Nicholas George Vucina, 93, of Vanport, passed away, surrounded by his loving children, Thursday June 28, 2018 at ManorCare Health Services, Heartland Hospice, Pittsburgh. Born August 13, 1924 in Bolivar, PA, of Croatian immigrants, he was the son of the late Thomas Vucina Sr. and Zora (Kazic) Vucina Fudurich. He attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and was retired from J&J and LTV, where he worked in Quality Control, Seamless Tube for 35 years.
Nick graduated from high school five months early to enlist in the U.S. Army. He progressed to Corporal, while in combat and was stationed with the infantry in World War II in Germany, Austria, Vienna and France and received the World War II Victory and Army of Occupation Medals. He went on to become a Special Agent with the CIC (Counter Intelligence Corps) attending the European Theater Intelligence School, where he learned the refining techniques of self-defense, conducting security checks, interrogations in the German language and espionage.
He was promoted Sergeant, Staff Sergeant and Tech Sergeant which included being part of the division to investigate Hitler’s death, pursuing and interrogating Nazi War Criminals and bringing them to trial. He was selected among the Special Agents, to provide security at the Nuremberg Trials. Nick received the Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award / Bronze plaque on April 18, 1947 in Berlin Germany with the 970th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment Region VII.
Among the first Americans behind Chinese lines in Korea, Nick would go on to earn two Bronze Stars in the Korean War, fighting two major battles with the 11th Airborne, Engineering Combat Division Nick was a resident of Vanport for over 60 years and served many years as President of Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 535, Midland, PA and was a lifetime member of New Brighton and Aliquippa Croatian Clubs. He was a member and usher of SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Beaver. As an artist, he enjoyed making numerous woodworking items for his family and tamburitza groups, as well as photography, videography and traveled extensively in the US and abroad.
Nick will be remembered as a disciplined but kind and extremely generous father, who always put the needs of his wife and family before himself. He lit up the room, when he walked in with his extroverted personality and loved talking with people about any topic. He spoke German and Croatian and proudly celebrated his Croatian heritage.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy “Babe” (Toplak) Vucina, October 18, 2015, two grandsons Eric and Brandon Rocca, a sister Millie Sandusky and a young brother George Vucina. Surviving are two daughters Terry (Ambrose) Rocca, Franklin Park, Carol Vucina, Vanport, two sons David (Phyllis) Vucina, Dallas, TX, Rick Vucina (Jan Hynes), East Palestine, OH, grandchildren Vanessa (AJ) Sudano, Krista (Matt) Trimble, Tarah Helsel, David (Krysten) Vucina, JC (Jill) Vucina, Rachel (Jon) Cannon, great-grandchildren Cameron, Christopher, Savanna and Amelie, one brother Thomas Vucina, Stuart, FL. and brother-in-law Tom Toplak (Mary Feroce) and many nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received Friday July 6, 2018 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm in the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton and Saturday from 9:00 am until time of prayer at 9:30 am, followed by Mass of Christian burial at 10:00am in SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Beaver. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery. Members of the Beaver County Special Unit will meet at 11:00am in the cemetery to provide full military honors.
In lieu of flowers memorial contribution may be made in Nick’s name to the Croatian Fraternal Union Scholarship Fund, 100 Delaney Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the wonderful care received from the Administrative, Nursing and Auxiliary Staff at Manor Care Health Services and Heartland Hospice.
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