Daniel Frank Salopek

AKRON - Daniel F. Salopek, Sr., 85, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away on August 26, 2023, from complications of Covid. Dan was born in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1938 to Thomas and Anna Salopek. He graduated from Penn Hills High School and was a proud graduate of The University of Pittsburgh earning a degree in Chemical Engineering. He moved to Akron, Ohio, to start his career at Firestone Tire & Rubber Company as a Marketing Manager in the Synthetic Rubber Division where he worked for over 30 years. He was an exceptionally talented engineer and executive. After retiring from Firestone, he co-founded Momentum Technologies where he worked for six years until retiring for good.
After his retirement, he and his wife, Polly, moved to Jensen Beach, Florida, where they spent 28 wonderful years and made great memories with family and friends. His kindness, compassion and wonderful sense of humor made him a favorite everywhere he went - the bank, the post office, church, the grocery store - everywhere. Dan was the life of the party. Everybody was a friend. He could talk for hours about everything and nothing. He and Polly hosted the best happy hours on their tropical paradise porch. Their home was also home for many on the holidays. They made everything fun and everyone loved to be with them.
Dan loved everything Pittsburgh - Pitt Panthers, Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. His heart always remained in Pittsburgh. We all knew never to call him during any game or especially after a difficult loss. He loved to golf but golf did not always love him back. One of his favorite vacations was a trip to The Masters. It was a lifelong dream for him to go and he cherished every minute of that trip.
Dan loved to take the family to Ocean City, Maryland, every summer and especially loved his trips with Polly to the Grand Canyon, Seattle, New York, Hawaii, Europe and many cruises.
Dan had an exemplary work ethic and the highest standards for anything he did. He was a selfless person. He never complained, always gave and never asked for anything in return. He always offered unconditional love. He loved his siblings, children, stepchildren and grandchildren with all his heart, but most importantly his wife Polly.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Al, Tom and John, and sisters Margaret and Pauline, his daughter Sharon, and his grandson Marc Daniel Salopek. He is survived by his beloved wife Polly, sons Mark (Julie), Steve (Jennifer) and Dan (Tanya), his stepchildren Mark (Diane) MacBride, Paul (Kim) MacBride and Kathy MacBride, as well as his grandchildren Marisa, Michael, Danielle, Matthew and Mia Salopek, and his step-grandchildren Mark and Nick MacBride and Billy Strutz, and many nieces and nephews, especially his favorite niece Pam (Guy) Baleno.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM Wednesday, August 30 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 4019 Manchester Road, Akron, Ohio 44319, where the family will receive friends for one hour before mass beginning at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The University of Pittsburgh General Scholarship Fund, Park Plaza, 128 N. Craig St., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, or www.giveto.pitt.edu.

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