Man spent early days on farm

Leo J. Opalinski loved talking with people, and his friendliness shone through to everyone he conversed with.

David Opalinski said his father would sit on a bench at a shopping center and strike up a conversation with a stranger. And from his garden to his Polish ancestry, Leo Opalinski had lots to talk about.

'He loved to sit and chat with people,' David Opalinski said.

Leo J. Opalinski, 77, of East Huntingdon Township, died Saturday, March 3, 2001, in Forbes Regional Hospital, Monroeville.

He was born May 1, 1923, in Everson, a son of the late Joseph and Stella Sommerfield Opalinski.

Mr. Opalinski often talked to his children about his hard work on the family farm during his youth.

'He would always remind us of his days behind a horse-drawn plow,' David Opalinski said.

The farm once encompassed about half the town of Everson, and the family didn't have the luxury of modern equipment early on - horses and human power were the machines of choice.

His early days on the farm stayed with him through his later years as Mr. Opalinski loved to tend his garden.

'It was amazing what he could do with a small piece of land,' David Opalinski said. 'He loved the land.'

Mr. Opalinski was proudest of his tomatoes, some of which grew to the size of cantaloupes, his son said.

He was also proud of his Polish heritage.

Mr. Opalinski's father came to America at age 17, and the family spoke to each other in Polish.

'They were all very strong into their ancestry,' David Opalinski said.

His father was also a hard worker but he 'made work as fun for as many people as he could,' David Opalinski said. 'He was a basic kind of guy, but he was a fun-loving guy.'

Mr. Opalinski retired from Robertshaw Controls, New Stanton, with 34 years of service.

David Opalinski also remembers his father as a fighter.

He battled illness throughout much of his life, including rheumatic fever as a child and heart disease for at least the last 16 years.

'He was a fighter throughout his whole life,' David Opalinski said. 'His doctors used to say he had nine lives.'

Mr. Opalinski also loved music - from playing the harmonica to cutting a rug with his wife of 51 years, Dorothy J. Bugosh Opalinski.

'He was known to clear the dance floors in his day,' David Opalinski said.

Mr. Opalinski was also a rarity on the golf course. A right-handed golfer, he gripped the club as a left-hander would. His cross-handed golf style amazed David Opalinski.

'It was very rare when I could remember his drives not going straight,' he said.

But above all, family members think of Mr. Opalinski's smile and friendly ways, David Opalinski said.

Mr. Opalinski was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Scottdale.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dorothy J. Bugosh Opalinski; five children, Gerald L. Opalinski and his wife, Conni, of Irwin, David A. Opalinski of Mt. Pleasant, Donna J. Garbera and her husband, Dennis, of Pittsburgh, Randy E. Opalinski and his fiancee, Renae Zuzak, of Scottdale, and Kevin J. Opalinski and his wife, Natalie, of Greensburg; 10 grandchildren, Andrew Opalinski, Neil Opalinski, Stephanie Opalinski, Daniel Opalinski, Julie Garbera, Ian Opalinski, Kayla Garbera, Carly Opalinski, Gregory Garbera and Nicole Opalinski; two sisters, Dorothy Mohall and her husband, August 'Cap,' of Everson and Bernadine Sobien of Port Orange, Fla; and a brother, Vincent Opalinski and his wife, Genevieve, of Everson.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Regina Koscielniak; and three brothers, Joseph, Ted and infant Stanley Opalinski.

Friends will be received in the Frank Kapr Funeral Home Inc., 417 W. Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, today and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A blessing service will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. in St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Scottdale, with the Rev. Leonard W. Stoviak as celebrant.

Interment will follow in St. John R.C. Parish Cemetery, Scottdale.

A parish wake service will be held Wednesday afternoon in the funeral home.