VINCENT  JOHN  NIEDERBERGER

     At age 73, our Vinny passed on Friday evening, August 11, 2017, after a seven week struggle with a recently diagnosed heart condition. Vin was born on May 26, 1944 when MH/MR issues were not understood or treated as comprehensively as they are now. But his parents, the late Emmett and Nancy Niederberger, did their best raising him at home in the Mount Oliver section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, challenging him to work hard and be independent.

     Port Authority Transportation became his vessel to independence; he knew the PAT routes better than anyone. He used them to travel throughout the County, to particular grocery stores, restaurants and a myriad of Catholic churches. Downtown Pittsburgh was core to his connections; he loved visiting George Aikens or WT Grant or stopping at GC Murphy or McCrory’s to pick up incidentals while waiting to transfer busses. The Colonnade Cafeteria was his all-time favorite although more recently, Eadie’s Market was a big hit on Thursdays. Vin had a deeply spiritual side that manifested in attending several masses at different churches on a good Sunday. He wrote to many religious orders and often talked of becoming a priest. While that never officially happened, he sometimes saved his money to send away for collars and black shirts, happy when someone acknowledged him as a man of the cloth. While he struggled three times with 9th grade before giving up on formal education, Vin had a keen interest in certain historical events, particularly Pearl Harbor and the Salem Witch Trials. He discovered computers at our public libraries and coveted Empire Plastic Halloween items. Vin also had a deep appreciation for garbage men, often saving tiny bits or full photo albums to gather and throw away on trash days. He loved telling stories, his face lighting up as he went along, knowing that he would garner great laughter at the end. And he loved easy listening music, rocking to the beat in the 60s and 70s. These were the qualities that made him special. As his mother often said “Vin doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.” He was an innocent in a not so innocent world, and he was loved dearly by his family.

     Vin was third in a family of nine children. Preceded in death by his parents and sister Nancy (Eugene Bik), Vincent is beloved and survived by his siblings William E., Robert J. (Sandy), James A., John J. (Clifton Dietz), Mary Jo, Michael E. (Lisa Brancazio) and Cathy (Guy Costa) and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

     Friends will be received from 2 - 8pm on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 in the Timothy K. Slater Funeral Services, Inc. (412-381-3337) 425 Brownsville Road in Mount Oliver. A funeral prayer will be held on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 9:15 AM in the funeral home, with Mass of Christian Burial following in St. Paul of the Cross Monastery at 10am.  Vin’s burial will be in the St. Joseph section of St. John Vianney Cemetery.

    A special thanks to FamilyLinks and Transitional Services, Inc. where Vin was well supported as a resident for the past 25 years.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Transitional Services, Inc., 806 West Street, Homestead, PA 15120 or www.transitionalservices.org.

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