Joseph Hancharick, Jr.

HANCHARICK – Joseph Jr., The Villages, FL, formerly of Windber, passed away on May 28, 2018, surrounded by family. He was born on March 28, 1943 in Windber. Son of Joseph “Cal” and Bertha (Nyeste) Hancharick. Preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Pamela (McGrath) Hancharick; sons Joseph, Johnstown, PA; Robert (Jessica), Atlanta, GA; and daughter, Kelly (Demetrios) Velesaris, Palmyra, PA; five grandchildren, Gabriella, Demi, and Nikko Velesaris; Lyla and Aida Hancharick. Also survived by brother Stephen (Janice); and sister Barbara (Kevin) Moody; former wife Barbara (Kurcis); and special cousin Ron Roberson, and his late wife Judy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe was a 1961 graduate of Windber High School and 1965 graduate of Clarion State College. Captain, USMC from September 1965 to June 1970 where he served at Quantico OCS/TBS, Guantanimo Bay Cuba, 29 Palms Cal,  Vietnam, and HDQTRS USMC Arlington, VA.  While in Vietnam he served in northern I Corps along the DMZ with the Third Marine Division from May 1967 to June 1968. Joe was a lifetime member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and staunchly defended the sacrifice these veterans made.   

Following his Marine Corps service, he returned to Windber and began a successful teaching and coaching career. He taught General Science and coached varsity football at Cambria Heights in 1971-72. He then taught Earth and Space Sciences at Windber from 1972 until his retirement in 1998, along with coaching varsity football and tennis.  During these years Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing and competitive pistol shooting.  Upon retirement from Windber, he relocated to the Fairview Beach community in King George, VA where he taught Life Science for 3 years at the King George Middle School. He spent his latter years in The Villages, FL in the joyous company of some close family members and friends from his Windber years.

Joe enjoyed tennis, golf, jet skiing on the Potomac River, relaxing on the beach, and Steeler football. He spent time traveling to Europe, most specially cherishing the visit to his mother’s birthplace in Mezokovesd, Hungary.  He was always the gracious host to many holiday gatherings through the years. Joe valued education, family, true friendship, and compassion. His life was greatly enhanced by the closeness of his children, grandchildren, siblings and their families. He loved the communities where he lived throughout his life, and he contributed to the betterment of these places through his work ethic, concern, and genuine friendliness. Joe enjoyed his frequent trips back to Windber and reuniting with old friends and classmates, especially his lifelong friends from their younger days on the Windber gridiron. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten as he made his part of the world a better place, particularly for those who knew him well. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made online to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Friends will be received from 2 to 4:30 and 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Meek & Dalla Valle Funeral Home, Inc., Windber where Parastas will be held at 8:00 p.m. and where brief service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday followed by Funeral Divine Liturgy at 11:00 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Somerset Ave., Windber with Fr. Robert Oravetz, presiding.  Committal, with full military honors, by active duty Marines as well as Conemaugh Valley Detachment 287 Marine Corps Ritual Team, will be held in the parish cemetery.

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