Jan 3, 2007 2 min read

Andrew J. Duran, Sr., 74, of Hopwood passed away on Monday, December 25, 2006, at his home with his family at his side. He was born on June 25, 1932, in Royal, Pa., son of the late Andrew G. and Rose Yanick Duran.

In addition to his parents he is predeceased by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mildred and Walter Zelenski, and brother-in-law, Walter B. Zelenski.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy Zelenski Duran; two children: Andrew J. Duran, Jr. of Indianapolis, Ind., Danielle Duran Scherer and husband, Michael of Cranberry Township, Pa.; a grandson, Walter Scherer; two sisters-in-law, his caretaker, Patricia Maxson of Hopwood and Lenora Zelenski of Belle Vernon; and a brother-in-law, John Zelenski and wife, Carol of Belle Vernon; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; his three best friends: Eugene “Pete” Tassone of Fairbanks, Ted and Vicki Sova of Hopwood, and Kenneth and Wilma Strawberry of Wilmington, N.C.; and his many golf and poker friends.

Andy was a member of Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church and also supported Saint Anthony’s Friary. He was a graduate of Redstone High School class of 1949 and Saint Vincent College class of 1953. He then served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was an accomplished trumpet player and a great baseball player, he had a try out with the Pittsburgh Pirates at the age of 16 but opted to go on to college.

He was a retired president of BT Financial, Uniontown branch and served on the Board of Director for BT Financial after his retirement.

He held member ship in the AMVETS Post 105 Hopwood, the Knights of Columbus, Uniontown Rotary where he traveled to India to set up eye clinics. He was Man of the year for Uniontown Chamber of Commerce and Citizen of the Year for the Uniontown Exchange Club. He served as an aide to Joe Clark of Pa., and served in the Kennedy Administration with the Area Redevelopment Authority.

A private service was held on Wednesday at the DONALD R. CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, Hopwood, Pa.

Interment followed in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Hopwood, Pa.

A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date and time to be announced.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association or Saint Anthony’s Friary, 115 Oakland Avenue, Uniontown, Pa., 15401.