Saturday, December 14, 2019

Mt. Pleasant man endured missile crisis, mining accident, shared lifelong love of golf - TribLIVE

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Skilled golfer John J. Konieczny Jr. continued to play the “game of kings” while stationed with the Navy in Norfolk, Va., in the early 1960s.

He also played a part in one of the deadliest games in history — the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that threatened nuclear conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Konieczny was a clerk and office manager aboard the USS Canberra when the guided missile cruiser joined a blockade meant to keep the Soviets from shipping additional nuclear missiles to Cuba.

“They had orders to fire over the bows of the Russian ships once they crossed a certain line,” said Konieczny’s son, Brian.

The Soviets didn’t try to break the blockade, and the tense situation was defused when U.S. and Soviet leaders agreed to remove missiles that posed the most immediate threat to the other nation.

“It was a very close conflict” for Konieczny and his shipmates, said his wife, the former Carol Graczyk. “They actually thought there was going to be an attack. They were waiting for advanced orders, and then it was resolved, so they were grateful for that.”

John J. Konieczny Jr., 79, of Mt. Pleasant died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital. Born on Oct. 8, 1940, in Mt. Pleasant, he was a son of the late John B. and Ann Hovanec Konieczny.

Picking up golf tips from his gifted father, Mr. Konieczny showed early promise playing at Pleasant Valley Golf Club in Bullskin Township, Fayette County.

“He was a very accomplished junior player, as well as an amateur,” Brian Konieczny said. “He won his first club championship when he was 17, and he just missed qualifying for the U.S. Open when he was 19.”

“He was a good chipper,” said another son, Patrick Konieczny. “He always chipped (golf balls) in, just when you thought you’d beat him.”

Jack Nicklaus is among players Mr. Konieczny competed against before his post-Naval career, 1965 marriage and growing family became his top priorities.

Mr. Konieczny managed rental properties while commuting to a Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal Co. deep mine near New Florence, where he advanced from laborer to foreman. In the early 1980s, his left hand was crushed by a machine used to drive bolts into the mine roof.

“He almost lost his hand. It was pretty much destroyed,” Patrick Konieczny said.

But after two surgeries, he was able to return to work and even got back into the swing on the golf course. A member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Everson, he also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Mr. Konieczny’s injury prevented him from going back to work inside the mine, but he had no intention of seeking disability benefits.

“He didn’t want to quit working,” said Patrick, “so he took a night watchman job until they closed the mine, and then he retired.”

Mr. Konieczny passed along his golf skills to his five children, taking pride in their achievements in the sport and the fact that most are continuing to pay it forward, as high school golfing coaches — Patrick Konieczny at West Allegheny, Brian Konieczny at Geibel Catholic and Kristin Fontana at St. Joseph in Natrona Heights, assisted by her brother, Paul Konieczny.

A more important legacy was the values he taught his children, including a strong work ethic. “It was also a respect for our elders and everyone around us,” Patrick Konieczny said. “He instilled that in everybody.”

In addition to his wife, Mr. Konieczny is survived by five children, Brian of Mt. Pleasant, Kristin (Bernie) Fontana of New Kensington, Noelle (Sam) Kim of Erie, Paul (Lucre) of New Kensington and Patrick (Kristen) of McDonald and 14 grandchildren.

Friends and family will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m Sunday in the Galone-Caruso Funeral Home, 204 Eagle St., Mt. Pleasant. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Church. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Thomas-Little Funeral Service, Inc., 314 W. Lincoln Ave., McDonald.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff at 724-836-6622, [email protected] or via Twitter .

Timpah Batu

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Mt. Pleasant man endured missile crisis, mining accident, shared lifelong love of golf - TribLIVE

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