Miss-Delectable
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http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_327955.html
Reuben H. Savanick was known for his positive outlook and his great ability to convey that to those around him.
"He had the ability to encourage people to be better," said his wife, Martha J. "Marty" Detweiler Savanick. "He was a man who put other people before himself. His family was his top priority."
Savanick, 53, of Scottdale, Westmoreland County, died Saturday in West Penn Hospital, Bloomfield.
"He never let a job take him away from time he felt he needed to spend with his sons," said his wife. "Every evening and every Saturday he did what they wanted to do."
Savanick began his professional life as a teacher of high school chemistry and physics in Lansdale, Montgomery County.
Savanick returned to Scottdale in 1979 and served as founding director of the Community Deaf Services of Westmoreland County. His involvement was inspired by his deaf parents.
"It was a way of giving back for what our parents had given to him," said his sister, Rosetta Brown.
Savanick eventually became a certified interpreter for the deaf and taught sign language classes. He served Scottdale Mennonite Church as pastor to the deaf and interpreted services for almost two decades.
Savanick went on to become executive director of the Scottdale Community Civic & Industrial Association and later became treasurer and vice president of operations for the Mennonite Publishing House in Scottdale.
He also helped to organize and coach the Scottdale soccer program.
Savanick and his wife co-owned and operated Collections by Marty in Scottdale and Donegal, and Miss Martha's Tea Room in Scottdale.
Mrs. Savanick said her husband maintained his positive outlook, even as illness left him in West Penn Hospital for nine weeks. He learned the names of all who attended to him and a little bit about them.
"Whenever anybody left the room, he would thank them," his wife said.
Savanick was preceded in death by his father, Paul Savanick; a brother, Eli Savanick; and a brother-in-law, Raymond Works.
He is survived by his wife, Martha J. "Marty" Detweiler Savanick; mother, Ferne Edith Hernley Savanick, of Goshen, Ind.; three sons, Benjamin Savanick and wife Angela, Nathan Savanick and fiancee, Kristen Pinksey, and Adam Savanick, all of Scottdale; two sisters, Rosetta Brown and Elsa Works, both of Granger, Ind.; a sister-in-law, Lynda Savanick, of Stevensville, Md.; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert B. Ferguson Funeral Home, 105 Spring St. Additional viewing will be held from noon until 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Scottdale Mennonite Church, Market Street Building. Pastor Charles Shenk and lay speaker Dirk Kaufman will officiate.
Graveside committal service and interment will follow in Scottdale Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials be sent to American Sign Language Interpreting Program, Goshen College, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526.
Reuben H. Savanick was known for his positive outlook and his great ability to convey that to those around him.
"He had the ability to encourage people to be better," said his wife, Martha J. "Marty" Detweiler Savanick. "He was a man who put other people before himself. His family was his top priority."
Savanick, 53, of Scottdale, Westmoreland County, died Saturday in West Penn Hospital, Bloomfield.
"He never let a job take him away from time he felt he needed to spend with his sons," said his wife. "Every evening and every Saturday he did what they wanted to do."
Savanick began his professional life as a teacher of high school chemistry and physics in Lansdale, Montgomery County.
Savanick returned to Scottdale in 1979 and served as founding director of the Community Deaf Services of Westmoreland County. His involvement was inspired by his deaf parents.
"It was a way of giving back for what our parents had given to him," said his sister, Rosetta Brown.
Savanick eventually became a certified interpreter for the deaf and taught sign language classes. He served Scottdale Mennonite Church as pastor to the deaf and interpreted services for almost two decades.
Savanick went on to become executive director of the Scottdale Community Civic & Industrial Association and later became treasurer and vice president of operations for the Mennonite Publishing House in Scottdale.
He also helped to organize and coach the Scottdale soccer program.
Savanick and his wife co-owned and operated Collections by Marty in Scottdale and Donegal, and Miss Martha's Tea Room in Scottdale.
Mrs. Savanick said her husband maintained his positive outlook, even as illness left him in West Penn Hospital for nine weeks. He learned the names of all who attended to him and a little bit about them.
"Whenever anybody left the room, he would thank them," his wife said.
Savanick was preceded in death by his father, Paul Savanick; a brother, Eli Savanick; and a brother-in-law, Raymond Works.
He is survived by his wife, Martha J. "Marty" Detweiler Savanick; mother, Ferne Edith Hernley Savanick, of Goshen, Ind.; three sons, Benjamin Savanick and wife Angela, Nathan Savanick and fiancee, Kristen Pinksey, and Adam Savanick, all of Scottdale; two sisters, Rosetta Brown and Elsa Works, both of Granger, Ind.; a sister-in-law, Lynda Savanick, of Stevensville, Md.; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert B. Ferguson Funeral Home, 105 Spring St. Additional viewing will be held from noon until 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Scottdale Mennonite Church, Market Street Building. Pastor Charles Shenk and lay speaker Dirk Kaufman will officiate.
Graveside committal service and interment will follow in Scottdale Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials be sent to American Sign Language Interpreting Program, Goshen College, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526.