Rev. Paul Allen Sandusky
Connellsville
Rev. Paul Allen Sandusky died Saturday, April 20, 2024, with his devoted wife, Janie and other family members by his side, having waged a brief and valiant battle against squamous cell skin cancer.
Paul born in Pittsburgh February 24, 1947, a son of the late Thomas E. Sandusky and Betty Newell Sandusky, who preceded him in death.
He was a graduate of Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh, Denison University in Ohio and Duke University in North Carolina, where he received his Masters of Divinity in 1972.
Paul spent his entire working life in social service work and the ministry, working two jobs for nearly all of those years. From 1991-1994 he had faculty status at the Ohio State University School of Social Work, Columbus State University School of Social Work, Duquesne University School of Social Work, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. From 1994-1998 he served as the Executive Director of The Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Addiction Center in Butler. Beginning in 1998, he served as the executive director of The Rankin Christian Center in Rankin. In his related work experience he served as the executive director of Fayette County CSA, The Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission, program coordinator for St. Francis Addiction Service for Adolescents, pastoral counselor for the Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute-Behavioral Health Clients.
Paul received numerous awards and achievements during his career, including: 2006 H. J. Heinz Community Service Award, 2006 and 2007 Tri- Boro Community Service Award. He also began the first Alcohol Highway Safety Program in Fayette County, initiated the first Under Age Drinking Rehab Program at the Rankin Christian Center and he was a member of the Pennsylvania DUI Association, Pennsylvania Association of County Drug and Alcohol Administrators, and the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers of Pennsylvania.
Paul began his ordained ministry in the Methodist Church before becoming ordained in the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in 1984, where he served at the Knoxville Christian Church, Brownsville Christian Church and twice in the Connellsville Christian Church from which he retired June 30, 2023.
Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Susan “Janie” Bigham Sandusky, whom he married June 25, 2004. Paul and Janie joyously shared between them the following children and grandchildren: children, Shawn (Tony) Travis, Bryn (Tammy) Sandusky, Andrew ( Stephanie) Culver, Adam Culver and Gregg (Tanja) Culver; grandchildren, Haden (Christina) Culver, Cicily Culver and Jesse Riley, Cameron Danos, Joshua Danos, Sadie Culver, Ella Culver, Robin Culver, Lucy Culver; and great- grandson, Matthew Culver; brother, Stephen Sandusky and wife Patricia of Enterprise, Fla.; brothers-in-law, Reed (Sheryl) Bigham, Ken (Nancy) Bigham, Kevin Bigham and partner Darlene Williams, and Frank (Donna) Bigham; sisters- in-law, Virginia Knight and Nancy (Ron) Culver; numerous nieces and nephews, whom he loved to laugh, talk and share ideas; special friends, Georgi and Sonny Swick; his longtime friends in the “Geezers Group”, Tom McGuire, Dave Regina, Phil Van Wassen and Walt Kuhns; and many special parishioners from the Brownsville and Connellsville Christian Church.
Also preceding him in death were his father-in- law, Worth S. Bigham, and mother-in-law, Virginia N. Bigham; brothers-in-law, Greg Bigham and Jack Knight; and nephew, Philip Culver.
Paul loved his beloved Duke “Blue Devils” and was a loyal Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers fan.
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 25, and Friday, April 26, in BROOKS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 111 E. Green Street, Connellsville. Additional visitation will take place from 10 to 11 a.m., the hour of services, Saturday, April 27, in the Connellsville Christian Church with the Rev. Thaddeus Allen, Regional Minister for the Disciples of Christ and the Rev. Dr. Keith Almond, Host Minister, officiating.
The family extends a special thank you to Dr. Terry Evans and the staff at Arnold Palmer, the staff at Excela Health and Dr. Richard Lynn, the staff at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, Dr. Melanie Costa of Forefront Dermatology in Shadyside, Dr. Tiffany Pluto and Dr. Paul Means. The family also thanks their dear friends and neighbors, who were such a blessing during this difficult time.
Those wishing to make memorial donations, in memory of Paul, are invited to do so to the Carnegie Free Library in Connellsville, the Dunbar Community Library in Dunbar, the Connellsville Falcon Foundation, the Community Lunch Program of the Connellsville Christian Church, or any charity of their choosing.
Paul’s life philosophy and legacy … “give anonymously – pray without ceasing – serve others always”.
To offer a condolence or remembrance, visit www.brooksfuneralhomes.com