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Richard “Woj” Wojnar, age 74 of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, died suddenly on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Born in Charleroi, PA on July 8, 1946. He was one of two children of John and Helen Wojnar. He was very proud of growing up in Donora and graduated from Donora Senior High School in 1964.

RICHARD J. WOJNAR

After graduation, Rich enlisted for four years in the U.S. Army and attended high speed Morse Code Interceptor School for a year and a half in Massachusetts. He spent eighteen months in Asmara, Ethiopia working with top secret crypto “coded” messages working on tasks he could never talk about. He continued his service to our country enrolling in continuous education courses in the Air Force Reserves to achieve multiple promotions and awards. He proudly served in the 32nd APS - 911th Airlift Wing as a Rigger on C-130 airplanes. He was again deployed on active duty to Bahrain in 2002 and served for a total of nineteen years in the Air Force retiring as a Master Sergeant. He retired with a total of 23 years of military service.

Rich began his career working in the automotive industry. He worked in sales but was known mostly for his leadership as a service manager for several new car dealerships. Rich changed careers working and retiring from the Port Authority of Allegheny County following 20 years of service. He began as a bus operator, advanced to an instructor, was promoted as manager of the instruction department, and then oversaw several departments while heading a top managerial position as Director of Bus and Rail Operations. Rich served on numerous employment panels and gave frequent speeches at Pittsburgh area and surrounding schools. He was very proud of his work with the ADA community and ADA compliance was first and foremost on his mind. He was a true advocate for the every day transit rider and always thought of bus operations from the rider’s point of view. He later attended and graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He served as Commander of the American Legion Post 712 in Pleasant Hills, PA. He was a member of the Triumph (car) Club of Western Pennsylvania; Mon Valley R. C. Club where he was Newsletter Editor as well as the Chair of the Executive Committee; and Clairton Sportsman Club proudly recruiting the Port Authority Police and K-9 Unit for the Youth Day Event each year.

Rich was a person who loved everyone and everyone loved him. Rich will be remembered for doing all that he could for everyone in any way that he could whether it was to help them gain employment or just trying to make their day a better day. He was the type of boss who looked out for his employees - one we all wish we could have worked for. He loved to travel internationally with his family. He loved to cook everyday. He got his start as a cook for the Redwood Restaurant in Donora, PA while in high school.

Thank you to the American Legion Post 712 Legionnaires, most of whom worked with Rich, who honored Rich with such a memorable service. Thank you to the American Legion Post 712 Riders who rode their bikes to the funeral home to pay their respects and Thank you to the Air Force Reserves 911th Unit for sending a military representative to accompany Rich during visitation. Rich was very proud of his military service. He was honored for his service on Military Mondays - KDKA.

On Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at Rich was laid to rest with full Military Honors in the National Cemetery of The Alleghenies. Russ Pontow, American Legion Adjutant, who worked with Rich, read the Veteran’s Creed. The Nix Vogel Honor Guard presented Rich with a 21-gun salute and then the bugler played Taps live. Our family would like to thank all who helped us to honor Rich. He will be deeply missed by all. He was Our Hero.

Additional family information has been posted on the Slater Funeral Home - Large, PA website.

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