Stan Brzuzy’s daughter Karla to wed

Fairmont East and Fairmont State graduate and FirstEnergy contractor Karla Brzuzy, daughter of the late Monongah native Stanley “Spud” Brzuzy, on Friday, April 24 will wed James D. Trotto.

Edwina Trotto, Jim’s mom, writes:

“We love you and Jamie and wish you years of marital bliss. Love, Mom and Dad.”

Karla's sister is Kristie Brzuzy Solheim, living in Fairmont with husband Brent Solheim.

There were 9 children in the family of Wladyslaw “Walter” and Stephania Zuzak Brzuzy, who immigrated through Ellis Island, New York, to run the PNA Tavern across U.S. 19 from Thoburn School.

They are Walter Brzuzy, Class of 1950;  Freda Brzuzy Rogers, Class of 1945; John Brzuzy of Richmond, Indiana; Stephen Brzuzy of Grassy Run, Fairmont; Edith Brzuzy Bland; Laura Brzuzy Yereb; Chester Brzuzy; and Edwin Brzuzy. Stan passed away last April 26.

Stan is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sue Strawderman Brzuzy. They have nine grandchildren. Stan retired from Lucent Technologies/AT&T after 34 years. 

Walter, an excellent baseball pitcher and basketball shooter from today’s 3-point range despite the lower Monongah High gym ceiling, ran the PNA for his dad in later years.

Walter passed away in 1986 in Monaca, Pennsylvania, where he lived for 30 years and coached the Monaca American Legion baseball team. He retired from Jones & Laughlin Steel’s blast furnace department.

Walter and wife Ruth Ann Butcher Brzuzy had a son and two daughters.

When the Brzuzy family moved from Monongah to Country Club Road in Fairmont, John became a star football and basketball player for Fairmont West. Even in Richmond, Indiana John was deeply involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs.

John was the passing leader for Fairmont State in 1953 and 1954 as the Falcons’ quarterback.  He was the total offense and scoring leader in 1954. In 1953 he threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Nick Moreman, former Fairmont East High star, against Salem College.

His other claims to fame were that he took the two-hole punishment paddle away from a nun at Sts. Peter and Paul School and ran away and that, when a baseball hit him in the head on the playground, it changed directions 90 degrees and flew onto Church Street and then bounced into the hollow. That meant an extended recess while we went to look for the poor baseball. And it was my introduction to the term, “hard-headed Pollock.”

Stephen’s wife, Eva Blanche “Banny” Hostutler Brzuzy, passed away in 2010.