James "Jim" Getsy

Of Penn Hills, age 85, passed away surrounded by family and friends on Friday, March 15, 2024. Married for 58 years to his beloved wife Andrea. Loving father of Michael Getsy and Annette Marshall (Shane). Proud grandfather of Jack. Brother of the late Regis Getsy (Linda) and brother-in-law of the late Dennis Kuftic, Norman Kuftic (Jennifer), Vernon Kuftic, and Vicki Kuftic Horne (Eric).

Jim was a man of many talents and interests, but he was first and foremost a storyteller. His stories were of his growing up in Braddock, PA, son of Ann and Andrew Getsy. Jim told tales of the mischief of two boys growing up in an era of considerable freedom and homemade adventure.  He wrote a small memoir of he and Regis's elementary year escapades entitled "The Yellow Raincoat." Jim graduated from Duquesne and Pitt universities.  He had a successful 33-year career at Housing and Urban Development, retiring as Program Manager and Special Assistant to the Director.  At retirement in 2001, his life work began.

Though he started a hobby of wood carving before he married, he went on to create full sail ships, ducks, geese, swans and birds.  He gifted more than 150 of his creations to friends, family and non-profit fundraisers. He refinished trunks, built a "Country Store" shed, and a remarkable dollhouse. He played chess, scrabble, tennis and was always ready for a game of poker. He was a word master and started each morning solving puzzles.  He landscaped a beautiful back yard and devoted his early retirement years to landscaping Crescent Hills Park in Penn Hills.  Jim loved listening to bluegrass music at the Penn Hills "Barn." With his wife he biked, hiked, and did extensive traveling. Jim, Andrea, and daughter Annette were members of the Pittsburgh Slovakians. Jim was a long-time treasurer of the Slovak Radio Hour. Jim treasured his Slovak heritage and went to Slovakia four times to visit with relatives.  

Jim was one of the founding members of the Alliance for Consumer Protection, the Penn Hills Soccer Association (where his grandson Jack now plays), Penn Hills CDC and Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission. He was a former president of the Penn Hills Rotary and Crescent Hills Civic Association. Among other volunteer activities he worked at Penn Hills Service Center for six years. In his later life he was elected a Penn Hills Councilman. Jim loved his community. The community honored him by lowering both the Penn Hills' and state flags. 

He was an anti-litter crusader and could be seen until his passing walking the neighborhood with a litter pick in hand.  But Jim could not walk past discarded wood without imagining a future for it and sometimes dragging the wood home. He had hoped to walk 100 miles in the month of March 2024. 

Jim was a member of Fit 4 Boxing Club in Murrysville and with his friends there worked to "Punch out Parkinson's."  Jim received tender and attentive care at AGH Forbes Hospital Critical Care Unit.  Jim's final gift, his final deed, was to be a donor to someone in need.

Friends are invited to a memorial visitation at Wolfe Memorial, LLC, 3600 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh PA 15221, on Saturday, April 6, from 2:00 to 6:00pm. Private burial in Penn Forest Natural Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Parkinson's Foundation, www.parkinson.org. Memories and condolences may be left at www.wolfepgh.com.

Read Jim's news obituary in the Penn Hills Progress. 

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