Changing of the guard at Brownson House
Dan Petrola, left, is retiring as executive director of the Brownson House in Washington and John Celani, former director of operations, will take over.
John Celani, who has worked with the Brownson House for 21 years will take over as the new executive director with Dan Petrola’s retirement.
Dan Petrola, executive director of the Brownson House, inside the basketball facility, has worked for 39 years at the Brownson House.
Dan Petrola’s life has been intertwined with the Brownson House for his entire 65 years.
The Washington native grew up across the street from the red-brick structure on Jefferson Avenue. He attended preschool and kindergarten there and, as a child and teen, participated in the nonprofit’s football, basketball and playground programs.
“You couldn’t sit inside it,” he said of the building’s original low-ceiling gymnasium. “People would watch (games) from the fire escapes in the dead of winter.”
In 1976, Petrola joined the staff as the boys’ director. Ten years later, he was promoted to executive director and moved into the upstairs apartment with his wife, Joan.
“I live here … so I’m married to my job,” Petrola said from his office on an unseasonably warm fall day. “I thoroughly enjoyed being involved as much as I have been. When you’re living here, you’re 24/7. You’re always on call. I rarely say, ‘No.'”
Although he’s retiring from his position as executive director and handing over the reins to John Celani, Petrola said he probably won’t say ‘no’ to helping in the future, either.
“Even though I’ll be living in Myrtle Beach, (S.C.), I’ll be available as a consultant. If (Celani) needs me a year from now, I’ll be available,” Petrola said. “My heart and soul has been with the Brownson House. I have all the confidence in John that he’ll carry on and won’t miss a beat with … what it means to the community.”
Since 1926, the organization has provided athletic opportunities to thousands of children and adults from Southwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and the northern panhandle of West Virginia.
From the 1950s, Art Sandusky worked as director, expanding programs and gaining interest in the community, until Petrola took over in 1986.
“One of the things we try to stress here is to become physically and actively involved,” Petrola said. “It’s about sportsmanship and accountability. It’s more than just playing the game and winning.”
Between the 105-year-old structure at 1415 Jefferson Ave., and the Vernon C. Neal Sportsplex, which opened in 2004 in Washington Park, the organization offers basketball, soccer, football, boxing, hockey and volleyball.
Like Petrola, Celani dedicated a large portion of his life to the organization. He started as assistant director in 1988 and was promoted to general manager in 2004.
When he was a child, Celani’s father was a friend of Sandusky’s. Celani participated in football, basketball and wrestling.
“I grew up here. This has been a part of my life for 46 out of the 51 years I’ve been alive,” he said. “It’s very gratifying. You meet these kids, you get this connection. Its nice to be there to support them and see them mature into good citizens and good human beings.”
Celani said his priority will be expanding programs and finding a new home for the organization.
While the Jefferson Avenue building is rich in history, it lacks the space for today’s popular activities. The gymnasium in the adjacent metal hanger is more than 50 years old.
“We’re busting at the seams,” said Petrola. “We need to get a bigger facility so we can expand.”
“That’s going to be the next five to 10 years of this position – updating facilities,” Celani said. “In order for us to compete, we need new facilities, more floors and new buildings. Overall, the way we do things will probably change. We’ve mostly been program oriented. I think in the future, if we have three or four floors, we can run programs, provide practice times and exercise classes, and have more than one revenue at a time.”
Petrola, Celani and the board of directors, including Washington Councilman Ken Westcott, have been looking for a new location for years.
“Obviously, Dan has done a tremendous job and John is a natural fit to take over the position,” Westcott said, adding the board will continue to work with Celani to find a new location.
Even though Vernon C. Neal Sportsplex is in Washington Park, Westcott said it will probably not be home to a new Brownson House location. He said two options, including a site near the current building on Jefferson Avenue, and Rumage Field, are being considered.
“The city owns Rumage Field. It can only be used as a recreation area. It needs a lot of work,” Westcott said. “We want to take our time and do it right.”
Celani said he is confident the Brownson House will continue to provide a service to the community.
“We’re kind of the last man standing. The YMCA went under. The YWCA went under. Brownson house is kind of the last rec center in Washington,” Celani said. “It scares me to think where we would be without a youth rec center.”
Although he’s been lauded for his commitment, Petrola said he cherishes the time he has spent with kids and young adults more than accolades.
“Just watching the kids come through the program, keeping track of them, seeing how well they do in school and furthering their athletic careers, that’s a highlight for me. I just had a phone call the other day from a guy who worked for us. He had a hard life and turned himself around. He just called to thank me,” Petrola said.
“We’re providing not only recreation, but a home away from home for some of the kids. We provide a caring atmosphere for the kids. Now, we see their children and grandchildren participating. That’s a gratifying thing for both of us.”