John W. Brzuzy, 81, a pioneer at an Indiana boy’s club and a three-sports star at Fairmont West, passed away Sunday, May 17 at his Richmond, Indiana residence.

John Brzuzy was the second executive director in Scott Boy’s Club’s history.  He was there 30 years and retired in 1993 because of illness.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, since opening its doors in 1957, serves more than 2,500 young people a year at five locations and operates a 168-acre Camp Guy on the Whitewater River.

John was one of nine children of the late Wladyslaw and Stephania Zuzak Brzuzy, both of whom immigrated through Ellis Island, New York. Dad operated the PNA Tavern in Monongah.

The other children were Walter Brzuzy, Chester Brzuzy, Stan Brzuzy, Ed Brzuzy, Freda Brzuzy Rodgers, Edith Brzuzy Bland and Laura Brzuzy Yereb, who predeceased him, and surviving brother Steve Brzuzy.

John attended Sts. Peter and Paul School in Monongah till his parents moved to Country Club Road in Fairmont, when he switched to Fairmont West High and became a star in football (quarterback), basketball and baseball, advancing Fairmont West high in the state playoffs in all.

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 holler.

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.”

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.

John’s obituary:

John W. Brzuzy, 81, passed away Sunday, May 17 at his Richmond, Indiana residence.

He was born Nov. 12, 1933 in Monongah, West Virginia to Walter and Stella Brzuzy and had lived in the Richmond area since 1964.

He retired from Scott Boy’s Club in 1992 as executive director.

He was a Fairmont State graduate with a passion for golf, fishing and hunting. John was a former member of the Elks, a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and a U.S. Army veteran.

Survivors include his children, Louis (Ann) Brzuzy of Anchorage, Alaska; John Brzuzy of Houston, Texas; Stephanie Brzuzy of Chicago, Illinois; and Cynthia (Kent) Cammack of Clinton, Indiana; special companion Karen Rankin; stepchildren Roberta (Steve) Berhalter, Rebecca (Tom Mayberry) Rankin, and Kimberly (Tim) Golbuff; and brother Steve Brzuzy.

He also is preceded in death by siblings Walter Brzuzy, Chester Brzuzy, Stan Brzuzy, Ed Brzuzy, Freda Brzuzy Rodgers, Edith Brzuzy Bland and Laura Brzuzy Yereb. A stepdaughter, Linda Rankin, also is deceased.

Liturgy of Christian burial will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 in St. Mary Catholic Church. Father Kevin Morris will officiate.

Friends may call on Thursday from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in John’s name to the Scott Boy’s Club, 1717 South L Street, Richmond, IN 47374 of St. Mary Catholic Church, 240 South 6^th Street, Richmond, IN 47374.

Riggle-Waterman Funeral Home in Richmond, Indiana is handling arrangements.