Pittsburgh area entrepreneur grew empire from a single hotel
William P. Kratsa grew a signature Pittsburgh hotel, restaurant and housing empire from a single Harmar hotel he opened with $10,000 of his own money.
Mr. Kratsa, known as "Billy Kay" to friends and family, died Saturday at UPMC Shadyside. He was 91.
He founded Kratsa Properties, which has grown during the past half-century to employ thousands under the management of his three sons.
"My dad worked so hard all of his life that he kind of bred that into us," said William P. Kratsa Jr.
The youngest brother recalled working as a child at the front desk of the Red Raven in Harmar, first of his father's many hotels. The hotel is now a Holiday Inn.
"He would tell you that it wasn't just the hard work, it was also being in the right place at the right time," he said. "He was such a personable guy that everybody really liked him."
Kratsa Properties has developed hotels such as Courtyard by Marriott in Monroeville; SpringHill Suites in the North Shore and in West Mifflin; and a Fairfield Inn in New Stanton. The company developed shopping centers including Mountain Laurel Plaza in Latrobe and Northtowne Square in Richland. It has built housing plans such as Forest Highlands Community Association and Canterbury Woods, both in Fox Chapel.
Granddaughter Kelly DiNatale, 29, of O'Hara, said Mr. Kratsa's first love was baking -- a profession he had learned from his father.
"His specialty was sourdough bread," she said. "Everything was made from scratch."
Mr. Kratsa began a second career in 1976 when he opened Periwinkle's Bakery in Harmar. DiNatale said Mr. Kratsa was technically retired, but he rarely missed a day helping in the bakery's kitchen or keeping its accounting books.
"His pride and joy was baking," she said.
He loved music, too, she said. Mr. Kratsa played clarinet and saxophone in the Billy K Band, which often entertained guests at Greek Orthodox weddings in the area.
The baker and businessman was born in Hopewell, Va., but his family moved to the Pittsburgh area to be closer to other family members.
Mr. Kratsa's wife, Stella Kratsa, died in 1956, DiNatale said.
Mr. Kratsa -- a member of the Greek Church of the Holy Dormition in Oakmont -- was a Shriner with the Syria Temple in Cheswick.
He is survived by three sons, Perry W. Kratsa, of Harmar, and James "Nick" Kratsa and William Kratsa Jr., both of Fox Chapel, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A daughter, Mary Kratsa, preceded him in death.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and Tuesday at Burket-Truby Funeral Home Cremation & Alternative Services Inc., 421 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont. Burial will be in Verona Cemetery.
