Aug 8, 2009 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Officials, residents business owners, and longtime customers are mourning the loss of a Connellsville icon. Dominic “Dom” Mongell, 81, the owner of Mongell Tire Service, died Thursday after a lengthy battle with several health issues, according to his niece, Luanne Mongell. “He is going to be missed,” said Councilman Charles Matthews on Friday. “He did so many good things for the city.

“When I was with the police department, he’d give us tires that he had gotten in that still had some tread on them so we could wait to get winter tires. He was a good man.”

Connellsville Redevelopment Authority board President Dexston Reed said that as a young man, Mongell was the person he would seek out when an old clunker needed tires and as an adult, he sought him out for his perspective and advice.

“He has always supported the nonprofit organizations I have been involved with, such as the Wesley Health Center,” said Reed. “And always receptive to new ideas for Connellsville and gave time to me to discuss my concerns, no matter how busy he was.”

Mayor Judy Reed said Mongell was not only a respected businessman, but also a community supporter.

“He was a very generous man and his work ethics were to be envied,” she said. “But he did so much more for the city; he purchased so many of the city’s large multi-story buildings and fixed them up providing housing for hundreds of people.

“It is sad that such a generous and gracious man is gone; he will be missed,” she added.

Luanne Mongell said that her uncle did love his community and enjoyed conversing with the people that came by the local store or those he would encounter during the course of the day.

“He loved talking to everyone,” she said, adding that several weeks ago he paid a visit to the West Crawford Avenue shop. “He knew so many people.”

During a stint as his office secretary, Luanne Mongell said that she learned that his reputation as an honest businessman had garnered him generations of customers.

“If you didn’t need tires, he wouldn’t sell them to you,” she said. “Customers trusted him; they would come in and just ask him to put tires on their car and never question him about them.

“That relationship resulted in grandfathers, dads and sons now coming in for tires.”

Nearly two years ago, his failing health prompted him to turn over the day-to-day operation of the Connellsville shop to a nephew, Brian Mongell.

However, prior to that time, it was not unusual to see the lights be turned on at the business as early as 4 a.m.

“He said that people never expected him to go very far because he didn’t have a lot of schooling, but he was a people person, worked hard and was trusted,” said Luanne Mongell. “He was an early riser and would work until 5 p.m.; come home and when the news was over at 7 p.m., he’d go to bed.”

In 2000, the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce presented Dom Mongell with its Beautification Award.

Calling him one of the most active builders within the city, then-chamber board President Tony Grasso said that the nominee had undertaken nearly 60 projects over the course of time and the award was “overdue.”

Known for his quiet nature and early nighttime retirement, Dom Mongell responded that while grateful for the award, “it was past 7 o’clock.”

The comment drew laughter from those in attendance.

“That’s how he was; get to the point and then move on,” said Luanne Mongell. “He was an incredible man.”

Businessman, Connellsville Lions Club member and longtime Mongell Tire Service customer George Puskar referred to Dom Mongell as an “icon.”

“We’re going to miss him,” he said.

Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty credited the longtime businessman with revitalizing countless city properties at his own expense.

“Dom never was one that looked for a handout,” he said. “So many want the government or someone to help; not Dom, he did it on his own.”

Haggerty said that the city has lost not only a friend, but also a person that was part of its history.

“He was part of the old guard of Connellsville,” he said. “I will surely miss him.”