< Previous40 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021 W hile many see retirement as an ending, McKees Rocks natives John Pastin and Al Condeluci saw it as an opportunity to take a trip back through the decades. Through a band they founded called the Doo-Wop Doctors, the pair have been bringing the sounds of classic hits back to the Greater Pittsburgh area. At the same time, the two musicians have been utilizing their skills and passion for music to help local communities fundraise. “It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of this and I just love watching it all unfold,” said Pastin. The two scholars were originally members of the Chantels, a group of four Stowe High School students that began performing in the area during the 1960s. Gathering over a shared love of music, the group of high-schoolers quickly made a name for themselves by playing the songs that many today view as the “classics” of the industry. Like many high school groups, however, the band ended when everyone went their separate ways. While the group remained friends as they traveled across the country, the music took a pause for a number of the band members. During that time, Condeluci earned a master’s and a doctorate in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. He then worked in human services for over 50 years, including as the CEO of the nonprofit CLASS - Community Living and Support Services - in 1973. A published author and public speaker, Condeluci still travels the world to talk about helping others. Pastin’s graduation from the Chantels led him deeper into the world of music. He went on to serve for 30 years in the Navy and earned a place among the leadership in the Navy music program. After he retired as an officer in charge and conductor of the U.S. Navy Band, he earned a doctorate in musical arts and served as band director at Rowan University. He eventually back to area became dean of the College of Performing Arts before retiring in 2017. Equipped with doctorates, families and years of professional experience, retirement seemed like a perfect next step for the duo. With the time to pursue music for fun in retirement, Pastin decided that he wanted to return to the era of doo- wop music with his close friend who he has known for decades. As Condeluci retired as CEO, Pastin was there with a bass guitar in hand and an offer to relive the glory days. “When John proposed we get back together I was intimidated,” said Condeluci. “His entire career, and life, has revolved around music and I barely knew the major chords. Yet, his indulgence and skills as a natural teacher have made coming back to music palatable. I am humbled to share the stage with him.” The doctors quickly decided to return to what they know best: doo-wop tunes from the glory days of the Chantels. “Doo-Wop music takes folks back in time,” said Condeluci. “Knowing a little bit about the brain and its functioning, music can be a pivotal piece in linking people together. And it STORY BY GARRET ROBERTS PHOTOS SUBMITTED McKees Rocks natives reunite to bringSeptember/October 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 41 John Pastin and Al Condeluci (also pictured at right) used to perform together when they were attending Stowe High School. They reconnected in recent years and are now once again entertaining as the Doo-Wop Doctors. is from our togetherness that we find our mutual humanity.” “They say that one song can trigger 1,000 memories,” said Pastin. “Imagine playing an evening full of songs that cause people to reminisce, married couples to hold each other close and dance like they did way back when, and many in the audience to sing along!” Now, back on stage and performing the music they grew up with, the two doctors had to find a new name for their act. Together, they found a title that both honors their academic achievements and shows their passion for the classics. “We started jamming, and oldies and doo-wop came easy to us. It was so much fun that we stuck with it. We are both doctors in our respective fields, so the name Doo-Wop Doctors was a natural,” said Condeluci. “He is dedicated to making the music good,” said Pastin. “We work until it is presentable and Al has a work ethic like no other. He loves the fun that we have performing and he enjoys making people happy.” An important part of the doctors’ act is the charity aspect to each performance. When the doctors first returned to the stage, they did so at a venue intended for 70. When they drew twice that number, they saw it as a sign that there was interest in nostalgia and their performance. The doctors quickly decided the best way to use that following was to help others in need. “We donated the money we made that night from the door to the Pittsburgh Chapter Metropolitan Opera Young Artists Competition, which provides prize money and support to young local classical singers,” said Pastin. “After that, we decided to hold special concerts, parties, dances, and give proceeds to charities and nonprofits that are near and dear to both of us: the arts and human services.” The doo-wop duo has also held fundraisers to get the Sto-Rox High School band to Florida for performances, teamed up with other performers to raise money for toy drives and continued to support charitable organizations across the Pittsburgh area. “So far, we have raised about $10,000 for various charity and nonprofit organizations,” said Pastin. The doctors hope to keep their doo-wop performances going and bring the classics to communities that appreciate them, all while helping give back. “We still play club dates, car shows and concerts in the area, and it turns out that we are a pretty good reunion and wedding band,” said Pastin. “So, while the oldies and doo-wop waves are there, we’ll continue to ride them. Who knows though, if we get tired of this, we might start a polka band.” Audiences can next spot the Doo-Wop Doctors at Robinson Town Centre during the Robinson Township Car Cruise on Oct. 2. They’ll also be playing in Clever Park on Oct. 9 during a fundraiser to benefit Focus On Renewal, an organization dedicated to bringing services to McKees Rocks and Stowe Township families in need. The Oktoberfest-themed show kicks off at 4 p.m. On the Horizon On the Horizon ; Robinson Township Autumn Festival, Sept. 18, 12-10 p.m., Burkett Park, food, music, entertainment, vendors, attractions, inflatables, trackless train, rock wall, fireworks at 9 p.m., townshipofrobinson.com/autumn-festival. Moon Wizarding Festival, Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Moon Park, artisans, crafters, music, games, Quidditch, crafts, food, drink, costume contest, “wrock” stylings of Muggle Snuggle and Hawthorn & Holly, visit with snakes from Iceman Reptiles, potions with Mad Science, www.moonparks.org/events/calendar. asp#. Inches Nursery Fall Festival, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., 1005 Stoops Ferry Road in Coraopolis, corn maze, haunted house, petting zoo (family owned), kiddie pumpkin walk, games, prizes, Halloween photo area, raffles, free event, pet care donations benefit Beaver County Humane Society: food, litter, treats, etc.; www.inchesnursery.com. Janoskis Pumpkinland, Sept. 26, 27 and every weekend through October (except weekend of Oct. 31), 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Janoski’s Farm in Clinton, pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, haunted barn, children’s pony rides, petting zoo pedal bikes, food vendors, or bring a lunch, janoskis.com/pumpkinland. Findlay Food Truck Thursdays, Sept. 30, 4-8 p.m., Clinton Municipal Parking Lot, 1271 US-30 in Clinton, Gyros N’at, BRGR, www.findlay.pa.us/184/Parks-Recreation. Ukrainian Food Festival, Oct. 1-2, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Parish of Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Carnegie, homemade Ukrainin foods, pastries, outdoor grill, basket raffle, church talk and tour at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., dine in and take out, call to order day of event: (412) 276-9718, www. orthodoxcarnegie.org. Blessed Home Trivia Night Benefit, Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m., Celebrations, appetizers, desserts, raffles, trivia competition, guest speakers, RSVP to blessedhomellc@gmail.com or (412) 758-5188, benefits Blessed Home, $30/person. Kinsey Vintage Market, Oct. 1-3, Nov. 19-20, 7237 Noblestown Road, Oakdale, antique dealers, handmade items, winery, food trucks, moonshine, more, kinseyevents.com. Hozak’s Fall Festival, all of October, 2-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and Oct. 11 (Columbus Day), Hozak’s Farm in Clinton, pumpkin picking, hayrides, straw pile, farm animals, gift shop, haunted hayrides, refreshments, www. hozakfarms.com/fallactivites.html. Robinson Township Car Cruise, Oct. 2, 12-4 p.m., Robinson Town Centre parking lot near Home Goods, live entertainment by the Doo-Wop Doctors, $5/car donations accepted, first 100 cars receive a dash plaque, safety protocols in place, benefits parks department, townshipofrobinson.com/special- events. McFall Fest, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., McDonald Presbyterian Church, homemade food, treasure chest resale shop, baked goods, pumpkins, mums, Chinese auction, craft and vendor sale, music, children’s fun area, benefits mission and ministry work, (724) 926.8561, www.mcdonaldpres.org. Outdoor Flea Market, Oct. 9, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., SNPJ Lodge 106 in Imperial, spaces available, (412) 596-8885. Doo-Wop Doctors Concert, Oct. 9, 4 p.m., Clever Park, Oktoberfest-themed show featuring Doo-Wop Doctors, benefits Focus on Renewal, $20, www.forstorox.org. Harvest Happenings at Geary Farm, Oct. 9-10, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., vendors, pumpkin patch, food trucks, bounce house, more, 1421 Geary Farm Way in McDonald, (412) 508-8163. Moon Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 20, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Moon Park, Trunk or Treat, pumpkin painting, food trucks, more, www.moonparks.org/events/calendar.asp#. Robinson’s Halloween in the Park, Oct. 23, 12-2 p.m., Clever Park, socially-distanced Halloween fun, townshipofrobinson.com/special-events. HOLT Brewhaha, Oct. 23, 5-8:30 p.m., Robin Hill Park, four-course gourmet food/beer pairings, auction, raffles, prizes, souvenir tasting glass, benefits Hollow Oak Land Trust, hollowoak.org. North Fayette Fall Festival, Oct. 23, 5-7 p.m., Donaldson Park, costume contests by age group and category, treats, trunk or treat, parade, crafts, refreshments, north-fayette.com/339/Parks- Recreation-Events, dhildebrand@north-fayette.com. Boy Scout Troop 248 Haunted Cabin, Oct. 27-30, 7-9 p.m., 248 Clinton Avenue in Oakdale, overflow parking one- quarter block from cabin, benefits Troop 248, $5/person, group rates available by calling: (724) 693-0549. Fun Fall Happenings 42 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021 get all of these events on your phone with our app All events subject to change. Please visit the websites listed for the most up-to-date information. Download our app at awmagazine.com for interactive maps, links, add-to-calendar buttons and more. Check out Robinson Township Library fall programming on page 45 September/October 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 43Robinson Township Hist. Soc. Robinson Township Hist. Soc. N SUBMITTED BY THE ROBINSON TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY 44 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021 Imagine your website working as hard for your business as you do. 412.205.8998 | DDSWebDesign.com Websites that get results. Designed in Pittsburgh Contact us for a free website analysis. Affordable Custom Designs Responsive Sites | Content Management SEO | E-commerce | Hosting | Maintenance Oliver J. Riddle A Robinson native called before his time while serving in Vietnam In almost every generation, a conflict sends our finest young men and women to foreign shores. In the 1960s, it was the Vietnam War, and Oliver John Riddle was one of thousands who laid down their lives for their country. Ollie, as his friends called him, was born in 1943 and raised in Robinson Township. His boyhood friend John Petro remembers happy times with him on Petrie Road, sledding down a backyard hill and swinging on a Tarzan swing in the nearby woods. Ollie was small of stature and nicknamed “Pickle,” but Petro describes him as “a tough little guy” who wrestled on the high school wrestling team. Petro remembers him as “a happy-go-lucky person.” After graduating from Montour High in 1963, Riddle enlisted in the Air Force and was assigned to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. In 1966, after a short Thanksgiving at home with his family, he departed on Monday, Nov. 29, for the long journey to Vietnam. It would be his last. Just a few days later, Airman Second Class Oliver J. Riddle was killed by an artillery rocket mortar in Gia Dinh province, Vietnam. Ollie was just 21 years old when he died. In 2009, Richard Roberts, a fellow airman from the same unit, wrote on the virtual Wall of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial: “We never thought that night would happen. Now 43 years later, I can’t forget it.” Montour graduate Suzanne Shinton Gergerich wrote on that same wall in 2011, “We have never forgotten the sacrifice that you paid. This town has never forgotten.” Among many other medals, Riddle was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. His body was sent home and buried in the Vietnam section of All Souls Cemetery in Robinson. Five decades later, his overgrown grave was discovered by two retired Security Forces personnel. According to a 2017 article in the Tribune-Review, Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Riley and Tech. Sgt. Bruce Bistarkey of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard adopted the grave and pledged to care for it. Riley is quoted in the article as saying, “I think it is our duty to remember the ultimate sacrifice our members have made.” Three times each year, according to the article - on Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Dec. 4, the date of Riddle’s death - the two men clean up the grave, plant fresh flags and lay a wreath. Then they stand at attention and salute Airman Riddle. They tell him: “We remember you. We won’t forget.” Above is Oliver Riddle’s senior year picture from Montour High School. Airman Second Class Oliver Riddle is pictured below after enlisting in the Air Force. Airman Second Class Oliver Riddle’s gravestone marks his final resting place in All Souls Cemetery in Robinson Township. NOW HIRING! O ces located in Robinson Twp. & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time job opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional. Call to schedule your interview! No Fees!September/October 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 451XFirebeatFirebeat 46 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021 BY JOE KULIK Recently, a refuse truck caught fire on Interstate 79, prompting various departments to respond. The fire involved debris that had caught fire inside the truck. Burning debris had also spilled alongside the roadway and started a brush fire. While fighting that fire, it was determined that foam was needed. Foam is often used to help extinguish certain difficult fires such as vehicle engine fires and others involving fuels. Chemical-based firefighting foam has been sold and used for decades and is very effective at extinguishing petroleum and jet fuel fires. The foaming chemicals help create a “blanket” that smothers the fire. While fighting this recent fire, several of us commented on the use of the foam product, and the publicity we had seen regarding the use of foam products in firefighting. Unfortunately, after being used for decades, it has also been discovered that these foams contain potentially carcinogenic compounds. Chemicals known as Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances - commonly referred to as PFAS - were, and in some circumstances still are, being used. In 2006, the EPA launched a program to reduce PFAS emissions. Along with the EPA, the CDC and the American Cancer Society have noted that certain PFAS may be linked to instances of firefighter cancer. In fact, the EPA has classified PFAS as “emerging contaminants,” a designation that means they are likely dangerous to human health. Cancers associated with PFAS have reportedly included kidney cancer, testicular cancer, pancreatic cancer and bladder cancer, among other maladies. Over the past few years, this issue has drawn increased attention, as there have been advertisements about potential litigation. In addition, firefighters have received various communications about the potential for filing claims. Of course, any aspect of firefighting creates a substantial risk of harm. The stress placed on the body, especially the heart, has been well documented. There can be little doubt, however, that there is also an increased risk of developing cancer. A detailed study, finished in 2013 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, found that cancers of the respiratory, digestive and urinary systems primarily accounted for the higher rates of cancer seen among firefighters. Those higher rates suggest that firefighters are more likely to develop those cancers than someone in the general population. Similarly, the population of firefighters in the study had a rate of mesothelioma that was twice the rate in the U.S. population as a whole. Researchers said it was likely that the findings were associated with exposure to asbestos, a known cause of mesothelioma, while fighting fires in older buildings. When firefighting, walls and ceilings are oftentimes exposed to reveal asbestos insulation. Firefighters also sometimes have to “open” up these walls and ceilings in an effort to extinguish flames and “hot spots.” Over the years, there have been increased efforts to recognize the inherent risks of firefighting. Laws have been proposed and, in some cases enacted, creating a presumption regarding cancer being suffered by a firefighter. Too often, those laws do not work. A Pennsylvania Supreme Court case addressed the matter when it took up the case of a firefighter who had made a compensation claim based on his cancer diagnosis. Our Supreme Court ruled in favor of the firefighter, deciding that firefighters diagnosed with cancer need only show that their cancer could be caused by exposure to a known carcinogen. As a result, the burden shifted to the employer to prove that the cancer was not work-related. Hopefully, additional studies, research and increased recognition of the risks of firefighting will result in greater protective measures. As firefighters recognize the risks associated with firefighting, our government leaders must do the same. Addressing firefighter cancer Foams like the type being used by this firefighter are oftentimes used to distinguish difficult fires caused by fuels or other chemicals. The foams, however, also contain compounds that have been linked to cancer. PITTSBURGH PA PERMIT NO. 5605 Hughey Publications, LLC P.O. Box 220 McDonald, PA 15057 Allegheny West MagazineNext >