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Robert Siar Passes At 85

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Robert Siar
Robert Siar

When Fox Chapel wrestling coach Ron Frank started coaching, two former opposing coaches helped him.

One was late North Allegheny coach Gus DeAugustino and the other was former Shaler and Hampton coach Robert Siar.

Siar, 85, passed on Friday. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Susan, and children Bob, Tom and Kim Johnson.

He was a graduate of Slippery Rock University (1955), where he lettered in football and wrestling. He also taught and coached 42 years.

He was a head football coach and wrestling coach at Brookville (1960-65) and started the Brookville wrestling program in 1961. He became the Shaler wrestling coach in 1965 and ended his career at Hampton. He compiled a 315-108-7 record in 29 years of coaching.

“As a young coach who knew very little about wrestling, Bob and Gus took me under their wing even though we were opponents,” Frank said. “They showed me a lot. His teams were always ready to wrestle. Shaler won’t be the same without Bob Siar.”

He was WPIAL Coach of the Year in 1974 after leading Shaler to its first WPIAL title. He was president of the WPIAL Coaches Association from 1968-75 and was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993. He retired as a Teacher and coach in 1997.

Friends will be received from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday, at Neely Funeral Home, 2208 Mt. Royal Boulevard. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, at Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, 3200 Mt. Royal Boulevard, Glenshaw.