Ronald J. Dorsch
Ronald J. Dorsch, 81, of Butler passed away Tuesday at VNA Inpatient Hospice.
Born July 30, 1935, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Charles M. and Edith Wiegand Dorsch.
Ron attended St. Ambrose Grade School and graduated from North Catholic High School. He obtained his bachelor's degree in business administration and his master's degree in guidance and counseling from Duquesne University.
He received postgraduate certification in school psychology at IUP. Ron also held a license for private practice as a psychologist.
Ron proudly served his country in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
Ron began his career in education teaching at North Catholic, Central Catholic and Mars Area high schools and served as a school counselor at Glassport, South Allegheny and Gateway school districts. In 1969, he began his 40-year collegiate teaching career at Butler County Community College and retired in 2009 as a professor of psychology. He especially enjoyed teaching the nursing students in his psychology and growth and development classes.
At BCCC, he sponsored the table tennis club and spent many enjoyable hours competing against his students. He also was an adviser for the pep band. He loved the students and the environment at the community college and couldn't imagine teaching anywhere else.
Ron had served on the board for the transitional living home in Butler; counseled ex-convicts in job searches, performed psychological testing for the Presbyterian Home in Mars and the PARC in Butler. He was a waterfront director at the Lillian Taylor summer camp in Valencia for several years.
Ron was a member of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen Parish and sat with the church choir. He enjoyed music, playing solo piano for his own enjoyment. He studied jazz with Frank Cunimondo, a well-known Pittsburgh jazz pianist. Ron loved playing his Hammond B3 organ. He and his wife spent many happy hours attending jazz concerts, especially at the Pittsburgh Jazz Society shows. He loved the sport of basketball and always regretted that he did not play at North Catholic High School with his brother-in-law, Don “Red” Graham.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Paula Savanick Dorsch, who he married May 2, 1970; his brother, Charles R. Dorsch of Butler; his sister, Lois Dorsch Graham of McCandless; and his nieces and nephews, Donald P. (Julie) Graham, Maureen (John) Carroll, Susan (Terry) Milligan, Kathleen (Keith) McMillen, Charles Dorsch, Sharon (David) Jacox, Christine (Chris) Hoffman, Erich (Crystal) Savanick, Christa (Bobby) Tsui, Danielle Aubin Shedlick, Noëlle (Randy) Sprouse, Patrick (Dana) Aubin, Anne-Marie (Ian) Aubin Slinkman, Paul (Christin) Aubin, Michael Savanick, Maria (Dale) Lewis, Mary (Ken) Brettmann, Suzanne (Rick) Hansen, Margaret “Peggy” (Joseph) Guiney and Patricia (Mark) Anderson.
In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his nephew, Michael Graham.
DORSCH — Friends of Ronald J. Dorsch, who died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, will be received from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Boylan Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Connoquenessing Township, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Fidelis Parish, 125 Buttercup Road, Butler, with the Rev. James Murphy as celebrant.If desired, memorial donations may be made in his honor to The Ronald J. Dorsch Memorial Scholarship Fund, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, ATTN: Joseph Wilson, 1617 Route 228, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, or to the Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.
