In Memoriam: Prominent Pittsburghers We Lost In 2018

PITTSBURGH, PA - Sad farewells were bid to a number of notable people with ties to Pittsburgh who passed away this year. The one that had the most impact nationally unquestionably was Mac Miller, who vaulted into rap superstardom from his days as a student at Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill.

Miller was found unresponsive at his California home on Sept. 6. He reportedly had struggled with substance abuse issues after his breakup with singer Ariana Grande and was charged with DUI following an auto accident shortly before he died.

The death of Miller, whose real name was Malcolm McCormick, occurred occurred barely a month after the release of his latest album, "Swimming." He was preparing to embark on a tour that would have brought him back to his hometown in November to play the Petersen Events Center.

Mac Miller was 26.

Other notable passings:

MARCH

Veteran local newscaster Adam Lynch, 89.

APRIL

Hall-of-Fame wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino, 82.

WWW Hall-of-Fame wrestler “Luscious” Johnny Valiant, 71.

MAY

Former WXDX-FM DJ and Pittsburgh Penguins radio producer Digby Reynolds.

JUNE

Legendary WTAE-TV meteorologist Joe DeNardo, 87.

JULY

Mike Steele Vrable, a DJ for WDVE-FM and 3WS.

Gabriel D'Abruzzo, 42. an accomplished pianist who held various musical positions throughout the city.

AUGUST

Longtime WPXI-TV reporter Stuart Brown, 86.

SEPTEMBER

KDKA-AM talk show host Mike Pintek, 65.

OCTOBER

The 11 victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting: Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 87; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Rosenthal, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan Simon, 86; David Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88 and Irving Younger, 69.

Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General Laura Ditka, 55, a former Allegheny County deputy district attorney attorney.

NOVEMBER

Daniel Sammartino, 50, a well-known North Hills barber and son of the late wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino.

DECEMBER

Former Steelers public address announcer Randy Cosgrove, 67.

Former WPXI-TV sports director Sam Nover, 77.

Former Pirates infielder Jose Castillo, 37.

Former Penn Hills High School, University of Pittsburgh and NFL football player Bill Fralic, 57.

Miller photo: Eric Heyl/Patch staff; Lynch photo via WTAE-TV; Sammartino and Valiant photos via WWE; Reynolds photo via WXDX-FM; DeNardo photo via Huntsman Funeral Home; Vrable photo via GoFundMe; Brown photo via Beinhauer-Peters Township; Pintek photo via YouTube; Tree of Life photo: Eric Heyl/Patch staff; Ditaka photo via Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office; Daniel Sammartino photo via Devlin Funeral Home; Cosgrove photo via Copeland’s-Coraopolis; Nover photo via WPXI-TV; Castillo and Fralic photos via Getty Images.

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