Gary Puleio: Eulogy Gary Anthony Puleio

Gary Puleio

Gary was killed on the job at a concrete plant on August 15, 2001. He had been employed there only 3 months as a non-union cement truck driver and fell 25 feet to his death, from a cement tower, while shoveling gravel off the hopper to clean it. The company claimed Gary just wandered up there on his own, without wearing any safety equipment, at the end of his driving shift rather than being assigned this dangerous task because he was the “new man”. OSHA accepted this implausible story and after admitting no wrong doing, the company paid a $6000 fine for REPEAT violations for not posting danger signs at a confined space and not implementing measures to prevent unauthorized entry. This company had multiple serious violations issued only months before Gary was killed which were informally settled with reduced fines. Corporations routinely “negotiate” with OSHA to downgrade fines through a process called “abatement. ” Aggrieved families of dead workers have no such access to OSHA, face hurdles in obtaining information under the Freedom of Information Act, have their concerns condescendingly dismissed and ultimately are told that no further action can be taken once 6 months have passed since the “alleged violation”. .

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Eulogy Gary Anthony Puleio

GARY ANTHONY PULEIO
4/13/1948 8/15/2001

It is a privilege to speak to you today of the life of my dear brother, Gary Puleio. He was a good, honorable man whom we all loved and respected.

He lead a life of quiet dignity, giving of himself and never asking for anything in return. Because of his reserved selfless nature, perhaps we never knew all about the person he was. Thus, I am honored to tell you of the life of my dear brother, Gary Puleio.

Over the past day, as we looked sorrowfully upon his broken body and tried to take in the horrible tragedy that befell him, many thoughts have entered our minds and we have sought the solace of God and each other to understand this.

By better understanding Gary’s life, we can gain the strength and courage to go on with our lives.

Gary was born in 1948 in McKeees Rocks, Pa, the son of a steel worker. Our parents, Donald and Mary, had just lost their infant son Donald, Jr. not but two years earlier and were still recovering from their loss. Despite this they welcomed Gary with love and joy. His older siblings, Paul and Marion, loved their sweet little brother and took him everywhere all the time calling him “Tag-a-long”.

When Gary was 12 , he had a new baby sister—me. He gladly took on the new role of big brother. No sister had a finer, more loving brother than I.

Gary came of age in the 1960’s, a turbulent time in American society. Gary’s circumstances were modest and he was never afforded the luxury of frivolity. Even as a young man, he shouldered many burdens and responsibilities.

Upon graduation from Stowe High School in 1966, Gary entered Duquesne University. Money remained very tight and Gary had to work long hours to afford to attend the university. Gary bore this heavy work burden without complaint.
Despite many hurdles, Gary obtained a degree in Business Administration from Duquesne.

Economic circumstances forced Gary to continue to hold a series of manual labor jobs. He was well respected by his fellow workers and tried to improve their lives through his interest in the union.

All this time, he supported and aided his family and friends. I, like many others in this room, owe Gary a debt I can never repay. He helped me all through my schooling from elementary school through medical school. He was always there whenever and wherever he was needed. He never refused anyone help.

I had a high school assignment once that required that I write about someone I considered a hero. I chose my brother , Gary, then . All these years later, I can still think of no better choice.

Our father succumbed to cancer in 1978. Gary was only 30 years old when he lost his father but he bore his sorrow with quiet dignity. He remained strong and helped his widowed mother and siblings overcome their grief.

In 1983, he married Linda. Gary and Linda welcomed everyone in their newly established home. They shared a love of animals. Gary’s kind and giving nature extended to his pets. He truly loved and cared for all creatures.

In 1991, our mother died suddenly and unexpectedly; Gary again was our family’s strength. That year, 1991, also marked the birth of Gary and Linda’s son Donald. Donald’s early years were very tough- Linda and Gary made many trips to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. They never complained nor despaired- their faith in God and each other sustained them. Through their love and good care Donald grew and thrived.

In 1998, they were blessed with a second son, Gary Jr. Gary now gladly took on the role of a 50 year old new dad. Both his boys were the pride of his life.

He worked very hard for his family. He endured fatigue, pain and exhaustion to provide for those he loved. Even with this workload, he always was there to help others when they needed him.

In the midst of this hard toil, a terrible accident befell Gary. He died while working to provide for his family—indeed a hero’s death.

His body is now broken but his spirit shall never be. He will be remembered forever by those who loved him. God will grant him eternal peace and happiness for all the good he has done during his short life that ended so tragically.

Good bye dear Gary. We love you.

Donna P. Spadaro MD