Armand Dellovade's generosity took many forms

Ralph Cindrich knows all about the financial contributions Armand C. Dellovade made toward the University of Pittsburgh. Before his unexpected death Monday at the age of 81, Dellovade donated more than $1 million to his beloved Pitt.

But, in Cindrich’s mind, that’s not what set this philanthropic captain of industry apart from the crowd.

When Cindrich remembers Dellovade, it’s not the scoreboard that bears his name at the Charles L. Cost baseball field or the garden parties at his Cecil Township home or all those weekend trips to football games that bring a smile to his face.

It’s a ride in his car that Dellovade gave to Cindrich more than a half-century ago.

Cindrich was an accomplished wrestler at Avella High School in Washington County. One summer, he needed a ride to a wrestling camp at Lehigh University.

“Armand (also an Avella grad) wasn’t really going that way. He was headed more toward upstate New York,” Cindrich said, “but he drove me so I didn’t have to take a bus.”

Years later, when Cindrich was representing Pitt at the wrestling national championships in Provo, Utah, he looked into the stands and there was Dellovade sitting with his father.

To Dellovade, generosity meant more than writing a check.

“He’s one of the most generous people I’ve ever met and Pitt’s ever had,” said Pat Bostick, Pitt’s associate athletic director for major gifts.

After studying engineering at Pitt, Dellovade started work as an ironworker before founding A. C. Dellovade, Inc., a metal siding construction company, in 1973. Later, he formed many other independent companies whose projects included the hanger for Air Force One and stretched from Cape Canaveral to Heinz Field and many venues in between.

He always had a keen interest in Pitt football and in the early 1970s, he joined the Golden Panthers (the booster organization of the day).

“I had some complaints and thought they could change a few things,” Dellovade told the Washington Observer Reporter in 2012. “I was told, ‘If you want the right to complain, make a donation.’ ”

“He was an integral part of helping coach (Johnny) Majors and then Jackie Sherrill build the program,” Bostick said. “He was one of those guys that anytime you needed something, he was there both in person and financially.”

Asked about Dellovade the man, Bostick said, “The first thing that comes to mind, he has a tough exterior, just a tremendously successful businessman. I don’t think you become that without being, to some degree, aggressive and ruthless, and I think he has been that. But inside, he has an absolute heart of gold.”

Dellovade was best friends with some of the all-time Pitt greats, including Bill Fralic, whose funeral he attended in December. He also was there in October when Pitt played at Central Florida.

“He always would pull coach (Pat) Narduzzi aside and give him his look at things,” Bostick said, “and I know coach listened intently.”

Visitatation for Dellovade will be from 3-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday in the Mario L. DeAngelo Funeral Home,194 East College Street, Canonsburg. A eulogy will be presented at 10 a.m. Saturday and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 p.m. in Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Washington. Burial will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in McMurray.

Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.