Yough teacher, coach taught loyalty and integrity

As a longtime teacher, athletic director and coach, Angelo J. Delaini Jr. earned the respect of students in the Yough School District.

“It’s funny how many people have come up to me over the years, or even just in the last few days… who always speak of him very highly,” said his son, David Delaini.

He stood only 5 feet 6 inches tall, but had a commanding presence that made students take notice.

“He’d walk down the hall and kids would go to both sides,” said his wife, Darlene Delaini.

Darlene also was a teacher in the district, which is how she met Mr. Delaini.

“He truly, truly enjoyed what he did,” she said.

Angelo J. Delaini Jr., 87, of Greensburg, died at his home Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019.

He was born Feb. 18, 1932, in South Huntingdon Township, to the late Angelo and Margaret (Righini) Delaini.

As a young man, Delaini played both football and baseball. In college he quit the football team so he could hitchhike to the American Legion baseball state champions, Mrs. Delaini said. His team won.

He served in the Navy during the Korean War on board the USS Rochester. His passion for sports extended to his careers. He held several positions at Yough School District over the years, including athletic director, social studies teacher, baseball coach and football coach.

Fellow teacher Jim Farrell said Mr. Delaini was a mentor to him.

“He was the first person that I talked to going to my first teaching position,” Farrell said. “He kind of mentored me through my first few years of teaching there, and we’ve been friends ever since.”

The friendship lasted 58 years. Long after their retirement, Farrell, Delaini and their families would get together to talk about the good old days.

“We just enjoyed reminiscing about the old times and laughing about them. We told the same stories over and over and over. Our wives probably got sick of it,” Farrell said.

He described Mr. Delaini as a “man of tremendous integrity, and conviction.”

Mr. Delaini was an active member of Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg, where he served as an usher, Communion assistant and member of church council.

He loved watching the Steelers and Pitt football, and playing cards.

Mr. Delaini is survived by his wife, Darlene D. (Truxal) Delaini; sons Kevin L. Delaini and his partner, George Huha, of Fort Myers, Fla., and David Angelo Delaini, of Pittsburgh; daughters Kimberly R. Sinnamond and her husband, Stanley, of Ruffsdale, and Kelli Jo Tayler and her husband, Thomas, of Sutersville; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.”

Friends will be received 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Leo M. Bacha Funeral Home, 516 Stanton St., Greensburg.

A funeral service will be held 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 140 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg.

Interment will follow in St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, with full military honors accorded by the VFW Post 33 Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.