P. Joseph Grata, of Belle Vernon, Washington Township, a longtime journalist, Belle Vernon Area School Board member and community leader, died of cancer on Monday, June 27, 2022, at his home in Lynnwood, Washington Township. He was 78. Mr. Grata, known simply as Joe, built a reputation as the country’s premiere transportation reporter in a career that spanned 50 years and more than 10,000 articles. He covered the behind-the-scenes politics of transportation agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, delving into their finances, safety, operations, policy and management. His stories and columns explored transportation from highway tragedies to rusted bridges, from transit problems to illegal activities. His work took him across the United States, Canada and Europe. He rode most rail transit systems in North America and many in Europe. His expertise was such that he frequently was asked to speak at conferences and in the broadcast media. Mr. Grata won nine Keystone Press Association awards. The local chapters of the Pennsylvania Society of Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers also honored him for outstanding journalism contributions. Mr. Grata, a graduate of Penn State University, began his career during college when he combined his loves of writing and sports. At Penn State, he was sports editor of the Daily Collegian, worked in the sports information office and hosted a sports radio talk show. He also wrote for the former Valley Independent and Latrobe Bulletin, where he took his first full-time job. In 1971, he joined the staff of the former Pittsburgh Press, where he honed his expertise in transportation matters. He later joined the staff of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where his work included a weekly column, “Grata’s Guide: Getting Around,” which appeared in the Sunday editions. For 20 years, Grata handled the written play-by-play record as part of the official NCAA football stats crews at Penn State and later at the University of Pittsburgh. After retiring in 2008, Mr. Grata wrote a weekly column, “persona non grata,” for the local Valley Independent and later the Mon Valley Independent. He was a contributor to Pittsburgh Magazine, among others. In January, Mr. Grata received the Paul Harris Award from Rotary’s Belle Vernon chapter. The honor recognizes individuals who exemplify Rotary’s highest ideal: service about self. In 1983, he was named Citizen of the Year by the same chapter. Mr. Grata was first elected to the Belle Vernon Area School Board in 1969, and he served for six years. After retirement, he again won a seat on the board, a position he has held since 2009. He also was a Democratic committeeman, and since 2010, has served as Fayette County’s representative to the Southwestern PA Commission, the region’s transportation planning agency. In 1999, Mr. Grata was a founding member of the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame, and in 2007 he was inducted in recognition of his decades of support for the program. In 2017, he organized and co-chaired the 50th anniversary gala that marked the merger of the former Bellmar and Rostraver school districts into Belle Vernon Area School District. The event served to launch the BVA Charitable Foundation for which Mr. Grata was founder and first chairman. The nonprofit promotes academics, the arts, activities and athletics with grants, scholarships, educational programs and other activities for the school and community. To date, it has raised more than $100,000. During his lifetime, Mr. Grata served on the boards of his local municipal authority, ambulance service, recreation board and BVA Boosters Club. He was a charter member and director of the Donald Asmonga Foundation that honors outstanding BVA High School athletes with scholarships. In addition to his work and community activities, Mr. Grata was an avid gardener, bicyclist, world traveler and, foremost, patriarch of his family. Mr. Grata was preceded in death by his father, Paul Grata Sr., who was killed in action aboard the USS Franklin during World War II; and his stepfather, Edward Tegel. He is survived by his mother, Joan Netspoon Grata Tegel; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Anne and Donald Sweany of Belle Vernon, Lillian and Neil Gelotti of Fayette City and Joan and Alex Romansky of Rostraver; nephews and nieces, Jon (Emily) Sweany of Unity, Jared Sweany of Sewickley, Lauren (Terry) Childs of Belle Vernon and Lisa Gelotti of Brookline; and great- nieces and great-nephews, Natali and Nathaniel Sweany and Riley and Lucas Childs. Friends will be received from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2022, at Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, 724-929-5300, www.FergusonFuneralHomeandCrematory.com. A private blessing service, for the immediate family only will begin at 5 p.m. Friday. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A very special thank you to Joanie Holets for her kindness and compassion to Joe and his family. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local Lions Club, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh or the Belle Vernon Area Charitable Fund.
