donalda.gmitter

Donald A. Gmitter

Donald Alan Gmitter (Cribbins), age 64, died Sunday, August 30, 2009 at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in Bradenton, FL. Of Sewickley, PA and Bradenton, FL, he was born in Pittsburgh March 15, 1945. A graduate of Notre Dame, he played football for Ara Parsegian, winning the 1966 National Championship, having the honor of being a part of the infamous “Game of the Century” between Notre Dame and Michigan State. Don was an accomplished architect, having worked for DRS (Deeter Ritchey Sippel), DRS Hindley Kling & Gmitter, and Gmitter Architects. He specialized in residential and commercial architecture, and was the architect for several local professional sports celebrity’s homes. His residence for Mark Malone, former quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was featured in Sports Illustrated. While at DRS, he worked on numerous projects for Kennametal, Equitable Gas, Jefferson Municipal Center, the Albany Airport Marriott, and was the administrator of construction and construction documents for Nemacolin Woodlands Chateau. Other projects include Layfayette, the Base Civil Engineering Building at the 911th AW, and the renovation of the Ross Garage for the Port Authority of Allegheny County. St. Angela Merici Church in White Oak, where a service will take place, was also one of his many projects.

Son of the late Jim Cribbins, he is survived by his mother, Lois Chavern of State College, PA; his wife, Barbara Lenke Gmitter of Sewickley, PA and Bradenton, FL; a son, Glenn Gmitter of Ft. Wayne, IN, daughters, Krysti Giese of Sedalia, CO and Kameron McConnell of Wilmington, DE; and grandchildren, Benjamin Giese and Michael Giese of Sedalia, CO and Brandon Tobin and Kevyn Gmitter of Ft. Wayne, IN.

Friends will be received in the Hunter Funeral Home, Inc., 1600 Coursin Street, McKeesport, PA 15132 Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by the Very Rev. Stephen Chervenak on Friday at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow in Mount Vernon Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to the Gordon Setter Club of America’s Medical Emergency Fund (in memory of his beloved dog, Stoli), c/o Carla Joyce, 1056 Richards Road, White, GA 30184.