James D. Kontir

James D. Kontir, 83 passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family.  Jim was born  March 2, 1940 a son of the late Andrew Kontir, Sr and Anna Nemeth Kontir, and was born and raised in Hecla. He was a member of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Trauger,, he was  a 1958 graduate of Hurst High School and signed up for enlistment in the US Navy from 1959-1963, after enlistment he returned to his parents residence in Hecla to begin the college application process  and gained acceptance to California University in PA. He earned his bachelor and masters degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology. In Addition, , he did post graduate work at the Universities of Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and Penn State. Jim earned the certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association, when he began his professional career employed by the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit as a speech, hearing and language therapist.  He was a member of various local social organizations and veterans organizations of the Untied States, the Submarine Veterans Incorporated, the local base chapter of the USS Requin SS-481 and the Naval Crytologic Veterans Association.  Regarding Jim's military service, aptitude and psychological testing revealed  would be better to serve in the navy in the area of security training, after recruit training he was sent to San Diego where he spent six months attending the first of a three level program. He also achieved the security level of Confidential.  since he did well at the first level he then went on to the second level, and attained the security level of Secret. The most difficult level was the third level with training in Washington DC, he was now affiliated with the Naval Security Group, the Office of Naval Intelligence and the National Security Agency. he was known as a security specialist and had been entrusted with the security level as Top Secret.  He had the possibility of receiving mission assignments  on special submarine missions, over a 2 and a half year period operated out of Pearl Harbor and Kamiseya/Sakata.  He took part in one mid level assignment along with Marine Corps specialists under the codename of Operation Grab,he was most proud of three high level covert missions under the name of Special Operation Holystone, these missions were carried out aboard the submarines, USS Seadragon, SSN584, USS Tunny, SSG 282 and USS Grayback, SSG 574.  Surviving are his wife Mary Ann Semensky Kontir,; children, Natalee and Shane Kontir; brothers in law, Gregory Semensky (Jean) and John Lindley many nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by brothers, Andrew and Daniel Kontir; sisters, Mary Ann Kontir Witek and Elizabeth Kontir Lindley,  sister in lawVirginia Barbus (Mel) and a brother in law, Conrad Semensky.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm Sunday at SLATER-REGA FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, INC 730 W. MAIN STREET MT PLEASANT where the family will meet on Monday to transfer Jim to St Mary Byzantine Catholic Church for his funeral mass with Fr. Paul Alexander Schutt officiating.  Interment will follow in the St Mary Byzantine Cemetery. Parastas and Panahida services will be held at 3:30pm in the funeral home. Please visit Jim's online memorial at rega.slaterfuneral.com to sign the condolence guestbook. Richard Rega ,funeral director.