Jeweler's customers became friends for life
Although Joe Laverty had the reputation of being one of the North Side's "finest Irishmen," he also was respected for his ability to transcend ethnic lines, whether in his business or social life.
"When my father established his jewelry store on East Ohio Street, he was the family jeweler for many of the old German families that had lived on the North Side for years," said his son, Joseph P. "Packy" Laverty Jr. "Then Dad was the jeweler for the Irish families and then the Croatian families and now, for many of the African-American families."
Joseph P. Laverty, of Ross Township, the owner of Laverty's Jewelers, died from complications of cancer on Monday, Aug. 19, 2002, in the Reformed Presbyterian Home, North Side. He was 87.
His son, a professor of computer information sciences at Robert Morris University, recalled how his father organized and was the keynote speaker for the first St. Patrick's Day party at the Teutonia Mannerchor Club. "He spoke on the history of Ireland to a roomful of people with German backgrounds. He was well-received and was a life member of the Mannerchor.
"My father was proud to be able to conduct business on the North Side, a community that he loved and involved himself with. Dad was a past president of the North Side Businessmen Association, a past commander of the Allegheny County AMVETS and for over 30 years served on the council of old St. Mary's Church on Lockhart Street.
"My father considered his customers as friends. Even his old customers who had moved away from the North Side would often drop in to say hello and catch up on what was going on in their old neighorhood."
Packy Laverty attributed his father's ability to keep working — until a fire ravaged their store last November — to the elder Laverty's love of the North Side, his business acumen and dancing every Saturday night with his wife, Rose Marie, whom he married in 1982. "They went dancing at the old Islam Grotto, the Teutonia Mannerchor, Javor Croatian Hall and the Etna Elks." It was at a dance at the Islam Grotto during World War II that Mr. Laverty met his first wife, Helen Jackson, whom he married in 1948. "My mother really helped my father get started in his business," Packy Laverty said. "Mom loaned him the $2,000 he needed to get started and worked in the store with Dad while she was raising me. Mom died in 1976."
Born and raised on the North Side, Mr. Laverty was one of three children in the family of John and Ellen O'Donnell Laverty, who had emigrated from County Tyrone, Ireland, at the turn of the 20th century. His father, who attended classes at what was to become the University of Pittsburgh, was employed with the Pittsburgh Railways.
As a youth, Mr. Laverty attended St. Mary School on Lockhart Street, Duquesne University Prep School and Duquesne University, where he received his undergraduate degree in economics. His interest in the jewelry business began when a friend, who had a jewelry store on the North Side and one in McKeesport, asked Mr. Laverty to join him in the business.
For a number of years, prior to entering the Army in 1942, Mr. Laverty managed his friend's jewelry store in McKeesport. Because of an injury that he had sustained prior to entering the service, Mr. Laverty was given an early discharge.
"Dad returned to his friend's jewelry store in McKeesport until 1948, when he and my mother opened their jewelry store on the North Side," his son said.
Packy Laverty recalled how proud he was to have a father who was so well-respected and liked. "People would tell me how much they enjoyed knowing Dad. He always had a smile for everybody.
"Dad trusted people. I had a man who was a very successful accountant tell me how as a youngster going to school, he had wanted a watch but only had a quarter. Dad sold him the watch with the understanding that he would pay 25 cents a week. He paid it off and never forgot my father."
Mr. Laverty is survived by his wife, Rose Marie Tegethoff Laverty; son, Joseph P. Laverty Jr., of Brighton Heights; grandchildren, Patrick, Jonathan, Ian, Shaw and Michaela Laverty; stepchildren, Louis, Gary, Bob, Kevin, Greg and Dave Mullinary, Karen Weingartner and Roseanne Biesel. He was predeceased by his sisters, Marie Volosky and Kathleen Cessar.
Friends will be received from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Sperling Funeral Home, 408 Cedar Ave., North Side. A funeral Mass will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church of St. Peter Parish, North Side. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to a charity of the donor's choice.
