Wiltz, long-tenured school director, dies
Kenneth J. Wiltz, one of the longest tenured school directors in Pennsylvania, died Wednesday. He was 79.
Wiltz served on the Charleroi Area School School Board for 49 years, the last 22 as president.
“If you could say anybody was a true Cougar, it was him, from the time he was in high school until now,” said Adele Hopkins, a Charleroi school director for the last 22 years. “He always put that first in his life. I learned a lot from him, mostly how to listen to people before you make your decisions. He was a great diplomat for us. He was more than a colleague, he was a friend. He’s going to be missed.”
Dr. Edward Zelich, district superintendent, said Wiltz was a great resource.
“He taught me a lot about listening to people, that it’s not as important to be heard as it is to listen,” Zelich said. “Once you get that lesson and people know you care you can work together and achieve goals together. He was a wealth of knowledge. He had 39 years of experience when I became superintendent. There’s no one you can go to that has more knowledge.”
Wiltz topped the Pennsylvania School Board Association’s 2023 honor roll for his years of service.
Barbara Pepper, school board vice president, considered Wiltz a mentor.
“He was always a leader,” said Pepper, who is in her second term on the board. “He was one that people respected and looked to as part of the school district. He was always there for people. His bottom line was, ‘I’m here for the students, the staff, and, of course, the taxpayers.’ These are not only large shoes to fill, but deep shoes.”
Director Elaine Pappesergi said she intended to serve a two-year term when elected but Wiltz convinced her to make a longer commitment. She has been on the board for 22 years.
“His strongest leadership skill was getting us to work as a cohesive unit,” she said. “He enabled us to work together for the benefit of the students. The students and staff always were the main concern in making our decisions. We have top-notch educational and athletic facilities. We have been blessed under his leadership to make sure our buildings and facilities and campuses are among the best around.”
Serving as a school director for nearly a half-century was one example of his dedication not only to the district but to the community.
“He was truly dedicated and the public knew that,” Hopkins said. “He was elected every time and usually led the ticket. The public knew, the taxpayers knew that he was there for them. It’s quite a legacy for him that he did that. You don’t find many people that put in that many years of dedication.”
After graduating from Charleroi Area High School, Wiltz was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a military police officer in Vietnam. After his return from service, he attended Duquesne University, where he graduated with a degree in secondary education, social studies.
Wiltz held the position of executive director of the Mon Valley YMCA for 37 years. He was a youth coach for Charleroi baseball and basketball for many years and was a fixture at Charleroi sporting events.
“He was our biggest cheerleader no matter what it was about,” Hopkins said. “Everything was always for the kids, for the staff, for the school in general, for the taxpayers. He always cared about all of those things. He was so proud of everything the school accomplished, everything we did in the community. He was so connected to the community.”
Wiltz is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda (Black) Wiltz; daughter, Kendra (Mike) Hartley of Charleroi; son, Ken Wiltz of Charleroi; four grandchildren; two brothers; four sisters and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by an infant son, Jonathan Wiltz, and a brother.
Friends are being received from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Carl J. Spallino Funeral Home, 819 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Charleroi Area High School Auditorium. Interment with military honors will follow in Monongahela Cemetery.