Former North Huntingdon Marine 'happiest when his pockets were empty'

Don Kattic loved his fellow veterans so much that, whenever he presented an American flag to a veteran’s widow, he made sure to include taps.

“He didn’t know how to play a musical instrument, so he would have a pretend trumpet and play taps on an old tape recorder,” said his daughter Laura Ivkovich.

A Korean War veteran, Mr. Kattic devoted much of his life to recognizing, supporting, honoring and helping veterans in North Huntingdon, Irwin and beyond, his family said.

“He was the most selfless, self-sacrificing man I know,” Ivkovich said. “Nobody did more for the community than my dad.”

Donald G. Kattic of North Huntingdon died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, at Cape Coral Hospital in Cape Coral, Fla., after a brief illness. He was 87.

Born in McKeesport on Jan. 9, 1933, he was the son of the late George and Catherine (Dujmic) Kattic. He graduated from McKeesport High School in 1951 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was sent to Korea and participated in combat operations there in 1952 and 1953.

He earned several military honors and, upon his return, joined the Marine Corps shooting team at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Mr. Kattic earned his teaching degree at St. Francis University in Loretto and got his first teaching job in Barberton, Ohio. He returned to Western Pennsylvania to accept a teaching job at East McKeesport Junior High School.

He spent most of his teaching career at Norwin High School, where he taught U.S. history and social studies. He retired in the early 1990s.

“When I had a new student come in, I always tried to put them with Don because I knew he would be welcoming,” said guidance counselor Clint Page, who knew Mr. Kattic for 40 years.

Page called Mr. Kattic “a great human being” and “probably the greatest humanitarian I’ve ever known.”

The two worked on various community projects over the years. Just before leaving for Florida, Mr. Kattic obtained a motor scooter and donated it to Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children.

“You couldn’t say ‘no’ to Don,” Page said. “I can’t say enough about him.”

Mr. Kattic probably was best known for restoring or constructing veterans’ memorials in North Huntingdon and Irwin. He raised money for the restoration of the North Huntingdon Town House memorial, the Main Street memorial in Irwin and the Ardara post office memorial.

In 2015, he was the driving force behind the construction of the Norwin High School Veterans Memorial. He raised more than $50,000 and hosted the dedication ceremony on Nov. 14, 2015.

“He had the vision and ability to bring people together. … When things got tough, he just kept everyone together and kept driving forward until the project was done,” said Otis DiCerbo, who knew Mr. Kattic for 25 years.

DiCerbo said he last saw Mr. Kattic during the holidays, when Mr. Kattic saw to it that a family in need received food for Thanksgiving and presents for Christmas.

“I think his every waking moment was spent on ‘how can I help somebody?’” he said.

“My dad was happiest when his pockets were empty. When he saw a need, he would fill it,” Ivkovich said.

Mr. Kattic served for 20 years as commander of VFW Post 781 in Irwin/North Huntingdon and was involved with local Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades and ceremonies.

In 2016, the Norwin school board gave Mr. Kattic an award for distinguished community service. In 2018, the developers of the Brookhaven housing plan named a street after him: Sgt. D. Kattic Way.

His most recent project involved purchasing property behind Norwin Public Library for the construction of a high-rise apartment building for senior citizens, Ivkovich said.

Mr. Kattic was preceded in death his wife of 58 years, Joanne (Andrejcak) Kattic, and a grandson.

He is survived by five daughters, Laura Ivkovich and her husband, Philip, of Vero Beach, Fla., Lana Huffman and her husband, Mark, of Surfside Beach, S.C., Lisa Kovalcin and her husband, Ed, Luanne Jones and Leslie Quealy and her husband, Tom, all of North Huntingdon; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Ott Funeral Home 805 Pennsylvania Ave., Irwin.

The Don Kattic Scholarship has been established, and checks may be made out to the Norwin School District Community Foundation (memo line: Don Kattic Scholarship), 281 McMahon Drive, Irwin, PA 15642.