Greensburg man loved to host picnics, was life of the party

Roy Hoyle never missed a chance to throw a party or host a picnic.

Traveling with a cooler packed with drinks and snacks, Hoyle would take advantage of sporting events, scenic overlooks and Sunday afternoons at “the lot,” a piece of land with a cement pad and large weeping willow tree behind the Greensburg Country Club.

“It was this big Italian fest,” daughter Linda Zsolcsak said, her sister Kathy Belcastro adding that Sunday afternoons weren’t typical picnics with hamburgers and hot dogs.

With the entire family coming together to host the picnic, Zsolcsak, Belcastro and their brother, Tim Hoyle, would spend time swimming in a pool built by their dad and filled with water from a nearby spring.

“It was ice cold, but we loved it,” Belcastro said.

Mr. Roy Hoyle, 94, of Greensburg died Sunday, April 7, 2019, at his home.

Born in Greensburg on March 17, 1925, he was the son of the late Harold and Grace Repp Hoyle.

Often working 12-hour days, Mr. Hoyle was a 30-year employee of Elliott Co. in Jeannette and continued work as a secondary plant operations and improvements manager for Classics Industry in Latrobe, from which he retired at the age of 90.

In his free time, Mr. Hoyle loved to make wine, garden, golf and attend Steelers games where he quickly gained the reputation as the “original tailgater.”

Noticing not many people were tailgating at the events, he quickly pulled out his cooler, a couple of lawn chairs and a Coleman stove.

“If anyone walked by and was interested, they were offered food and drink,” Belcastro said.

Bonding with anyone in the community, the Frank Sinatra fan often left bundles of lettuce on people’s doorsteps and gave away Cannas he grew in his garden.

In his later years, Mr. Hoyle often spent time with Belcastro and Hoyle at Denunzio’s listening to a Sinatra impersonator.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Julia Raimondo Hoyle, and three siblings, William Hoyle, Nancy Veitch and Donald Hoyle.

In addition to his three children, Mr. Hoyle is survived by his sister, JoAnn Arena, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Clement L. Pantalone Funeral Home in Greensburg handled the “life well lived” celebration Tuesday. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home, 409 W. Pittsburgh St. Entombment will follow at the Greensburg Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum.

Memorial donations can be made to Clelian Heights School in Greensburg.