Math teacher, coach, longtime Crafton councilman

Charles A. “Bud” McKevitt Jr. was a coach, teacher and father who lived the tenets of the “Greatest Generation” by putting other people and community before himself.

The World War II veteran from Shaler died Tuesday from complications of a brain tumor.

Mr. McKevitt served as an administrator and high school mathematics teacher in the Crafton, Carlynton and Shaler school districts from the 1950s until his retirement in 1995.

During that time he also coached high school tennis, football and wrestling.

“He was very humble about his accomplishments. He always believed in serving his community,” said Mr. McKevitt’s daughter, Erin Collins of Mt. Lebanon.

A native of Connellsville, Fayette County, Mr. McKevitt was the son of Charles A. and Bridget McKevitt. After graduating from Marion High School in 1943, he enlisted in the Army, where he served as a sergeant at Fort Meade, Md., during World War II.

“He sent the platoons overseas and did the coordinating of troops,” Ms. Collins said.

During a local dance for GIs, a 20-year-old Mr. McKevitt met and fell in love with Louvisa Hewitt, 15. The pair married several years later, on Nov. 24, 1949.

“He saw her there and said, ‘You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,’ ” Ms. Collins said.

After the war, Mr. McKevitt pursued a bachelor’s degree in science education from California University of Pa., where he graduated in 1956.

He went back to school several years later and earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh.

The McKevitts spent much of their early married life in Crafton, where Mr. McKevitt served on the borough council from 1962 to 1975.

“We grew up in Crafton and he helped run the town,” Ms. Collins remembered. “He was always heavily involved in his community.”

After retirement, Mr. Collins spent much of his time enjoying his 13 grandchildren, Ms. Collins said.

“Family was big for him,” she said. “He tutored all his grandchildren in math — he helped any kid who needed help in math.”

Ms. Collins said her father was a talented conversationalist who recently told her he would have lived another 92 years if he could have.

“The biggest thing I will miss about my dad is talking to him,” she said. “He just loved everything about life. He never took for himself. He always helped other people.”

Mr. McKevitt also is survived by his wife; five sons: Terrence, Timothy, Colin, Sean and Mark McKevitt; and siblings James, Dolores and Kathleen McKevitt. He was preceded in death by a son, Kevin McKevitt, and a brother, Francis McKevitt.

A private funeral service was held Friday.