by Jo Scheier Bugay
patriciathrushart.com
I recently read the sad news that Jimmy Cvetic passed away on February 15, 2019. He lost his battle with cancer at the age of 69.
Described as a ‘Pittsburgh icon’ in the multiple obituaries published in The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, on WESA FM’s website, and other media outlets, Mr. Cvetic was a Vietnam Veteran, retired Allegheny County narcotics detective, a boxing coach and… a poet.
He also had ties to DuBois, PA, one of our magazine’s hometowns.
Among his many other achievements, Mr. Cvetic was the founder of The Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League (WPAL), a chapter of the nationwide PAL organization that funds activities in which volunteers such as police officers, coaches, teachers or other community members help young people with homework and provide after-school outlets. According to the WPAL website, the purpose of the organization is to build character, help strengthen police-community relations, and keep children off illegal drugs.
I can only assume that Jimmy’s love of boxing must have been part of his motivation for establishing a WPAL Boxing and Fitness Center at 37 E Long Avenue in October of 2015. The gym is 100% free to anyone between the ages of 6 and 18 (or in high school). Law enforcement officers are also encouraged to work out at the gym free of charge with the kids. According to its website, this arrangement ‘creates relationships between the volunteers and local youths— relationships that help steer young people away from activities involving crime, violence and drugs. The WPAL gyms give children a place to go after school, on weekends and during the summer months where they can participate in activities of their choice and be surrounded by positive influences.’
As if being a veteran, a boxing coach, a philanthropist and a narcotics detective weren’t enough, Jimmy Cvetic published four books containing his hard-hitting, humorous and street-wise poems. His style has been likened to that of Charles Bukowski, an acknowledged influence. Stories from his Catholic childhood in Garfield in the early 1950s, his observations of human nature, and his experiences in the military and in law enforcement dominate his writing.
All of his books have the word “Dog” in the title. This was his police nickname. Titles include:Dog is a Love From Hell, Secret Society of Dog, Dog Unleashed and Dog Days, his last,published in June of 2018.
Beyond his prolific output of over 5.000 poems, Cvetic co-founded and co-hosted the Hemingway’s Café Summer Poetry Series in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. His poetry inspired “In Defense of Gravity,” a 2017 work by local dance group Attack Theatre.
According to the obituary published on the WESA FM website, “Poetry..was one source of Cvetic’s friendship with Hollywood star Nick Nolte. The two met on a film shoot in Pittsburgh years ago and remained in touch. The Facebook page of local poet Bob Ziller, who published Cvetic’s work via his imprint Lascaux Editions, includes a photo of he and Nolte reading poetry aloud with Cvetic at Shadyside Hospital in the days before Cvetic’s death.”
A search on Google for Jimmy’s poetry will bring up multiple YouTube videos of him reading his work, as well as reprints featured in magazines such as The Pittsburgh City Paper and The Pittsburgh Quarterly. Here is just one example: https://pittsburghquarterly.com/between-the-issues/pq-poem/item/1541-just-because.html
I was fascinated to learn about this larger-than-life personality, who was not only a supporter of our communities, but also wrote poetry. I wish our paths had crossed in the context of The Watershed Journal. Somehow I think Jimmy Cvetic would have approved of our mission to celebrate the voices of our writers while uplifting our communities. RIP, Mr. Jimmy Cvetic, and thank you for your service, your dedication to our youth and to the power of poetry.
For more information about WPAL and the gym in DuBois, check out:
