Pittsburgh lost one of its quiet, faithful voices last week. My uncle, Keith Kondrich, passed away and left behind something rare: a life fully lived in the service of the things he loved.
Keith wrote letters to the Pittsburgh papers. He had opinions — on faith, music, state of the world, and he believed those opinions were worth putting into words and sending out into the community. He was right. That civic habit of his inspired others more than he probably knew.
He was a father. I see him in each one his children. They have a love of music, a passion for history, a wonder of the outdoors and a carpe diem mentality. He was a devoted Catholic and deacon whose faith was not an abstraction but a way of being present to others.
He loved music and he loved Tolkien, which tells you something about a man. He understood both the beauty of this world and the pull of something greater beyond it.
When I moved back to Pittsburgh, they made room at the table and made me feel like I returned home. I have never forgotten that.
He was a good man. Pittsburgh was lucky to have him, and so was I.
Lou Radkowski
Granger, Ind.