Andrew D. Mollura
AVON, Ohio - Andrew Dennis Mollura, 72, of Avon, Ohio, died Friday, September 6, 2013, at Lakewood Hospital, Lakewood, Ohio, after a valiant battle of 26 days.
Born August 8, 1941 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Dominic and Katherine L.(DeMetro) Mollura.
He graduated from Clearfield Area High School in 1959 and from Pennsylvania State University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism.
He began his journalistic career at The Progress, Clearfield, in 1959, working part time as a news and sports reporter while attending Penn State. Following his graduation, he worked on The Progress news staff for a year as a general assignment reporter and photographer. He also served as news editor of the Centre Daily Times, State College, and telegraph news editor of the Patriot News, Harrisburg.
Mr. Mollura started at Bell Telephone Co. of Pennsylvania in 1966, and became news bureau supervisor in 1969. He was appointed press relations supervisor with the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. in New York City in 1971. He continued to work in the Bell System until his retirement in 1992. He then worked as a consultant for Penelec for a short period of time, and then for Northwest Airlines for three years. His last position was with Sealord Financial in Villanova.
He was a prize-winning photographer while at The Progress. He had a photographer's eye, recognizing that "decisive moment" when you take the photo without regard to f-stops. He was a camera and computer buff, fly fisherman, a collector of cameras, clocks, watches and guns. He was a true "Renaissance Man".
One of the highlights of his life was his trip with his son, Drew, to France, Italy and Sicily in July, 2011.
He was very involved as a volunteer with Main Line Animal Rescue of Chester, from whom he adopted his beloved dog "Gobi". He created and produced a fundraising video for MLAR.
He was a member of Anderson Creek Rod and Gun Club.
Since 2007, he was an active member of the organizing committee of the Clearfield Area High School, Class of 1959, and the editor of their Web log: http://www.chsclassof59.blogspot.com.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary(Mann) Mollura, whom he wed April 24, 1965.
Also surviving are a daughter, Tracy Erickson and her husband, Keith, of Avon; a son, Andrew R. Mollura of Denver; grandsons, Tim Erickson and Tyler Erickson of Avon; sister, Mona Croyle and her husband, Harry, of West Valley City, Utah; sister, Gloria Grove and her husband, Phillip, of Monroeville; brother, Daniel Mollura of Clearfield; mother-in-law, June Mann of Harrisburg; sister-in-law, Brooke Breslow of Oklahoma, OK; as well as many uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
He is also survived by his cherished dogs, Taz, Gauley and Gobi.
Mr. Mollura was preceded in death by his parents, Dominic and Katherine Mollura.
Ohio arrangements were handled by Busch Funeral and Crematory Services, Avon.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held will be held at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc., 312 E. Locust St., Clearfield, PA, 16830, on Saturday, October 19, at 9:30 a.m.
