Obituary for Paul Adamovich
PAUL 'PIO' ADAMOVICH
YOUNGSTOWN – Funeral services will be held on Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, for Mr. Paul “Pio” Adamovich, 82, who passed away on Dec. 19, 2010, at Briarfield Nursing Home, Austintown of natural causes after suffering from Parkinson’s disease for two years.
Paul Adamovich was born on May 23, 1928, in Youngstown, the son of Ziva and Gina (Milovan) Adamovich.
He graduated from Chaney High School in 1947 and also attended the business school at Youngstown State University.
Paul retired in 1984, from Youngstown Sheet and Tube (LTV Steel), Briar Hill Works where he was a yardmaster for 30 years. Paul was also a well-known tamburitzan musician, playing the bass and singing with many area bands for over 50 years.
Paul was a lifelong member of the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, Laird Avenue in Youngstown, where he served as Vice President of the church.
He was a member of the Eastern Orthodox Men’s Society, the Serbian National Federation, the Croatian Fraternal Union, the Musician’s Union, the Tamburitza Association of America and Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge No. 66, where he served as Vice President of the Board.
In 1999, Paul was inducted into the Tamburitza Association of America Hall of Fame for his 50 years of contributions to tamburitza music.
Paul leaves his devoted wife, the former Violet Odly, of Dearborn, Mich. to whom he was married for 53 years. They were married on March 1, 1957.
His parents are both deceased, but he leaves behind four children, who are blessed to have had him as father, three daughters, Ms. Nada (at home), Mrs. Debra (Mark) Williams of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Mrs. Karin (Paul) Tanny of Robinson, Pa. and one son, Paul S. of Canfield.
Paul has one surviving brother, George of Vienna and four deceased siblings, sisters Angeline Bracken, Mildred Milicich and brothers John and Michael.
Paul was lovingly known as “Papa” by his five grandchildren who will miss him dearly, Jacob and Alex Williams of Scottsdale and Christian, Julian and Gabrielle Tanny of Robinson.
Paul was known as “Pio” throughout his musical career which began in 1948. During this time, he had been a member of some nine tamburitza bands including George Skrbina and the Balkan Serenaders, Mel Evanovich and the Balkan Serenaders, Libby Fill and the Volims, Mirko Roknich Orchestra, and Tri Pajdasa. “Have berde, will travel” was always his motto. With the Balkan Serenaders, Paul performed both nationally and internationally, recorded several albums and appeared on radio and television. While with the trio group Tri Pajdasa, he entertained throughout the U.S., Canada, and the former Yugoslavia. During his many years of playing tamburitza, Paul donated his musical services for many occasions.
Friends may call on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., at the Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home, where there will be a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. and also on Monday, at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, one hour prior to the funeral Mass