Louis A. "Lou" LaCivita

Loving father of Michele (late Robert G.) Mullen, Anne Meynor and the late Louis (surviving Joyce) LaCivita Jr. Special grandfather of Carol Mullen, Michele Mullen, Robert Mullen, Diann Meynor, Donald (Dawn) Meynor and the late William Mullen. Step-father of Sherry (John) Scalzi.  Great-grandfather of Adam and Aiden. Brother of the late John LaCivita, late James LaCivita, Anthony (Nancy) LaCivita, Maria Elena (Tony) LaCivita. Special friend of Jerry Chiappinelli and Joe Iorri. Lou was proceeded in passing by his wives; Emily A. (Pierce) LaCivita, Dolly (Funwela) LaCivita, and Martha A. (Sloltz) LaCivita.

After being discharged from the Army, in September of 1945, he spent a year in Arizona resting from his wounds and attending school. Following this period, LaCivita became a Police Officer in his home town of Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, graduated from the Police School, waived his disability and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Sergeant in the Air Police.

In 1953, LaCivita, was recalled into military service, this time as a Sergeant in the Military Police of the United States Air Force, spending time in French Morocco, Africa and Germany, finally getting his third honorable discharge from the service in 1961.

In June of 1987, LaCivita retired from Conrail as a Chief Special Auditor and got involved in Veterans Affairs in Allegheny County.

He was a member of the Board of Managers of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, the Veterans Advisory Council of Allegheny County, the Federation of War Societies, and the Sharing & Caring Committee, which sponsors an annual boat ride for hospitalized veterans in the Pittsburgh, Pa area.

Past Department Commander Lou LaCivita of the Pennsylvania Department of the Italian American War Veterans of the United States was elected National Commander at the organization's annual convention held August 11-14, in Boston MA, making him only the sixth man from Pennsylvania to receive this honor in the organizations 73 year history.

On the State level, LaCivita served as Adjutant, Vice Commander and Commander and as Commander and Adjutant of Allegheny County Post #1 and Iron City [now Lt. Col. Donald A. Orsini] Post #32.

In 1987, LaCivita, then national Vice Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, was asked by the late Judge Jack Lipari National Commander) of Youngstown, Ohio to try to revive the Allegheny County post, which had dwindled down to one member, who was living in Florida.

Within one year, the post grew to over 150 members and was split to become Posts 1 and Sto-Rox post #30. Shortly after, Post #1 grew again and once again was split to add Post #31 in New Kensington, Pa.

As the membership continued to grow, Lt. Col. Donald A. Orsini Post #32 came into the picture and finally, LaCivita was instrumental in organizing the Electric City Post #33 in Scranton, Pa.

In the fall of 1988, under the umbrella of the Italian American War Veterans, LaCivita sponsored his first annual boat ride for the handicapped children of the County area, taking about 150 children for a river cruise on the Gateway Clipper. Since then, the cruise grew to a max of 500, and include the children from the Clelian Heights orphanage and school in Greensburg.

LaCivita, was discharged from the U.S. Army hospital in Long Island, New York in September of 1945, after being wounded in the Black Forest of Germany, November of 1944. He was a member of the 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, having fought in France, Belgium and Germany.

The Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge and several presidential Unit Citations are among the many awards and decorations that adorned his uniform.

Lou served on Board of Managers at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Allegheny County Veterans Advisory Council Federation of War Societies, Sharing and Caring Committee, Volunteers at Highland Drive, VAMC Sponsors annual boat ride for about 500 Handicapped Children and orphans on Gateway Clipper Fleet.

Family and friends welcome in Alfieri Funeral Home 201 Marguerite Ave Wilmerding PA on Thursday from 2:00 until 8:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 AM in Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish (St. Bernadette). Lou will be laid to rest in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery 100 Resurrection Rd. Coraopolis PA 15108 with full military honors to follow. 

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