S. Alan Boal

S. Alan Boal, 95, former Pittsburgh television newscaster and radio personality, died peacefully while lovingly surrounded by family on Sunday May 25, 2025. He was born in Rochester, PA on March 9, 1930, and spent most of his childhood in Freedom, PA and Ocean City, NJ.

Prior to attending the University of Pittsburgh (BA, Journalism, ‘51) he studied throughout South America and Europe, becoming fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. While in college, he launched his broadcasting career working as a staff announcer at WBVP in Beaver Falls, PA. He was drafted into the army in 1951 during the Korean War. He was stationed in Salzburg, Austria where he served as an announcer for Armed Forces Radio and the Blue Danube Network.

His distinguished broadcasting career spanned five decades, during which he became a well-known figure in the Pittsburgh area and across the nation. He held a variety of broadcasting roles: WDTV (Channel 2); WKBN-TV/Radio; KQV Radio; WIIC (Channel 11); and WTAE-TV/Radio. A highlight of his career was serving as Latin American Bureau Chief for ABC in Miami, where he hosted ABC’s “Caribbean Listening Post” and interpreted Cuban News Broadcasts for ABC. Alan was an active union volunteer in SAG-AFTRA, serving as a local board member since 1958 and holding every elective officer position. He was a Freemason, recently achieving his 70th year of membership.

He enjoyed retirement with his wife, Daysi, in their Upper St. Clair home.  He enjoyed the Pittsburgh Opera, the Ocean City Pops at the Music Pier while at their beach home, and musical performances by their grandchildren. He performed in the “Mt. Lebanon Library Readers Theater” reenacting scenes from radio scripts for area nursing homes. He played bocce every Tuesday and Sunday (and any chance he got) with the Calabria Bocce Club of Mt. Lebanon, a close-knit group of Italians who claimed Alan as one of their own. Additionally, he enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing cards every weekend with his family.

Alan is survived by his loving wife, Daysi Boal; two children, Ryan Boal and Beatriz Weprich (Will); three step-children, Susy Vignetti Tybl, Robert Vignetti (Maria Pacitti) and Sylvia Vignetti Rieker (James); thirteen-grandchildren, Betsy Boal, Bridget Boal, Nicholas Weprich (Megan), Leah Weprich, Jeremy Weprich, Olivia Hawkins (Kyle), Alexander Tybl, Amanda Tybl, Benjamin Rieker, Daniel Rieker, Vanessa Vignetti, Melissa Maronde (Scott), and Mario Vignetti; and several great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. John H. Boal, Jr. and Dr. William Erwin S. Boal; a sister, Barbara Ann Boal; and his parents, Beulah S. Boal and Dr. John H. Boal.

Friends received on Sunday, June 1, from 12-2pm and 4-6pm at Laughlin Cremation & Funeral Tributes, 222 Washington Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15216.

Interment will take place on Wednesday, June 11, at 2:00pm at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Rd. Bridgeville, PA 15017. We will meet at the funeral home at 1:00pm before departing for the cemetery. 

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