculty. He was the last of the original faculty members at Nativity. In 1988, the Schuylkill County Scholastic Athletic Association honored him for his years of service to high school athletics. In 1990 he was inducted into the Tubby Allen-Chet Rogawicz Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. In 1993 he was honored by the St. Clair Old Timers Baseball Association for his years of coaching.
He was a member of the Holy Family Church, New Philadelphia, The Schuylkill County Coaches Association, and St. Clair Old Timers Baseball Association and was affiliated with New Philadelphia Little League for over fifteen years.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters. He was survived by his wife, two daughters and three sons. I addition he was survived by two sisters and four grandchildren.
Youtube tribute: Ain't no stoppin us now.
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