Category: Necrology

Alumni Note: She enrolled Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and did not graduate at WPSD. Martha Delores Frye died peacefully on July 8, 2017 at Harbor Manor in Noblesville, Indiana. She was born on February 15, 1930 in Weirton, West Virginia to John and Josephine Jezerski. Martha attended the West Virginia School for the Deaf…

Born May 1, 1981, in Clearfield, the daughter of Douglas and Patricia “Patty” (Odrosky) Hess. She was a graduate of Clearfield Area High School. Renee had worked for the Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf, Pittsburgh and more recently the dietary department at Mt. Laurel Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was a member of the…

Note: Patrick Hartnett was teacher of WPSD from 1976-1977 until his retirement in 2003. He worked at WPSD for 27 years. Norfolk, VA – Patrick Lawrence Hartnett, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away peacefully on April 27, 2026 at home in Norfolk, Virginia at the age of almost 81. He was surrounded by…

Frederick C. Roadarmel Jr., 61, of Indiana, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Pittsburgh. He was born on Sept. 16, 1964, in Indiana, to Frederick C. and Millicent (Nicholson) Roadarmel. Fred graduated from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and spent his career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the maintenance department.…

Joanne E., 86, Portage, passed away March 23, 2026. Born July 17, 1939, in Latrobe. Preceded in death by parents, Ernest K. and Mary K. (Baum) Voigt; and brother, Ernest Voigt. Survived by children, Lawton (Beverly Beers), Allan (Christi Maxwell), and Jessica Greathouse; grandchildren, Anna Serenko (Josh), Lawton Jr. “L.J.,” Cheyenne Miller (Dylan), Andrew Conrad,…

Jim McMahon was hired as a housekeeper during Easter break at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) in April 1980. He later became the foreman of the housekeeping staff before transitioning to the maintenance department. Over the years, Jim developed extensive knowledge of the school’s buildings, grounds, and history. A substantial portion of…

Homer M. Rupert, 76, of West Newton, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 13, 2026 at his home. He was born January 24, 1950 in Greensburg, PA. Son of the late Bruce A. Rupert Sr. and Theresa B. (Leskosek) Rupert. He graduated from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and then went on…

Note: Berna worked as girl’s dorm supervisor in 1970-1971 for one year and from 1974-1975 till 1999-2000 retirement. Bernadette E. (Dunn) Hacharian, of West Mifflin, passed away on Thursday, March 5th, 2026. She was the beloved wife of 61 years to the late Harry “Hatch” T. Hacharian; the daughter of the late Homer Slates and…

Note: La’Niyah Clark enrolled at the Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in the late 2010s, prior to the pandemic, from 3 year-old group to 2nd grade. SSDHHC runs under WPSD program. Laniyah “Lala” Clark was born on January 26, 2011, in Flint, Michigan to Joseph Etzel and Enjoli McCloe. Her father, Joseph…