Gordon Ray Oliver
Gordon Ray Oliver, Age 87, of Moon Township, PA passed away Thursday, September 21, 2023. Born March 27, 1936, the son of the late Ray and Helen (Lauer) Oliver. Beloved husband of Janet Lee Oliver. He is survived by son Gordon (Sandra) Oliver II of Germantown, TN and daughter Sheryl (Keith) Oliver-Kopets, of Sewickley. T-Pa to Meredith Oliver, PharmD of Minneapolis, MN. Sisters Gail (Gene) Rolls of Littlestown, PA and Judy Sisk of Bay City, GA. Former spouse of Mary Jo Oliver of Coraopolis. Along with many nieces and nephews.
Known by many and a friend to all, he answered to Gordy, Skeeter, Skeets, or Gordo. A four-sport varsity athlete, he graduated from Punxsutawney High School in 1954. He earned a football scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh graduating in 1958 with a BA in Business Administration. He played on the 1955 Sugar Bowl and 1956 Gator Bowl teams, and participated in the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and completed Infantry Officer School. In 1959, he began a long career in the steel industry, working for US Steel – Fairless Hills as a Turn Foreman and Process Engineer, Blaw-Knox Company – Pittsburgh as a Sales Engineer and National Sales Manager, then in 1984, founding Steeltech, Inc., where he served as President until his death. He served for 28 years in the US Army Reserves, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He was a member of the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers, Pitt Varsity Letter Club Board of Directors, and proudly supported Montour Heights Country Club for 37 years. A true “Pitt” man, he contributed to Pitt athletics in many capacities, including 50 years as a football season ticket holder. Most notably, he was a founding member of the Myron Cope-Foge Fazio Annual Golf Tournament benefitting the Autism Society of Pittsburgh, which he tirelessly supported for 42 years.
Friends will be received on Friday, September 29th from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Huntsman Funeral Home, 1522 Coraopolis Heights Rd, Moon Township. Family and friends are invited to celebrate a “Life Well Lived” on Sunday, October 1st from 4-7pm at Montour Heights Country Club, Moon Township. Private interment with full military honors at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies will follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to “Autism Pittsburgh”, 795 Pine Valley Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15239.
7 thoughts on “Gordon Ray Oliver”
Deepest sympathies to the Oliver family. Gordie was truly a unique, great and friendly guy. He will be missed by many.
Mike & Maureen Spezialetti
Gordo !! You will certainly be missed by many as you touched so many lives in a positive way. I so appreciated our friendship and some of the fatherly advice you provided me over the years.
Rest in peace my dearest friend! Go Pitt Forever!!
Kevin Conley
Gordy was the most generous man I have known. Always giving of his time and money in so many ways. He will be missed by me and thousands all over the country! Those that were close to him were truly blessed. He leaves a wonderful family and Jan who was a Saint to him! We miss you Gordy!!
Good friend and fellow Pitt varsity letter footballer
Was always there for you
He will definitely be missed
Many great memories
Gordy was a big part of the heart of our 1955 and ’56 Pitt Sugar and Gator Bowl Football Teams. He continued his good spirited support and caring for his alma mater and teammates through his life, and will be missed by all.
Gordy was a great man and friend of the family for many years. I will miss the dinners and listening to him and my father telling their stories. The best one is when they went to a football game and had chicken wings. People there said they never seen so many chicken wings flying around the room.
May you rest in peace my friend.
Gordy was a special man. A heart of gold. Someone who cared and wanted to make a difference. Loyal to those around him. He loved Pitt, and gave back in so many ways. His loving family is to be admired , how they stood by his side and took amazing care of him. I will miss him at the tailgates. His passion and enthusiasm. We lost a special person. RIP Gordy. H2P!