By John K. Manna
New Castle News
For more than 30 years, Peter A. Vessella has been the face of Lawrence County Democratic politics.
And as one of his friends said today, it will take some time to fill the void left by the passing of Vessella, who died Tuesday night at 72.
Vessella served as the county’s Democratic chairman for more than three decades.
Longtime friend Thomas P. Costa said Vessella attended Gov. Ed Rendell’s inauguration in January and became ill soon after. He underwent surgery in Pittsburgh to remove a brain tumor, he said.
Costa, a Democratic state committeeman, said that although Vessella had political foes, “he helped a lot of people.”
The two were in New Castle High School together and graduated in 1952, he noted.
Costa pointed out Vessella didn’t have a problem expressing his views to anyone. “He was very opinionated. He said what he thought.”
Costa said the two “had a steady relationship of working for candidates statewide.”
“He was very bright. One of the best political minds you’ll see in our lifetime. And we’ll miss him.”
Chuck Ardo, the governor’s press secretary, said, “The governor is saddened at the news of Pete’s passing. Pete Vessella was a tireless worker” as chairman. “He was a force in Democratic politics and he will be missed.”
Norman A. DeGidio, Lawrence County Republican chairman, said he and Vessella often discussed various subjects at the Hudson Lunch.
“We always respected one another. We got along very well for being from two different parties. “I’ll really miss him.”
Dominick Grant, a former New Castle councilman who also has known Vessella for more than 50 years, served as treasurer of the party when Vessella was first elected chairman in 1974.
“Pete was a leader from the beginning,” Grant said, noting he was captain of the baseball team at Duquesne University and was a Navy officer aboard a carrier.
“He was the consummate politician. He was a throwback to the old days.”
Vessella was president of the state Young Democrats and was national vice president of the organization in the 1960s.
Grant said that during that time, Vessella became friends with Steny Hoyer, who was also a young Democrat. Hoyer is now U.S. House majority leader.
Commenting on Vessella’s intelligence, Grant said, “He was a walking computer.” His passing, Grant said, is “the end of an era. He affected elections. He’s going to be missed because he handled the (Democratic) committee one on one.
“I loved the guy. I’m going to miss him.”
Former New Castle Mayor Richard Christofer said that because of his friendship with Rendell, Vessella “had a way of cutting through the red tape.”
“It’s a great loss to the Democratic party of Lawrence County. There’s going to be a vacuum for awhile.”
New Castle News
Peter A. Vessella, 72, of Golf Avenue, Ellport, trusted campaign manager to national, state and local politicians, passed away at 6:40 p.m. Feb. 27, 2007, in his home.
Born June 7, 1934, in West Pittsburg, he was a son of James Sr. and Helen Pavkovich Vessella. His father preceded him in death. His mother survives in New Castle.
He married Rosemary H. Vessella on July 6, 1957. She survives.
Pete’s passion was politics. He was a past president of the Pennsylvania Young Democrats and in 1968 he ran for national president of the Young Democrats. Pete was the Lawrence County Democratic chairman for the past 34 years.
He was instrumental in the election of Gov. Edward G. Rendell in 2002 and again in 2006.
He was president of Ellport Borough Council in the 1960s and received the Ellwood City Junior Chamber of Commerce Young Man of the Year Award in the 1960s for his civic activities.
After graduating from New Castle High School in 1952, he went to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where he played baseball. Pete graduated from Duquesne in 1956 with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration. He was a member of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity. While at Duquesne he was dubbed “Pistol Pete” by his teammates and was at that time the “best leadoff batter in Duquesne history.”
Pete was scouted by the Philadelphia Phillies and other major league teams. Instead of pursuing a career in baseball, Pete chose to enter the Navy, where he attained the rank of lieutenant. During his tour of duty he served on the battleship USS Iowa and the aircraft carrier USS Leyte. While on the Leyte, he organized the baseball team and competed in the Atlantic Fleet competition.
He finished his tour of duty on the admiral’s staff at Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Va. Pete served from June 1, 1957, to June 22, 1960.
Pete was a pioneering entrepreneur who developed many of the fast-food and restaurant operation concepts that are commonplace today. Always forward thinking, Pete was developing biofuel concepts, which would help Pennsylvania produce clean-burning, renewable fuel sources. He owned and co-owned successful businesses in the coal, hotel and fast-food restaurant industries.
Pete was a member of Holy Redeemer Parish, Sons of Italy 608 and Moose Lodge 93.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Mark, and his wife, Lori, of Harrisburg; and his daughters, Suzanne Vessella of Ellport, Lorrin Bowser and her husband, Dr. Robert Bowser, of Cranberry Township, and Maret Vessella and her husband, David McNeil, of Phoenix; his mother, Helen Pavkovich Vessella of New Castle; his sister, Dr. Mary Ann Nobers of New Castle; a brother, James Vessella Jr. of Greenville; and four grandchildren, Alexandra, Samantha and Matthew Bowser, and Noah McNeil.
Pete was the 449th classmate to march down the aisle at graduation. Beside his name in the Yearbook, it reads: "The West Pittsburg kid who is ready with the jokes. Track 10-11."
He is the 104th classmate to pass on.
