West Jefferson Hills School District Teams Earn First Place in Future Problem Solving State Bowl

Two West Jefferson Hills School District teams garnered first place at the recent Pennsylvania Future Problem Solving State Bowl in Camp Hill, Pa. This year’s challenge was to solve problems under the theme, “Throw Away Society.” The district had eight teams qualify for the competition in the three divisions. In the Junior division (grades 4-6), Pleasant Hills Middle School took home first, second, and third place. The first-place team was Ava Flood, Lauren Griesheimer, Claire Hogan and Maddy Oates.

In the Senior division (grades 10-12), Thomas Jefferson High School’s squad of Theo Doerfler, Celina McElhinny, Caraline Sommer and Joyce Xu, earned first place. As the top teams in their divisions, the PHMS and TJ teams earned an invitation to the FPS International Competition, June 7-11 at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where they will compete with students from more than 14 countries.

The second-place team from Pleasant Hills Middle School was Eli Doerfler, Austin Hinkle, Sullivan Korhnak and Ollie Whitsel and the third place team was Cole Dailey, Tyler Hills, Alex Lauver and Steven Wills.

In the Middle division (grades 7-9), Thomas Jefferson’s team of ninth grade students earned third place: Abby Kauffman, Aneri Patel, Samantha Strope and Alivia Zulka.

The participating students had to consider the challenges with consumers throwing away products after minimal or even a single use. They developed solutions to increase sustainability, product life-cycles, and product materials to support a circular economy.

ASELMINO, Mary Ann (KRUKI), 84, of New Eagle, died March 29. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

BALSANO, Rita A., 74, of Charleroi, died April 19. Arrangements by Carl J. Spallino Funeral Home in Charleroi.

BIERI, Dorothy L., 99, of Baldwin, died March 31. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

BOWERS, Faron D., 61, of Finleyville, died March 27. Arrangements by Kegel Funeral Home in Finleyville.

BOYLE, James F., 69, of Bethel Park, died April 18. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

BUSH, Darla J. (PARASOLICK), 56, of Bridgeville (formerly of Monongahela), died April 4. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

CALCEK, Edward G. “Buddy”, 95, of Fallowfield, died April 6. Arrangements by Carl J. Spallino Funeral Home in Charleroi.

CARLSON, Gordon Leroy, 93, of Charleroi, died April 13. Arrangements by Schrock-Hogan Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Charleroi.

CHURILLA, Joseph, 92, of Bethel Park, died April 16. Arrangements by Paul L. Henney Memorial Chapel in Bethel Park.

CONROY, Douglas, 50, of Elrama, Union Township, died March 25. Arrangements by Stephen Slater Funeral Home in Jefferson Hills.

COSGROVE, Robert D. “Dal”, 80, of Port Orange, FL (formerly of Monongahela), died April 14. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

DeMOSS, Elaine Ann (RODEBAUGH), 86, of Belle Vernon, died April 16. Arrangements by William A. Bautz Funeral Home in New Eagle.

Recent Local Death Notices

DOMEN, Paul R., 81, of West Mifflin, died April 3. Arrangements by Griffith Funeral Home, Inc. in South Park Township.

DUNCAN, Jack T., 91, of South Park, died March 29. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

EARNEST, Howard Melvin “Sandy” Jr., 79, of SouthPark, died April 1. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

FECHER, Martha E. (ROLER), 95, of McMurray, formerly of Kokomo, IN, died April 16. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

FETOCK, Theodore, 76, of South Park, died April 1. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

GASIOR, Larry John, 79, of South Park. died April 2. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

GERDISH, Gregory Karl, 73, of Allenport, died April 3. Arrangements by Schrock-Hogan Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Charleroi.

GROVES, Irene, 106, of West Mifflin, died April 3. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

GUDENBURR, Joseph B. IV, 53, of Venetia, died April 2. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

HILLMAN, Margaret “Mags”, 55, of Charleroi, died April 11. Arrangements by Carl J. Spallino Funeral Home in Charleroi.

HLISTER, Anthony M., 88, of Bethel Park, died April 18. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

KERR, Patricia P. (TRUBIANA), 74, of Monongahela, died April 4. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

KIRK, Patricia M. (KRAMER), 82, of Monongahela, died March 29. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

KOTZ, Margaret M. (McELROYKUBIAK), 81, of Bethel Park, died April 16. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

KRISFALUSY, Charles J. “Chuck”, 70, of Monongahela, died April 13. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

KRUSZKA, Joan M. (KRAWSZKA), 84, of Bethel Park, formerly of Swissvale, died April 16. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

LANE, Rosella, 83, of West Mifflin, died April 19. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

LANGENHEIM, Geosette Andree Georgette Federique, MD, 94, of Charleroi, died April 1. Arrangements by Carl J. Spallino Funeral Home in Charleroi.

LATCHEM, Ira “Sam”, 73, of North Charleroi, died April 8. Arrangements by Schrock-Hogan Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Charleroi.

LATKOWSKI, James Paul, 50, of West Mifflin, died April 7. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

LEECH, Theresa B., 65, of Charleroi, died March 27.

Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

LEOPOLD, Barbara B. (BURNS), 83, of Bethel Park, died April 9.

Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

LOADMAN, Patricia K., 88, of Finleyville, died April 14.

Arrangements by Kegel Funeral Home in Finleyville.

MILLER, Marilyn T., 92, of Finleyville, died March 25.

Arrangements by Kegel Funeral Home in Finleyville.

MOORE, George N., 73, of Bethel Park, died April 13.

Arrangements by Paul L. Henney Memorial Chapel in Bethel Park.

NORDSTROM, Harry W., 91, of Bethel Park, died April 19.

Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

OPIE, Holly Marie, 51, of Bethel Park, died March 30. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

PAGE, Steven Joseph, 72, of Pleasant Hills, died March 31. Arrangements by Griffith Funeral Home, Inc. in South Park Township.

PANSINO, Nino J., 74, of Charleroi (Carroll Township), died April 8. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

PARKS, Jerry Lee, 52, of Monongahela, died March 26. Arrangements by Marshall Marra Funeral Home in Monongahela.

PAVLIC, Anna May, 88, of Bentleyville, died March 31. Arrangements by Melenyzer Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc. in Roscoe.

PECK, PAUL V., 70, of Bethel Park, died April 3. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

PROSSER, Loretta M. (NABER), 86, of South Park, died April 21. Arrangements by Griffith Funeral Home, Inc. in South Park Township.

RHODES, Jean G. (GRAHAM), of Bethel Park, died April 2. Arrangements by David J. Henney Funeral Home in South Park.

ROBERTS, Nicholas Paul, 77, of New York City, formerly of Charleroi, died March 31. Arrangements by Carl J. Spallino Funeral Home in Charleroi

SILVESTRE, Theresa, 86, of Bethel Park, died April 12. Arrangements by Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills.

STANTON, Emily, 33, of Jefferson Hills, died April 3. Arrangements by Stephen Slater Funeral Home in Jefferson Hills.