Nikolay Kormanik

Nikolay Kormanik, 87, of Irwin, passed away Sunday, May 29, 2016 at his home. He was born April 7, 1929 in Manhattan, NY, son of the late Joseph and Theresa Kormanik. Nikolay was preceded in death by his wife Allonia (Gray) Kormanik in 1986; two brothers, Joseph and Charles Kormanik and two sisters, Mary Kasper and Katherine Pokorny. He is survived by his three daughters, Kim A. Kormanik with whom he resided, Kristine M. Kormanik and husband Paul Hurm of Telford, PA and Theresa A. (Steven) Wilkins of Berkshire, NY ; his son, Nikolai Kormanik;  five unique grandchildren, Josette Kormanik Brighenti, whom he helped raise, as well as, Benjamin, Matthew, Katherine and Allonia; one special Great-grandson, Julian Nikolai Brighenti; his brother, John (Agnes) Kormanik and his sister, Ann Kormanik both of Masontown, PA;  several cousins, numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Nikolay grew up in the coal mining town of Gates, PA, where he had a typical childhood; getting run over by a car, derailing a train and having to strip naked in a cave in order to escape. He excelled at baseball, playing various positions, but never right field. He was a great dancer and went to the local Speakeasy where he taught the Brothers how to Polka and they taught him how to Lindy Hop. He graduated from German Township high school, Fayette County in 1947 and was a Korean War Veteran where he served as a front line combat medic. He spent a few nights in a fox hole talking philosophy with Father Tracy the brother of Spencer, and became the luckiest GI in Korea when he was pulled from a USO show for guard duty and assigned to a rising young starlet named Marilyn Monroe. After the war, he worked in Detroit for a time and fondly remembered seeing a show with his brother and sister where Louis Armstrong preformed. A few years later while attending the University of Pittsburgh he twice turned down the opportunity to play for the Pirates farm team in Oil City, thinking he was too old. He earned an Electrical Engineering degree, Magna Cum Laude, worked for Westinghouse Electric in East Pittsburgh, bought a home in Irwin, while starting a family with his dearest wife and intended on moving in a few years, but died there 56 years later. Nikolay was a pool shark (watch out for flying balls folks), and a card shark, once winning a neighbors vacation money in a friendly poker game. After achieving a Hole in One at Latrobe Elks Country Club he rarely golfed, because what else was there to prove?  Proudly, he would claim to be the brightest member of a scary smart family.  He liked to win and would happily best his children and grandchildren at any possible challenge. Last year, he actually thought he could beat his grandson, the lifeguard, at a swimming contest and two days before his death, challenged his 8 year old great grandson to a walking race. He claimed to hate the family dogs, but would travel out in a snowstorm to make sure they had treats and snuggle and talk with them when he thought no one was looking.   Nikolay was a member of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Herminie and rarely missed a Sunday Liturgy. He loved vegetable gardening, hunting, cursing at the TV during Steeler games, listening to his polkas loudly to the dismay of his family, sharing gossip and interesting stories with friends, neighbors, as well as walking in his housing plan daily collecting their discarded items driving his family to distraction. If anyone wants an oak medicine cabinet it’s on the front porch, please take it.  Nikolay will be sadly missed by, EVERYBODY!  There will be a gathering at his home in Rolling Hills where friends and family are welcome to come celebrate his life on Friday, June 24th starting at 2pm. A Funeral Liturgy will be held Saturday, June 25th at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Herminie, PA at 11am.  Family and friends are welcome again, starting at 2pm, Saturday at Nikolay’s home, even if they did not attend the service. The family request NO FLOWERS.  Joseph W. Nickels Funeral Home Inc., 404 Sewickley Ave. , Herminie, PA 15637, 724-446-7251  in charge of arrangements. To view on line condolences, please visit www.nickelsfuneralhomeinc.com

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