Gregory Patrick Hungerford
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Gregory Patrick Hungerford
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Gregory Patrick Hungerford, 65, of Kittanning, PA, passed away Friday, January 23, 2015 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Cabot.

He was born September 1, 1949 in Girard, OH, the son of John and Marie (Henry Ruggiero) Hungerford. He was the last surviving member of his family.

Gregory graduated in 1967 from Ursuline High School in Youngstown, OH. He attended the University of Maryland on a football scholarship, but upon leaving, he was drafted in to the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles, where he served as a Pathfinder ("First in-Last out") in Vietnam. After the war, Gregory finished his Bachelor's in criminal justice at Youngstown State University. He then pursued a Master's in social work from Louisiana State University and earned his PhD in drug and alcohol counseling from the Ohio State University.

He worked as a professor for West Virginia University, Edinboro University, and Ohio University at Chillicothe. Following retirement, Gregory became a part-time professor for Thiel and Youngstown State Universities, where his last term ended in May of 2014. He was an engaging teacher who loved interacting with his students.

Gregory lived in many places, including Wexford, Conneaut Lake, and Chillicothe, OH. He became a resident of Kittanning in 2011 when he married his wife Mona. He was of the Catholic faith and enjoyed traveling with his wife. Special trips for them included the times they visited Belize, and he was looking forward to visiting Ireland with Mona before his health prevented him. Gregory will be best remembered for his love his students as his surrogate children.

He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Mona (Powell) Rupert, whom he married November 1, 2011; step-daughter, Dr. Terra Blatnik and husband, Dr. Jeff Blatnik, of Cleveland, OH; step-son, Dirk Rupert and wife, Tasha Klukan-Rupert, of Kittanning; and step-grandchildren, Ava and Izzy Blatnik.

He was predeceased by his parents.

At Gregory's request, services will be private.

Contributions can be made in Gregory's honor to any no-kill animal shelter or to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

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Gregory Patrick Hungerford