Ernest "Ernie" James Pelaia

Ernest James Pelaia passed away on January 17, 2021 at the age of 76. Ernie was, first and foremost, a family man. He is survived by Sandrae, his wife of 57 years; his four kids Timi Kormos (husband Rich and kids Marley, Harry, Grace and Ben), EC Pelaia (wife Maureen and kids Matt and Ryan), Tracy Pelaia Taylor (son Colin) and Holly Boatright (husband Rex and kids Grace and Alex); and his brothers Donny (wife Nadia), Bobby (wife Nancy), Mickey and sister Jinx Main (husband John) and many nieces and nephews. He was an "athalete." He grew up playing baseball and football in Western PA, graduating from Beaver Falls in the class of 1961. He won the WPIAL Championship in football and baseball, won a full ride to Western State College, and was drafted for pro baseball. Dad always said he packed up one duffel bag and walked to school uphill in the rain and snow. He worked his college summers at Conway Yards, where his claim to fame was wrecking a train. He went on to be the first in his family to earn his MBA. He loved to spend time gardening, fishing and at any family gathering. He liked to talk smack about his commercial fishing prowess, and cherished the time teaching his kids and grandkids to fish and play ball. Those who knew him probably heard him joke about signing autographs or crowd control. He probably told you to walk this way or flexed his huge arm to show you "the beach is that way." You may have fallen for the "something on your shirt" trick, or been asked "did anybody ask about me?" If you ever fell, he'd ask if you hurt the ground. He was tough as nails, would suffer any setback and say "put me back in, coach." We'll miss him greatly, and take joy in our memories every day. He has spake.
Friends will be received at NOSEK-McCREERY FUNERAL HOME, 8150 BRECKSVILLE RD., BRECKSVILLE, OH 44141 on Monday, January 25, 2021 from 11:00am-12:30 pm where a prayer service will begin at 12:30 pm. Ernie's Mass of Christian burial will follow at St. Basil the Great Catholic Church, 8700 Brecksville Rd. Brecksville, OH at 1:00 pm. Interment at Brecksville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ernie's name are suggested to the  RA Foundation, www.helpfightra.org, MS Foundation, www.nationalmssociety.org, Crohn's Foundation www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org, or the CLE APL, www.clevelandapl.org

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