Mr. Thomas John Felak, 90, entered into rest Aug. 13, 2022. Tom was born in Toledo, Ohio, on Sept. 4, 1931. A year later, the family moved to Belle Vernon, and then on to Speers Hill. Tom graduated in 1950 from Charleroi High School, where he played football and baseball. Baseball was his first love and he excelled at it as a Mon Valley Area outstanding hard-hitting catcher. After graduating high school, Tom worked briefly at Corning Glass Works in Charleroi, but soon signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates to play on their minor league Class D farm team at Brunswick, Ga., in the Georgia-Florida League. He was recommended by well-known local area Pirates scout George Chacko and was formally signed to a contract by none other than Pirates Hall of Famer Pie Traynor. However, early in Tom’s professional career a playing injury cut short his chances of fulfilling his dream of someday playing in the big leagues. Soon after his minor league baseball playing ended, Tom enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served three years during the Korean Conflict until October 1955. Because of his strong baseball skills, the Marines quickly recruited him to play for their teams at Parris Island, S.C., and Quantico, Va. At Parris Island, Tom played against professional baseballers Dick Groat (Pirates), Vernon Law (Pirates) and Willie Mays (Giants). While stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he was again recruited to play along with and against other former professional players in Cuba’s Naval Base League. He also played baseball and basketball against the Harlem Globetrotters as part of an event for the entertainment of the troops. Tom finished his final military baseball career leading the league in batting with a .417 average and as a top league home run producer. Upon discharge from the Marines, Tom achieved the rank of Corporal and the “Expert” rifle shooting medal. After the military, Tom attended college at California State College at California, Pa., earning a degree in parks and recreation. Employed by Washington County, Pa., initially to develop tax maps, he was the first employee of the Parks and Recreation Department, rising to the assistant director position. In 1981 he relocated to Houston, Texas, and in 1985, to the North Augusta, S.C., area to be near family. Tom was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in North Augusta, the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Michael Felak and Mary Bella Kutsik Felak; and his older brother, Ray (Barbara Janosik) Felak. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Frances Cecelia Pavlecic Felak; two sons, Charles (Debora Black) Felak of Ephrata, Pa., and John (Mary Clutter) Felak of North Augusta, S.C.; nine grandchildren; 10 great- grandchildren; and his younger brother, David (Shirley Agnew Robertson) Felak of Aiken, S.C. Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta, S.C., is in charge of arrangements, 803-278-1181. Visit the registry at www.PoseyCares.com for the full obituary.
