Sheldon Gusky
GUSKY: Sheldon Gusky of Pittsburgh, on Wednesday May 2, 2018, passed away surrounded by his children and friends, with his best friend of 39 years to the day they met, his wife Karen by his side. Loving father of Jason and Raymond of Pittsburgh, Allison of Riverhead, Long Island, N.Y., and Ross of Pleasant Hill, Calif. Beloved son of the late Kathryn (Kitty) and Albert Gusky of blessed memory. Considerate son-in-law of Sandra Hirshman Robinowitz of Delray Beach, Fla., the late Raymond B. Hirshman, and the late Sandford Robinowitz of blessed memory. Sheldon was preceded in death by a sister Myrna Gusky Borman of Pittsburgh. Sheldon grew up in Squirrel Hill and attended Taylor Allderdice High School. He remembered all his teachers by name and shared many memories of those days, and would reminisce about where all his friends lived — the exact house number and street name. Sheldon was always proud to say that he was in the Navy and had a great time flying under the radar. He was a member the US Naval Support Activities in Naples, Italy. While in Naples, he played baseball throughout Europe. He was a petty officer third class radioman. He continued with the CB Radio family using the name “Battleship” when he came back to the states. Coming back to Pittsburgh he worked at Honus Wagner Sporting Goods Store; played baseball with the Bull Dogs and in the Federation League; rode with the Black Knights; and was a bouncer at night in many Shadyside establishments. He loved restaurants, and ate the best meals, until he met Karen. He was her biggest fan trying different foods that she would be making for the first time, i.e. salmon, duck, tuna tartare, and weekly matzah ball soup that he ate religiously. Sheldon worked for Westinghouse Plant Apparatus Division (WPAD), a prime contractor for the US Nuclear Navy for 35 years. At work, everyone knew Sheldon as Gus. WPAD was instrumental in the development and launching of the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear submarine, and the entire US Nuclear Navy fleet that followed, and still operates today. Gus started in the WPAD TWX Room, where he used skills he learned while serving in the Navy for 4+ years. The TWX Room was where teletype messages were sent and received to all entities of the US Nuclear Navy Program. Gus was an extremely fast and accurate typist, and his outputs were legendary. Gus advanced to become a maintenance specialist, where he performed a wide variety of tasks including classified document courier, records management, mail-related services and selected maintenance work. Gus served his country all of his life, and his worthy contributions are valued. Sheldon’s life revolved around his wife Karen and children: Raymond, Ross, Allison and Jason. He was a man who didn’t express himself with words, but shared his love through all the activities and time spent with his children: He loved baseball — playing the sport himself, coaching all the boys, or just sitting in the stands. You could hear him helping the coaches from the sidelines, through little league, college ball and Frontier league (minors). He was so proud of how far Ross has gone in baseball. He had a special relationship with each child, whether getting the latest electronic devices and having Allison show him how to use them; ice skating in Schenley Park, watching the Pittsburgh Marathon annually, and Sunday swimming at the Jewish Community Center Family Park. He loved to watch hockey and collect Nascar at flea markets with Jason. He enjoyed spending time with Raymond, mostly in the car, going to school, the park, to baseball and to work. He played Mr. Mom well. The time spent day to day, in moments of illness, Ray was there to help him get around and stay upright, with Jason’s help. Through all his life he shared his love of music — Doo Wop/classics and the Jersey Shore with his children, taking them to Wildwood Crest for the last 34 years. Sheldon was a gentle giant with a loud roar at times; a fierce, loyal, honest, had loads of integrity, and most thoughtful all the days of his life. Services were held at Shaare Torah Congregation. Internment at Gemilas Chesed Cemetery, White Oak, Pa. Contributions may be made to GI Transformation Research Fund, ATT: Dr. Nathan Bahary, Hillman Cancer Center, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232; Sheldon was a pancreatic cancer survivor; Shaare Torah Congregation, 2319 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217; and Hillel Academy, 5685 Beacon Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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