Edward L. Dardanell
Edward L. Dardanell passed away Friday April 5, 2013 at the age of 89 at Forbes Regional Hospital. He was the son of the late Anthony and Domenica Dardanell . He was born on September 23, 1923, and graduated from the Penn Hills School System and University of Pittsburgh, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. Dardanell served in France and Germany during World War II as a combat officer with the Fourth Infantry Division. He was recalled to service during the Korean conflict where he served in the Far East Command. Dardanell received a number of decorations during his military service, including a Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Cluster, Presidential Unit Citation, and Occupation Metals.
Dardanell was the Chairman of the Board of Dardanell Enterprises and published 16 suburban newspapers in the Pittsburgh area under Dardanell Publications, including the Allegheny Valley Advance-Leader, Penn Hills Progress and Monroeville Times Express. He also published a state-wide monthly sportsmen-conservationist publication and a bi-weekly tri-state food publication. Dardanell operated a central printing plant where some 60 other publications were printed on a regular basis, until he sold the business to Liverpool (England) Daily Post & Echo in 1978. He served as President of both the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers’ Association and the Suburban Newspapers of America.
Dardanell was also a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1965 to 1968 where he served on the Higher Education State Government Committee. He introduced several successful bills, including legislation to preserve and improve the purity of the Commonwealth’s water and impose increased penalties for industrial waste and mine drainage, as well as legislation to provide scholarships for postsecondary education, and protection for dogs and livestock.
Dardanell served on the Board of Directors of the former Columbia Hospital of Wilkinsburg, which faced declining patient numbers in the 1970s. Seeing a need for healthcare in the growing eastern suburbs, he helped to establish Forbes Regional Hospital by leading the charge to raise $5 million in support for the new hospital in Monroeville. In 2004, Dardanell served as honorary chairman of the Capital Campaign for three projects at Forbes, The Ed Dardanell Heart and Vascular Center was established to offer advanced cardiac care.
Dardanell was active in commercial real estate development for more than 40 years in Monroeville, East Liberty, and most recently, Point Breeze. He helped to revitalize a portion of Penn Circle South, long before the more recent efforts of the City of Pittsburgh and URA. In 2011, Dardanell and his wife Marilyn purchased the former Mine Safety Appliance building at 201 N. Braddock Avenue, and began renovating it into a vital artist and small business community.
Dardanell was a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for LaRoche College, served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Pittsburgh and Forbes Health System, and was a Board Member of United Mental Health, the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Chamber Opera Theater and the Animal Rescue League. He also served as the Vice Consul in Pittsburgh for the Republic of Italy.
He was a past member of Churchill Valley Country Club, Longue Vue Club, Pittsburgh Press Club, World Affairs Council and I.S.D.A. and a current member of the Duquesne Club. He established the Ed Dardanell Scholarship Fund at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dardanell is survived by his wife, Marilyn; children, Edward, Megan Olsen (Randall); and grandchildren, James Edward Olsen and Nathan Howard Olsen. He is also survived by seven nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Frank, sister, Lucy, and granddaughter, Emily Olsen.
Friends received in William F. Gross Funeral Home, Ltd. 11735 Frankstown Rd. (at Rodi Rd.), Penn Hills MONDAY ONLY 2-4 and 6-8 Service and Internment Private In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
William F. Gross Funeral Home and all of its staff members would like to extend their Deepest Gratitude to Mr. Dardanell for his time spent in the United States Military