By Jerry Vondas
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Copyright 2006 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
Little did James G. Comport’s family realize that he just had saved the life of a fellow Pittsburgh firefighter when he quietly returned home after completing a shift.
“My father was the kind of man who never brought his job home with him,” said Judi Malone.
Mr. Comport, of Hampton, formerly of the North Side, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, at Vincentian Regency, McCandless. He was 91.
Malone said her father didn’t seek recognition for his accomplishments.
“Mom never knew what happened that afternoon until the phone rang and the fire chief told her that dad had just saved the life of a fellow firefighter and was going to be honored.
“They were fighting a house fire when dad noticed that one of the men who was on the roof was down and his uniform was in flames.
“Dad climbed the ladder, and with one arm holding the fireman and the other holding on to the ladder, he brought the man down.”
Malone said Mr. Comport was a child when his father, an Italian immigrant working in the coal mines in Rossiter, Indiana County, died from black lung disease. His mother, who also emigrated from Italy, decided to raise their eight children on the North Side.
“Dad only went to the eighth grade in school,” his daughter said. “He held a number of jobs as he was growing up -- including setting up pins in a bowling alley -- to help my grandmother.”
In 1936, Mr. Comport married Mary Ranka, a North Side resident who emigrated from Yugoslavia. “My parents first made their home on the North Side until they moved to Hampton in 1976,” Malone said.
“Mom often recalled how good looking dad was when they started dating. And it was a combination of his good looks, wavy hair and his gentle demeanor that convinced mom that he was the man for her.”
Mr. Comport was a Pittsburgh firefighter from 1944 to 1976. He then joined his son in running Jim & Jerry’s bar along Brighton Road.
“Dad did everything at the bar,” Malone said. “He worked behind the bar, served, cooked and cleaned.
“He was an excellent Italian cook, and my brothers, Jim, Jerry and Jan, and I looked forward to the nights we had pasta at home. Dad’s meatballs and hot sausage were the greatest.”
Malone said her father also enjoyed working in his garden. “Dad really had a green thumb. His garden was admired by all the neighbors,” she said.
Mr. Comport is survived by his wife, Mary Ranka Comport; three sons, James Comport, of Ohio; Gerald Comport, of McCandless, and Jan Comport, of the North Side; a daughter, Judi Malone, of Adams, Butler County; five grandchildren, a great-grandchild and four step-great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Frank Comport, of Ross, and Robert Comport, of Mount Troy.
He was preceded in death by five siblings, John, Louis, Anthony, Ann and Margaret Comport.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 tonight and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Simons Funeral Home Inc., 7720 Perry Highway, Ross.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday in St. Catherine of Sweden Church, Hampton.