Paul R. Topolosky

Paul R. Topolosky, passed away peacefully on November 14th, 2023 at the age of 81 surrounded by his loving family. Born in Braddock, Pennsylvania to Margaret and Paul Topolosky, Paul was raised with a deep appreciation for his Slovak heritage and Catholic faith. His childhood home was shared with his brother Ron, his Baba and Dzedo, his Aunt Francy and cousin Lisa. Devoted husband of 55 years to Kathleen McCann, Paul was all about family and especially loved gatherings from “down the house” in his youth to those he hosted at their home in Monroeville, PA.

When it came to his hometown of Pittsburgh, no one was more passionate than Paul. From his love of their sports teams to the rich history of the Steel City, Paul would take every opportunity he could to share his knowledge about General Braddock, Carnegie, and Westinghouse.  His love of Pittsburgh was only overshadowed by love of his Kitty, children and 5 grandchildren, whom he spent much time traveling across the state to visit and dote on.  Never did a time pass where he wasn’t trying to provide guidance and wisdom, which usually started with “you know what I think you should do” and was followed by big ideas full of possibilities.  Paul was always a big picture thinker and a problem solver.

Paul was very proud of his military service in the Pennsylvania National Guard at the Hunt Armory and the US Army Reserves from 1963 to 1969.  He completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  His later positions included cannoneer, instrument operator, and vertical chart operator and he was discharged as a Specialist 4th class.

After obtaining his degree in Business Administration from Duquesne University, he began his career in the accounting department at Alcoa and later became an appraiser at IAC.  In 1968 he took a position as a programmer trainee at J&L Steel and later joined the MIS organization at Carnegie Mellon University.  While at CMU he was a team leader for development of their undergraduate admissions system. He went on to work in systems and finance at PPG Industries and Westinghouse Corporate EDP, performing audits domestically and internationally.  While at Westinghouse, he tested new technology for electronic data transmission (sending some of the first emails) between Westinghouse in Pittsburgh and Hanford Nuclear Power site in Washington State.  He was named Manager of Information Systems with the start up division of Forest Hills ICPD.  Paul later founded and successfully operated Gateway Resources Inc. a consulting, computer and engineering staffing firm for over 30 years.

In his retirement Paul was heavily involved as a volunteer on the advisory council at the Heinz History Center and especially enjoyed working with the Westinghouse archives project and on the steering committee for the California University and Heinz computer systems development.  He also pursued his interests in history as an active member of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Association, Western PA Conservancy, and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  Paul was also an avid fisherman and nature enthusiast and enjoyed teaching his grandkids how to fish and sharing the wonders of of the Pennsylvania countryside with them. 

Paul is preceded in death by his mother Margaret Topolosky (nee Murajda), his father, Paul Topolosky, and his daughter Kristin Hetz (nee Topolosky). He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Topolosky (nee McCann), son Mark Topolosky and his partner Joseph Hood of Austin, TX, daughter Lynn Raus (nee Topolosky) and her husband Barry Raus of Haddonfield, NJ, brother Ronald Murajda of Rilton, PA, and son-in-law Scott Hetz of Washington DC.  He was blessed with five grandchildren: Samuel Raus, Jacob Hetz, Meredith Raus, Max Hetz, and Benjamin Raus.

Friends welcome Saturday 5-7 and Sunday 12-2 & 4-6 in the Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1111 Monroeville Ave, Turtle Creek, PA 15145.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, at Christ the Divine Shepherd Church at 10:00 AM.  Burial will follow in Braddock Catholic Cemetery.

Donations can be made to the American Lung Association in Paul’s memory.