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Wednesday, October 15, 2003 Page: 6A
Henry (Hank) Piestrak, 86, of Lee Park Avenue, Hanover Township, died
Monday at Hospice Community Care, Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born Jan. 14, 1917, in Warrior Run, he was a son of the late Roman and
Sophie (Fryne) Piestrak. He graduated from Warrior Run High School, East
Stroudsburg State College and New York University. He was a teacher, athletic
director and principal in Hanover Township-area schools. He was inducted into
the East Stroudsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. He was considered one of the
school’s all-time pitching greats. He was No. 1 pitcher for the baseball squad
for four years. He also competed in soccer and basketball. After graduation,
he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and was sent to Martinsville, Va., to
play professional baseball, where he posted a 5-2 record. He was head
basketball coach at Marymount High School, Wilkes-Barre. He also was head
coach for the Hanover Area baseball team. He had several championship seasons
for both schools. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 422
AAA Anti-aircraft Artillery Battery in Europe. He was a member of Holy Rosary
Church, Ashley/Hanover Township; the AMVETS Post 59, Hanover Township; DAV
Post 58078, Wilkes-Barre; and the VFW Hanover Township Post.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Roman, Frank; and sister,
Florence Grucella.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the former Helen Mikula; daughters,
Marie Davis, Lee Park section of Hanover Township; Bonnie, Yardley; Lorraine
White, Newark, Del.; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Emily
Maga, Harrisburg; brothers, Edward, Williamsport; Emil, Aberadeen, N.C.; and
Louis, Danville.
Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday from the George A. Strish
Inc. Funeral Home, 105 N. Main St., Ashley, with a Mass of Christian Burial at
1 p.m. in Holy Rosary Church. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery,
Hanover Township, where a military graveside service will be held.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer
Society or to a charity of the donor’s choice.