Steve Richard "Tiny" Vadjina

YOUNGSTOWN - Steve Richard Vadjina, 85, of the city’s west side, passed away Monday afternoon, June 6, 2016, following a brief illness.

Steve, who was known to all as “Tiny,” was born Oct. 1, 1930, in Youngstown, a son of the late Louis and Katherine Pacic Vadjina, and was a lifelong area resident.

A graduate of Chaney High School, Steve was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years, retiring as a letter carrier in 1992.

Mr. Vadjina was a member of St. Brendan Church in Youngstown. 

An avid lifetime bowler who bowled regularly through March of 2016, Steve began as a pinsetter as a young man at West Side Lanes. He was the 1977-78 Doubles Champion (actual and handicap) at the 46th Annual YMBA City Tournament, and bowled for many years in the Duncan Tax Service League.

Steve enjoyed baseball and was a AA and Class B catcher for Cherol’s Market.

He was also an animal lover who had a fondness for dogs, and he enjoyed gardening and feeding birds.

Steve is survived by his wife of almost 61 years, Margaret “Eileen” Vadjina, whom he married June 11, 1955; two daughters, Laura Jane (Carl) Baer of Orville and Mary Louise Garcia (fiancé Robert Schultz) of North Fort Myers, Fla.; three grandchildren, Jennifer, Stephen, and Colleen; a great-grandson, Michael; and two sisters, Anne Drapcho of Boardman and Kate Popa of Hermitage, Pa.

A son, Steve Vadia, and four siblings, John Vadjina, Mary Lou Komara, Louise Flynn, and Carole LaCivita, are deceased. 

Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, June 10, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 North Meridian Road, Youngstown.

Funeral services will begin at 9:15 a.m., Saturday, June 11, at the funeral home, and will continue at 10 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. Brendan Church, 2800 Oakwood Ave., Youngstown.