Mazza’s closes for the final time

Mazza’s restaurant, a fixture on Alta Vista Avenue for Fairmont East students since 1948, has closed … again, and for the last time – on Friday, February 24.

Larry Mazza & Linda Mazza Shelosky

Monongah’s Linda Mazza Shelosky, widow of Bernard Shelosky, Class of 1965, and her brother, Larry Mazza of Fairmont, kept Mazza’s going till Friday.

Linda recalls:

Mazza’s “opened in 1948 with my Dad (Jimmy Mazza) running it. From 1973-1993 Larry ran the business.

“We closed in 1993 for 19 years because the kids weren’t allowed to come over (when Fairmont East became a closed campus and the students ate in the cafeteria). In 2013 we reopened.

“WOW! THANK YOU so much for such an overwhelming closing day -- cakes, gifts, plaques, clothes, chocolate-covered strawberries, candy, wine, hats, beautiful cards, handmade cards from the kids.

“But most all for the friendships my family has made throughout the years. Tonight after closing I walked up to the new field, sat on the bleachers and said, ‘Thank you, God!!’

“It has been the BEST JOB that any person could have. It has been one heck of a ride. We couldn’t have made it without you all!!!

“So, with closing this chapter of my brother’s life and mine, it truly is sad.  GOD BLESS from our house to yours. We LOVE and THANK YOU.”

Although Linda is a Fairmont East grad, she has lived in Monongah on Cottage Street for more than 40 years after marrying Bernie Shelosky.

Bernie passed in 2013; her father, Jimmy Mazza, in 1973.

Larry has a condo in Boca Raton, Florida, where his son, Rocky Mazza, lives.

Linda’s brother, Rick Mazza, was on the football coaching staff at Monongah High for the 1973 state football championship and has a successful high school coaching career in North Carolina.

Linda is related to Andrea Shelosky Matthews and husband Tim Matthews and Tom Shelosky and wife Phyllis, who all live in Monongah.

Tom Shelosky is a son of Julia Lazorick Shelosky and Stanley “Strob” Shelosky, the late superb golfer at Green Hills who built up his body by laying bricks and cinder blocks for home foundations.

 

Julia passed away in 2013, Strob in 1993.

 

George Shelosky was Strob’s brother.

The Mazza and Shelosky families are spread throughout Monongah High history.

Starting with George Shelosky, Class of 1932.

Theresa Mazza Slamick, Class of 1941, who married Jim Slamick.

Carmella Mazza Davis, Class of 1942.

Elvira Mazza Roth, Class of 1944.

John Mazza, Class of 1948, an excellent infielder for Monongah High.

Yanit Skarzinski Mazza, Class of 1951, who I frequently saw at the Monongah CYO that Father John McNulty started. It met in the basement of St. Stanislaus Church.

Stanley Shelosky, Class of 1958.

Barbara Shelosky, Class of 1968, who moved from Monongah to San Diego, California. So did Andrea Shelosky.

 

Tom’s sister, Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961, lives in Fairmont.

 

Bernie Shelosky’s aunt, the late Sophie Dudiak Shelosky, was a sister of Mary Dudiak Raymond, who was married to Angelo Raymond and the mother of the late Bobby Raymond, Class of 1951, and Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro, wife of Carman Pagliaro, who lives in Fairmont.

 

Bob’s widow, Susan Russell Raymond, lives in White Hall.  Bob and Susan’s children are Paula, married to Sam Adkins and living in Idamay; Robin Long of Colfax; Mary Harr of Pleasant Valley; and another Bob Raymond, married to Susie and living in Fairmont.