By Patrick Varine
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
YOUNGWOOD, Pa. — Michael Pacelli Jr. stood up his future wife for much of their first date.
Luckily, he had a good excuse: he had to take a child to the hospital by ambulance.
“A policeman, Billy Ott from Youngwood, picked me up and took me to the firemen’s banquet, and he sat with me until Michael got there,” Mr. Pacelli’s wife, Jean, said.
Michael A. Pacelli Jr. of Youngwood died Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at Excela Westmoreland Hospital after a heart attack. He was 73.
Mr. Pacelli was born Jan. 27, 1944, a son of the late Michael A. and Violet (Tucci) Pacelli Sr.
He lived his entire life in Youngwood.
Before he began dating and eventually married Jean, the pair were childhood playmates.
“He lived on one side of the alley, and I lived on the other,” his wife said. “He went to Holy Cross and I went to the Protestant elementary school, and we both graduated from Hempfield in 1961.”
The couple married July 16, 1966, and made their home in Youngwood.
Mr. Pacelli was a 50-year member of the Youngwood Volunteer Hose Company No. 1, where he served as chief from 1971 to 1985. He served on Youngwood Borough Council for 16 years, including a stint as president beginning in 1991.
“He was very community-minded,” his wife said.
Michael Pacelli III recalled his father’s strong commitment to the fire department.
“I remember riding in his chief’s car -- that’s a pretty big deal when you’re a kid,” he said. “On Saturdays, we would go down to the fire hall and wash the trucks. I’d get to spend some time around the other guys in the department. Dad was very involved in the VFD.”
Mr. Pacelli was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs and worked on its Council on Government. He was a member and past president of the Westmoreland County Boroughs Association.
He enjoyed NASCAR races and the company of others, his wife said.
“He was very outgoing,” she said. “He liked everybody, and he enjoyed life.”
His son said his father was one of the hardest-working men he has known.
“He was a man of character and integrity,” he said. “He always looked you in the eye and shook your hand. He commanded a room, and when I was a kid, he was bigger than life. He didn’t say hello just to say hello -- he really wanted to get to know you as a person.”
Mr. Pacelli is survived by his wife, Jean; a son, Michael A. Pacelli III of Greensburg; and two grandsons, Connor Pacelli and Jack Pacelli.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at C. Richard McCauley Funeral Home, 101 S. Fourth St., Youngwood, and a firemen’s service will be held at 6 p.m . Additional viewing will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Services will be at noon Friday at Holy Cross Church, 711 Depot St., Youngwood, with interment to follow in Youngwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Holy Cross Church or Christ United Methodist Church.
___
(c)2017 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)