Neighbor Spotlight: O'Hara resident Howard Havlicsek is a decades-long Mr. Fix-It for Fox Chapel church

Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like to nominate someone as a Neighbor Spotlight, see foxchapelherald.com, select the “Post Story” button in the upper right corner and complete the form to publish your nomination. Questions? Email Neighborhood News Network editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.

Call him a builder, a recycler or a Mr. Fix-it.

Anyway you put it, Howard Havlicsek likes to tinker.

The retired engineer has been volunteering at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church since the mid-1970s, spending much of his time making things whole again that are run-down, broken or otherwise failing.

“I like to stay busy, and I like to work with my hands,” said Havlicsek of O’Hara.

For more than 20 years, his primary role has been to repair electronics donated to the Harvest Fair, one of the most significant fundraisers hosted each year at the church along Field Club and Fox Chapel roads.

The boutique-style flea market brings in up to $100,000 that is then doled out to local groups such as the Sharpsburg Youth Empowerment, Aspinwall Meals on Wheels, women’s health organizations and to global initiatives.

This year’s event is scheduled for Sept. 10-11 and will have a dozen rooms full of gently used housewares, china, jewelry, sports equipment, linens, art, rugs, seasonal decor and collectibles.

Carol Huff, church volunteer, said Havlicsek has been a lifesaver for the church sale.

“He has a magical touch in repairing broken furniture, clocks, lamps and anything else that comes along,” Huff said.

Havlicsek is also a Deacon at the church, working countless additional hours in that position, Huff said.

Havlicsek, who grew up near Irwin, said the church has always been a big part of his life. After meeting his wife while studying at Penn State, the pair moved to North Braddock when Havlicsek was hired at Westinghouse as an electrical engineer.

He served six years in the U.S. Army Reserves before the couple moved to O’Hara and joined Fox Chapel Presbyterian. Since then, Havlicsek has served on various church committees from session to buildings and grounds.

“One of the things I got involved with right away was upgrading the PA system,” he said. “I’ve recorded every sermon since 1978.”

When he joined the Harvest Fair committee, Havlicsek began repairing up to 25 computers that were donated each year to resell at the event.

“A lot of people donate things that are a bit out of date but they are still serviceable,” he said. “My philosophy has always been to attempt to fix anything, and I’ve had a pretty good success rate. If I can’t fix something, I learn a lot about how it works and I save the pieces for the future.”

Over the years, his duties at the fair have expanded to furniture repair, manual labor and pick-ups.

“Somehow now I end up reviewing the status of almost everything that comes in,” he said. “There’s a lot of gluing and screwing. I enjoy the accomplishment of being able to extend the life of the donations.”

Now retired from a career in testing navigational systems for aircraft and missiles, Havlicsek spends his spare time at home restoring a 1933 Chevy that was originally owned by his grandparents.

“I drove it as a teen and then it sat in a barn for about 25 years,” he said.

Havlicsek also lends his talents to Sharpsburg thrift shop Second Harvest, where he does much of the same types of fixing and repairs.

“The thing about working at a place like the Harvest Fair or in the church is that you work with lots of different people who just want to help out wherever they can,” he said. “It’s fun. And I like that anytime they need something fixed, they look for Howard.”