August Jatras

August "Augie" Jatras, 89, formerly of Harrisburg, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 11, 2015 at Hershey Medical Center with his loving family by his side.

Born March 21, 1926 in McKeesport, PA, he was the son of the late August and Coula (Poulicacos) Jatras, was a graduate of Clairton (PA) High School, served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and subsequently attended Ball State Teacher's College in Muncie, Indiana.

Augie was a well known salesman par excellence for Blake Cadillac and subsequent owners of the dealership in Harrisburg for more than 30 years. He was a Gettysburg Battle enthusiast, and loved taking people on tours of the battlefields.  In 1986 he moved to West Palm Beach, Florida and volunteered as a tour guide for the Flagler Science Museum in Palm Beach.  From high school on, he was an elite athlete in softball and track.  He continued playing softball well into his 80s and at the age of 81, was Athlete of the Week for the Palm Beach County Senior Softball Association.  Being western Pennsylvania born, he was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan.  Quite the ladies' man, he enjoyed ballroom dancing and listening to Big Band Music and Frank Sinatra.  He loved singing, and sang in several church choirs in the Palm Beach area.

In addition to being a member of a number of sports teams and civic organizations, he was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Camp Hill.  He was also a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) for more than 50 years and while living in West Palm Beach, helped build an AHEPA sponsored senior housing facility.

Surviving are: his daughter Victoria M. Wood (and her husband, Steven Nadell), Takoma Park, MD; his former wife  Bertha Wood, Harrisburg; his brother; George Jatras, Camp Hill; stepchildren, Jerry Fairall (and his wife, Dee), Harrisburg and Michael Fairall (and his wife, Dorey), Harrisburg;  stepgrandchildren, Corey and Lindsey Fairall; his nephew James Jatras (and his wife, Kathy), Woodbridge, VA, grandnieces Alexandra Schmalzbach, Richmond, VA, Christina Jatras, Herndon, VA and Jillian Shupert, Broken Arrow, OK,  and a granddog, Samantha.


In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a nephew, Jeffrey Jatras and sister-in-law, Stella Jatras.

There will be a viewing 11:00 am on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1000 Yverdon Drive, Camp Hill, PA 17011 followed by a Trisagion Service and funeral  at 12:00 pm,  with the Reverend Father Michael Varvarelis and the Reverend Father Mark Lichtenstein officiating.  Burial with military honors will be in East Harrisburg Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to his church or the  Alzheimer's Association of Greater Pennsylvania, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, 17110.

Kimmel Funeral Home, Harrisburg, is handling arrangements.