Angelo Maccagnan

Angelo “Mack” Maccagnan, age 85, took his last breath on May 10, 2026, in McCandless Township, Pennsylvania, with his wife and children by his side.

“Nino,” as he was known to his family, was the youngest of four children, born at his childhood home in Curtisville, Pennsylvania, on July 2, 1940, to his coal miner father, Bortolo, and homemaker mother, Maria. Angelo’s legacy includes the indelible influence he had on his students, friends, and family.

Nino’s humble beginnings included a home with an outhouse and no hot running water. Early life was a struggle, with the family raising their own vegetables and chickens for food. Nino took naturally to gardening, and it became a lifelong passion that he enjoyed immensely. He spent countless hours tending to the large garden at his home in North Huntingdon, where he and his wife, Carol, raised their family. His prowess as a gardener was legendary among friends and neighbors, especially for the enormous tomatoes he proudly shared with everyone. His love of gardening was passed down to his daughter and granddaughter, Elise, who continue the tradition today.

Stories of Nino’s childhood paint a picture of mischievous fun and adventure. He often recalled hitching rides on trains to far-off places, as the railroad tracks ran directly through his hometown.

Another favorite hobby was winemaking, using equipment his father had brought from his native Italy. His meticulous approach to the process looked more like a science lab experiment than casual fun, and the results spoke for themselves. His daughter once entered one of his wines into a “best wine” contest where attendees brought favorite bottles from well-known wineries in hopes of winning the top prize. In the end, Angelo’s homemade house wine won the day.

Angelo was the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. He attended Indiana State Teachers College (later IUP), where he met his wife, Carol (Glover). He began his 37-year teaching career in 1962 and retired from Westinghouse High School in 1999 as Science Department Chair. He was a dedicated and exceptional teacher who took gifted students on science retreats to Wallops Island, Virginia, and McKean, Pennsylvania, to study biology.

“Mister Mack,” as he was known to students and colleagues, also served as an assistant football coach at Westinghouse High School and coached track and field for many years. He loved telling the story of the time his team played an exhibition game against the Ohio state champions. His team was expected to lose, but instead they won — and required a police escort out of town because of the disappointed local fans.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan announced NASA’s “Teacher in Space” program, designed to inspire students, honor teachers, and spark interest in mathematics, science, and space exploration. The project would carry teachers into space as payload specialists — non-astronaut civilians — who would return to their classrooms to share the experience with their students. Angelo was selected from among thousands of candidates to train during several summers in Huntsville, Alabama, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even though the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster ultimately dashed any hopes of reaching for the stars.

For nearly nineteen summers during school break, he drove Greyhound buses to earn extra income. The additional money was a welcome benefit, but the real prize was the stories he brought home. He often recalled one particular incident involving an Amish man he dropped off at the Pittsburgh bus terminal late at night. The man had traveled from afar and had no ride to his final destination. When Angelo asked why he had come, the man explained that he was traveling to purchase a farm and revealed a suitcase full of cash. Concerned for the man’s safety in a rough part of the city, Angelo personally drove him to his destination.

He was an avid outdoorsman who loved spending time in the wilderness with hunting buddies, fellow colleagues, his brother, and his son. One of his first hunting trips out west was especially memorable, as he helped his son harvest his first bull elk. On another trip, the pair received a once-in-a-lifetime tag to hunt oryx on the White Sands Missile Range, resulting in an unforgettable and successful adventure.

In retirement, Angelo and Carol traveled extensively, creating lasting memories and sharing countless enchanting moments together. He often wondered aloud to the love of his life how a poor boy from a coal mining town had been blessed to see so much of the world beside her. For many years, the two spent the coldest parts of winter in Sarasota, Florida, where they embraced the sunshine and warmth. In his final months, he longed for one more trip somewhere warm.

Angelo is survived by his wife, Carol; his sister, Anna Makuta; his daughter, Caroline Miller (husband, David Miller); his son, Michael Maccagnan (partner, Adriana); and his grandchildren, Ryan Michael Maccagnan, Luke Giovanni Maccagnan, Lauren Michelle Maccagnan, Sam Fees (husband, Colton Fees), and Elise Hyatt (husband, Trevor Hyatt); the first great-grandchild, Charley Fees.

Angelo was preceded in death by his parents, Bortolo and Maria Maccagnan; his sister, Adele Raffaelli; and his brother, Giovanni Maccagnan.

Friends and family will be received at the Ott Funeral Home, Inc. (805 Pennsylvania Ave., Irwin, PA 15642) on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. and from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 10 A.M. at Immaculate Conception Church (308 2nd St., Irwin, PA 15642). All attending the mass, please go directly to the church. Burial will be private. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.ottfuneralhome.com.

Now, may you reach the stars and beyond.

Love,

Your friends and family