I am the 2nd born of 4 boys to my parents Edward and Dolores (Scherer) Zelik. I am also one of about 25 cousins on the mother side of the family and dad’s side. I have bunches of cousins whom I was able to get to know through family reunions. I am 2nd generation of immigrants on my father’s side of the family due to his parents migrating to the USA from the current Czech Republic and from Austria. Whereas on mother side of the family, her uncles and aunt held reunions that allowed me to get to know a broader range of cousins. Mother’s father was very active in politics and his one brother of 9 siblings had sons as police officers and fire fighters in the City of Pittsburgh. These family members introduced me at a young age to politics, public service and sports! I might add that my paternal grandfather is said to have built some of the Federal Court Room Benches in the City – a different aspect of politics.
After WWII my parents settled in the Shaler/Millvale area of Pittsburgh. They married during the war and dad was quickly sent off to England to participate as a navigator of a C47 troop and supply carrier. He was in on D-Day and survived it but later in the war was seriously wounded and through the goodness of fellow soldiers, who helped to save his life, he returned to the US and lied in a hospital bed for 6 months until he recuperated. My brothers and I have always felt fortunate to be born after such a tragic event in my parents’ lives.
Sports has always been a part of our lives and many in the extended family on mother’s side of the family have been gifted athletes. I for my part was the little league catcher for Art Howe who went on to play in Major League Baseball. The word is that he was discovered through the assistance of a cousin. That cousin introduced him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. As for me, I had originally wanted to play football at North Catholic but I later learned that the Principal never sent my grades there. So, planning to attend a high school seminary for a year, quitting the seminary and backing into North Catholic, which never happened, I discovered basketball, my ability in that sport and what I wanted to do with my life. I not only played the sport, was good at it (even though I had been a mere 5’9’’ and on a running start could get my wrist over the rim) but also helped to coach a seminary high school team to a Class C State Championship. Wherever I was stationed for ministry, I found “gym rats” playing pick-up basketball games in which after showing my ability was welcomed to play. I still play today! Not bad for a guy born in 1949.
Part of my interactions with the next generation of my family was to be supportive of my nephews and niece in their endeavors in sports, academics and life by finding time to be with them in their activities. The picture depicts a time when I had team shirts made and we went to a park to establish ourselves as real contenders. I might add that the smallest guy in the picture is now 26 years old and serving in the Air Force. The others are college grads and run the degree ranges of bachelors through to doctorates. I might add that their complexions may state the ancestry of European and African since my sisters-in-laws are rooted in ancestry of Africa, Native American and Europe. These youth grew in confidence, academic ability and caution as they were taught to navigate the complexities of American Society. Of course, this uncle was helpful in their navigation of life!
I know that ministries are not to be included in this venture but helping to settle a LARGE Vietnamese Refugee family after the collapse of Saigon became more than a ministry due to the fact that I have had some of Asia touch and shape who I am today. In ministry I have always engaged myself into the broader community.
Ministry at the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) is one of 4 ministries that I do. I am at ACJ on Mondays. There is an ease I have at the ACJ. One of the reasons is that the inmates are humans like any one of us. The events of their lives have resulted in their being here. I believe the inmates need to be treated like any other human beings. This ministry as others I do enriches my life as do the others in the ministry as I at the ACJ.
Junior class, 1966