ARTHUR E. "ART" PALLAN

 

Arthur E. 'Art' Pallan, retired KDKA Radio Personality, age 83, of Mars, formerly of Middlesex Twp., and Ft. Myers, FL., died on Monday evening, January 22, 2007 at LAS St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars. A family man, Art was proud of his children. He was born in Braddock, PA on May 11, 1923, and was the son of the late Rudolph and Elizabeth Berger Pallan.

	Art Pallan Click photo for larger image.

A longtime AFTRA member, Art retired in 1985 after more than 40 years in the radio booths of WWSW and KDKA. A year after graduation from Brentwood High School, he began as a disc jockey at WWSW, but W.W. II interrupted his budding career and his fascination with radio became a military asset. As a radio operator aboard a B-25 bomber, Art served in the Aleutians and won the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with three battle stars for his service in the Pacific.

Returning to WWSW after the war, Art launched a career that made him one of the most respected voices to millions of listeners throughout the Tri-State region. Art was always upbeat and witty, even on rainy days. In 1956, he moved his talent to KDKA where he remained until his retirement in 1985. Art’s versatility in the entertainment field was widely acclaimed. In radio he appeared in numerous time slots, afternoon, late morning, and the morning drive time-and he always had the top-rated show in each slot. In addition, he cut two records, “Waiting” and “Sleepy Time Down South”; acted in two movies, Disc Jockey and Once Upon a Horse; sang with the Lee Kelton Band and for seven years conducted hour-long, daily broadcasts from the National Record Mart.

The community also made a large claim on Art’s time. He considered the annual Children’s Hospital Campaign, conducted in department store windows at Christmastime, as “the most rewarding work I have done in Broadcasting.” At the 40th Anniversary of his radio career, the Myasthenia Gravis Association, which he had faithfully supported, honored him with the Art Pallan Humanitarian Award for contributions to the community.

A man of great faith, Art had attended various churches through out his life, and was most recently a member of St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church in Mars.

He had many hobbies that he enjoyed including painting, wood carving where he carved cypress into Santas and he carved apples into apple heads. He was an avid reader and a great joke teller.

He had been active in Rotary clubs, the Knights of Columbus, the Masonic Lodge, was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., the American Diabetes Association and the Myasthenia Gravis Association. For many years, he hosted record hops and he loved animals.

Surviving are a son, Arthur Pallan, Jr. and his wife, Lisa Marie, of Butler, three daughters, Mrs. Gary (Andrea “Pidge”) Welsh of Butler, Mrs. Charles (Anne) Olescyski of Mars, and Mrs. Dennis (Artha) Hockenberry of Shippensburg, PA. He was the grandfather of Robin Lisac, Gary Welsh, Jr., Jaime Olescyski, Riley Whittenberger, IV, and Danielle Pallan. Great grandfather of Lucas, Malyn and Calvin Lisac, Dylan Olescyski, Kelly Mesina, and Asia Whittenberger, and the great great grandfather of Cameron Mesina. He was a special friend of Irene Cerchiaro of Mars. Also survived by a brother, Rudolph Pallan and his wife, Patricia of Pgh., and a sister-in-law, Florence Pallan of North Hills.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Agnes A. Simon Pallan, whom he married on November 10, 1942, and who died on July 25, 1982, and by his second wife, Shirley McCandless Thayer Pallan, whom he married on July 3, 1983, and who died on September 25, 2002. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Ernest Pallan.

Friends will be received at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Inc. 238 Crowe Ave. Mars, PA on Wednesday from 7-9 PM and Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church, Cherry St. Mars, PA on Friday at 10:00 AM. The Rev. Charles Bober, pastor, will officiate. Burial with Military Honors will be in Mars Cemetery, Adams Twp., PA. Memorials may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 3500 Brooktree Rd, Wexford, PA 15090 or to LAS St. John Specialty Care Center, P.O. Box 928, Mars, PA 16046. Information and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.