Vargo

Edward P. Vargo, 79, of Butler died Saturday afternoon peacefully at his home.

Born in Butler in 1928, Ed was the youngest son of Alex and Mary Vargo.

Involvement in the game of baseball came at an early age as one of his first jobs as a kid was that of batboy/equipment manager for the Butler Yankees, who were at the time a formidable farm-league extension of the New York Yankees.

In 1948, after a brief stint as a catcher in the St. Louis Cardinal's minor league system, he was called to serve his country and spent the next five years in the Army. Baseball followed him into the service as he managed a team at Virginia's Fort Belvoir to the base championship in 1952. During his service hitch, he discovered a talent for working home plate as an umpire. After an honorable discharge, Ed worked the minors as an umpire, refining his game from 1954 until his National League breakthrough year of 1960.

From 1960 through his final season in 1983, Ed called balls and strikes during a truly memorable era in the sport. Among the standouts in the profession when Vargo arrived, current Hall of Fame members Al Barlick and "Jocko" Conlon commented that he was the best young umpire to come up to the "big leagues" at that time and an "outstanding ball and strike man." His colorful insight, consistent appraisal of the pitch and love of baseball served the game well.

As a life-long member of the Butler area community, Ed spent his time in the off-season, working with the Butler School District in the capacity of a home and school visitor. In this particular role, Ed spent countless numbers of hours helping students and families in need.

Although retired after 1983, Ed Vargo continued to remain part of the game as an umpire supervisor from 1984 through the 1986 season. With the installation of A. Bartlett Giamatti as the commissioner of Baseball in 1987, Ed became the supervisor of umpires for the National League. He would hold this post with distinction until his retirement from baseball in 1997.

Highlights and achievements during his career:

• 1954-1959, Minor League Umpire in the following leagues: Georgia-Florida League, Piedmont League, Eastern League and the International League

• 1960-1983, National League Umpire: 4 World Series appearances, 1965, 1971, 1978 and 1983; and in 1971, he was the home plate umpire for the first World Series night game; 4 National League Championship Series appearances; 4 All-Star Game appearances, 1961, 1976; called 3 no-hitter games including Sandy Koufax's perfect game; and crew chief from 1971-1983

• 1984-1986, Umpire Supervisor under the direction of Charles "Chub" Feeney

• 1987-1997, Supervisor of National League Umpires

• 1989-1997, Consultant to the Rules Committee of Major League Baseball.

Locally, in 1966, he was the first inductee into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame; and in 1994, he was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Surviving are his loving wife for 45 years, Elizabeth Hunter Vargo, who he married Feb. 9, 1963; two daughters, Karen McClarnon (Bill McClarnon) of Vandergrift and Kristin Wissinger (Darrin Wissinger) of Cecil Township; two sons, Edward A. (Ellen Rosenthal Vargo) of O'Hara Township and David A. Vargo of Butler; eight grandchildren, Ryan E., Jacob A., Zachary W. and William H. McClarnon, Ashley B. and Hayden Wissinger, and Alexander and Daniel Vargo; a brother, Robert Vargo of Aliquippa; and a sister, Elizabeth Keller of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

<B>VARGO </B>— Friends and family of Edward P. Vargo, who died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon Wednesday at St. Peter Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St. The Rev. Pierre Falkenhan will officiate. Burial will follow at the Butler County Memorial Park cemetery, Butler Township.The Women's Council of the St. Peter Parish will recite the rosary at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday at the church.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Vargo's name to the VNA Hospice of Western Pennsylvania, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001; or to Tickets for Kids Charity, 139 Freeport Road, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 or at www.ticketsforkidsfoundation.org.Additional information can be found and condolence messages placed at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.