Four-term McKeesport mayor Washowich dies

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Former McKeesport Mayor Louis “Lou” Washowich had a tough job, but he always rose to a challenge, according to Senior Magisterial District Judge Tom Brletic, one of the city’s former police chiefs.

Washowich, a four-term mayor, passed away Friday in the comfort of his home with his family by his side. He was 81.

First elected in 1979, Washowich was mayor until 1995. 

Born July 8, 1930, in McKeesport, Washowich was a U.S. Army veteran who had been stationed in Fort Knox, Ky., where he met his wife of 58 years, Jean. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Michael (Missy) and Matthew (Jen Reck, Payton); and granddaughters Taylor, Haley and Lacey, who called him “Poppy.”

In a statement, the family said they will remember Washowich “as a man with so much love and wisdom to share” and “will think of him smiling, enjoying the nice weather outside on his front porch swing on Banker Street.”

Washowich promoted Brletic to police chief in the mid-1980s, and the two became friends over the years, according to the judge. 

Brletic describes Washowich, whom he considers a member of his family, as a “consummate McKeesporter” because he always rooted for the city and tried his best to find solutions to tough problems.

“While he was in office as mayor, there wasn’t a day that went by where he wasn’t trying to hold things together,” he said. “I just can’t say enough about him.”

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