Edward Melvin Morascyzk

Edward Melvin Morascyzk

Pennsylvania State Policeman, Photographer,

Button Box Musician

Edward Melvin Morascyzk, 91, of Washington, passed away peacefully on Monday August 20, 2018 after a short stay at Southmont Presbyterian Senior Care. He was born April 30, 1927 in Johnstown, PA, a son of Edward J. and Stella Stawiarz Morascyzk. Following graduation from Franklin High School in 1945, he enlisted and served proudly in the United States Navy for seven years. After being honorably discharged from active duty and graduating from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, he began a twenty-four year career as a Pennsylvania State Policeman.  During his tenure, he was a pioneer Crime Scene Investigator and earned the nickname, “Smudge” for his fingerprinting prowess and development of fingerprinting techniques. He was one of the first investigators in Pennsylvania to use color photographs for investigative analysis.  While he was involved in thousands of cases during his career, the most notable case that he investigated and about which he testified in court was the Yablonski Case, which spanned the early 1970s.

After retirement from the Pennsylvania State Police, he served as the Chief Deputy Sheriff of Washington County and thereafter was affectionately known by family and friends as the “Chief”. He was a past president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #47, membership in which he held for more than 60 years. During the past several years, he took pride in attending the FOP meetings and being recognized as the oldest living member.

In his early 60s, he learned to play the Button Box. He was a member of the International Button Box Club, greatly enjoyed attending the weekly “jam” sessions and hosting his annual “Button Box Bash”. He was an avid boater and for many years enjoyed spending weekends on the Monongahela River with family and friends.  An accomplished professional photographer, he photographed hundreds of weddings, was the official game photographer for the Washington and Jefferson College football team, owned and operated pioneering videotape equipment at W&J wrestling matches and for decades, with his loving wife Elena, enjoyed photographing children with Santa at the Washington Mall.

On June 14, 1952 he married the love of his life, Elena Marie Falconi, who, after being inseparable for more than 44 years, passed away in 1996. Surviving are his sons Edward (Elaine) Morascyzk and Angelo (Karen) Morascyzk. Also surviving are five grandchildren; Joseph (Christina) Morascyzk, Angela (T.J.)  Srsic, Michael (Tara Jo) Morascyzk, Kristen (Mark “Matt”) Lesako and E.J. (Stacey) Morascyzk, ten great grandchildren; Michael Angelo Morascyzk, Dante “Bruno” Srsic, Isabella “Lucybelle” Lesako, Elena Morascyzk, Dominic Srsic, Ethan “Nathan” Lesako, Angeline Morascyzk, Severio Joseph Morascyzk, R.J. Morascyzk, Enzo Cesare Morascyzk, and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his three sisters, Agnes Wicks of Johnstown, Mary Florence Fisher of Carson City, Nevada, Dolores Sewak of Canonsburg and a brother John Morascyzk of Johnstown. He was preceded in death by his brother Melvin Morascyzk.

Friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. Sunday and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Mario L. DeAngelo Funeral Home, 194 East College Street, Canonsburg.  A Fraternal Order of Police Ceremony will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.  Departing Prayers will be held in the funeral home at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday August 28, 2018 in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Canonsburg.  Interment will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil Township with full military honors by the United States Navy and the VFW Post #191 of Canonsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that gifts in Ed’s memory be made to the Washington County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 308, Eighty Four, PA 15330, 724-222-6330.

A guestbook is available at www.deangelocare.com.

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