Neil Francis Polumbo Sr

   Neil F. Polumbo, Sr, age 94 of Tionesta, PA, formerly of Hazleton, PA, died on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at UPMC Hamot, Erie, PA. He was born December 22, 1926 in Hazleton, son of the late Ralph and Phyllis (Craig) Polumbo.

   On August 4, 1951 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Hazleton he married Catherine (Zebelin)

Polumbo who died January 13, 2018.

   Neil graduated from Hazleton High School in 1944 then served his country with the US Army

Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet from 1944-1945. He then went on to Penn State where he

earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education (1950), his Master’s Degree (1954), and earned his

Superintendent Letter (1961). He was a very proud Penn State Alumnus.

   Neil was the Forest Area School District Superintendent, based in Tionesta, which served all of

the Forest County Schools from 1975 to 1981. He and his wife were faithful members of St.

Anthony’s R.C. Church of Tionesta and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #

4881 of Tionesta.  He was also a member of the Lions Club. Neil was active in Forest County

Republican politics and served as the Majority Party Judge of Elections, as well as a member of

the Forest County Republican Committee representing Green Twp. He also was a PIAA Referee

for both basketball and football, and worked with the elderly with driver training under the 55

Alive Program, as well as income tax preparations.

   Surviving are a son, Neil F. Polumbo, Jr, of Waterford, PA. Three daughters,

Cathy(Polumbo)Wright and her husband Bill of Valencia, PA; P.J. Polumbo also of Waterford;

Cecilia Polumbo of Erie, PA.

   Also surviving are two grandsons, Brian Wright; Matthew Krepp and his wife Brienne. Three

granddaughters, Lauren Wright; Trisha Krepp; and Katelyn Polumbo. Four great grandsons;

Allan Wright, Camdon Wright, Stephen Krepp, Brayden Krepp. Four great granddaughters, Julie

Wright, Elizabeth Krepp, Jordynn Krepp, Rylynd Krepp.

   In addition to his wife and parents, Neil was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. John Polumbo;

a sister, Ann (Polumbo) Fierro; and a cousin, Mary Jane McHale, who was raised as a sibling.

   Friends will be received at the Norman J. Wimer Funeral Home of Tionesta on Sunday, June 20, 2021 from 2-4 PM. The Knights of Columbus will recognize Neil’s service to the K&C on Sunday at 4pm at the funeral home. Visitation will continue on Tuesday, from 11am to 1pm at the Krapf & Hughes Funeral Home 530 West Butler Drive Drums, PA 18222 followed by a Blessing Service at 1pm at the funeral home.

   Burial will be alongside his wife Catherine at Most Precious Blood Cemetery in Hazleton. Full

Military Honors will be accorded.

   Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion

at www.legion.org ; Wounded Warrior at www.woundedwarriorproject.org ; or to the Penn

State Graduate School Future Fund at https://raise.psu.edu to make a gift (search and select

Graduate School Future Fund). 

   Messages of sympathy may be left at www.wimerfuneralhome.com or at www.khfuneralhomes.com