Hempfield Township honors Terry Ranieri with proclamation

Terry Ranieri, a beloved Hempfield community member who passed away last week, was honored by Hempfield Township supervisors Monday night through a proclamation.

Ranieri, who graduated from Hempfield Area School District in 1975, attended home football games regularly in the decades since and spent time hanging out with friends at the food court of Westmoreland Mall.

The proclamation, read by board chair George Reese, reads, “Whereas, Terry Ranieri of Hempfield Township has devoted his life to his community, and whereas Terry Ranieri devoted his life to bringing joy and happiness to every person he came across while supporting high school activities and the community at large. Therefore, we the supervisors of Hempfield Township … officially honor the life of Terry Ranieri and recognize his dedication to the community.”

Several community members reminisced about Ranieri last week, remembering graduating high school with him, seeing him at the mall or being greeted by him at football games while he watched the band warm up for their halftime show, offering up some of his classic “Terryisms” — such as “jammin’ like Route 30” and “cool like whip.”

Ranieri, 64, had been diagnosed with cancer and had come home to hospice care Monday after health problems forced him to spend weeks in the hospital, first at Excela Westmoreland in Greensburg and then at UPMC Montefiore in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.

He had a developmental disorder called Williams syndrome that is marked by unique personality characteristics and distinctive facial features, according to the National Institutes of Health.

A viewing for Ranieri will be held at Cornerstone Ministries Church, 2200 Cornerstone Lane, Export, Tuesday from 1 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m.

“We just wanted to let you know you all are invited to attend — we chose a large church to hold his viewing/funeral so everyone will feel welcome and be in a comfortable atmosphere to say their goodbyes to Terry,” a post on the Terry Ranieri Officials Fanpage reads.

The family is asking for donations to the Terry Ranieri “Everyone’s Friend” memorial fund, according to an obituary for Ranieri. So far, almost $1,900 has been raised out of a $25,000 goal.

Donations will be used to fund a college scholarship program in his name, which will be given to a Hempfield Area band member each year. Money from the fund will also be used to cover some funeral expenses.