PALOWITCH EUGENE R., Ph.D. Age 89, of Pleasant Hills, PA died on August 10, 2013 at the Paramount Senior Living facility of South Hills. Eugene Palowitch was born on June 7, 1924 in Huskin Run, PA, a small mining community near Johnstown, PA of John and Ann Palowitch and was the third of nine children. He spent most of his youth in the Johnstown area, except for a brief stay in Dilltown, PA, and graduated from Johnstown Catholic HS. During World War II, he served for three years in the 321st Engineer Combat Battalion of the U.S. Army, saw action in the Philippine Islands (Leyte and Mindoro), and Ryuku Islands (Okinawa) and was honorably discharged in 1946. Eugene's death was preceded by that of his parents; his brother John William; sister Mary Rita; wife Sadie (Kessler); and his oldest daughter, Barbara Ann (Moyer). Survivors include: three sisters, Ann Louise (Manuel), Mildred Helene (George) and Donna Clare (Cardiff); three brothers, Bernard, Timothy and Thomas; four children, John Albert of Grayson, KY, Mary Jean of Pittsburgh, Michael David of Chambersburg, PA and William (Bill) Joseph of Pittsburgh; and five grandchildren. Dr. Palowitch was a world wide recognized expert in the fields of coal mining and mineral preparation with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering with specialties in mechanical engineering and coal preparation and was a Registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. His career included positions of increasing responsibility with the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Department of Energy in Pittsburgh, a three year residency as a Professor in the School of Mines at the University of West Virginia, Partner and Vice President of a mining consultant firm, CEE, Inc., and self employment as an Independent Mining Consultant. In 1982 Mr. Palowitch was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He was the recipient of multiple service awards, was active in several professional and academic societies, made over 35 formal technical presentations and was the author of numerous technical papers and journals. While still in high school, Gene began playing the drums in the school band and orchestra. In the years that followed, he played professionally in dance bands in and around Johnstown and St. Marys, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas A'Becket Church in Jefferson Hills at 10 a.m. on Wednesday August 14th. Burial will follow in the Jefferson Memorial Cemetery. There will be no public viewing. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the building fund at St. Thomas A'Becket Church on Gill Hall Road, Jefferson Hills. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
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