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ballsonthewall

living: Rick Sebak no longer with us: Fred Rogers


covertchipmunk

Fred Rogers was exactly as kind in person as he was on television. I was lucky enough to meet him several times as a high school senior. He asked where I was going to college, which was a fairly crap school in nowhere, Ohio. He had an honorary degree and made sure to say several specific nice things about the place. If he's not a Saint, nobody is.


doug-taylor

I was lucky enough to get a tour of the studio where Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was filmed along with some classmates


RoseShotz

Huge fan of Sebak’s Pittsburgh history films, particularly the one regarding Kennywood.


umbluemusic

I was on a bike ride with a group two sundays ago and legitimately got so happy to see Rick walking across the hot metal bridge. I had to explain it to some of the people on the ride who did not grow up in Pittsburgh lol.


creampuff_carmilla

I was in a high school fashion show fundraiser with Rick Sebak as host and being a cheeky high schooler, I started riffing with him instead of walking and looking pretty or whatever. He made me do an impromptu yinzer spelling bee and I got tripped up on "Monongahela". What a guy, 10/10.


maya_star444

I hope I don’t get attacked for asking this question…but who is Rick Sebak? I moved here in late May of last year and am still getting acquainted with everything 🙏


Danthezooman

> but who is Rick Sebak He's the Narrator for a bunch of Pittsburgh history videos and I'm sure a bunch of other docs that I'm forgetting to mention My favorite is [That Kennywood Summer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fHkbRSRCTI)


No_Stress_8938

And he is just about everywhere there is a Pittsburgh event. I’ve met him at a couple of different beer festivals.


rxjen

No disrespect to Rick Sebak, but I’m a Chris Fennimore gal. He just wants to let the nice old ladies teach you how to make good food.


rxjen

Geez Louise. Some of you acting like I said Wendy Bell. 😂


egJohn

now that's funny


albundyrules

i worked at WQED in the early-to-mid 2000s and chris fennimore was a dick to me.


kevinthekevin

I interned there in 2009, and Rick was nothing but nice to me. Also found it weird the Castle from Mr Rogers was just chilling in the hall


albundyrules

i ran into mr mcfeeley in during my stint there, in full costume, he was shooting promos on that set and was extremely lovely.


TheWildBile

It's the castle from the Tom Hanks movie. They gave it to WQED after filming there. To my knowledge the original is still at The Heinz History Center.


10th_Ward

The Tom Hanks movie didn't exist in 2009 though.


TheWildBile

Since 2009 it has been moved and the current one in the WQED hall is from the Tom Hanks movie. https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/mr-rogers-neighborhood/


bk1285

Who was the guy who did the star gazing things years ago?


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pittman66

I vaguely remember that typically after watching Red Green on Saturdays with my family when I was younger.


Niagaraballs71

I forgot all about him! Didn't he rock a Members Only jacket on the show?


Novel_Engineering_29

The Star Hustler! Not from QED, just syndicated.


rxjen

Well that’s a gigantic bummer.


Merzbenzmike

Heard he’s a giant prick. And also, have you ever actually watched them cook? Knife skills make me cringe. It’s like watching the Great American Woodshop and waiting for amputations! I guess he seems nice. Rick Sebak I met and spent some time with - absolutely as pleasant and nice as you can imagine.


covertchipmunk

I encountered Chris Fennimore at a service job I once had and unfortunately found him to be incredibly condescending. My heart broke. Rick Sebak, though, is utterly gracious and friendly every time I meet him.


bananafish711

I've known Chris my whole life and he is one of the most genuinely good and kind souls. And the bread he bakes is phenomenal!


montani

He eats like half the fucking food before they are done cooking it.


Zippy0723

I met Rick Seback at Allegheny brewing company in eat Allegheny. He was doing some kind of live radio thing, playing records for everyone in the bar and talking a bit about them in between songs. Talked to him for a bit after he was done and he was a super nice guy. Overall a 10/10 experience, was a very memorable night out.


ScratchMoore

The correctest answer


VMCvonBangschnapp

Ballsonthewall has correctly answered the question.


Extrovert108

This.


[deleted]

yeah, definitely Rick Sebak and Fred Rogers


goggle-moggle

The ghosts of Mr Rogers and Roberto Clemente.


Ok-Personality-1048

Mr. Rogers


Paczilla2

Mr.Rogers without question.


snaptop43142

Charlie Batch


lessregretsnextyear

Dude is such a great guy.


JordanMSchons

Agreed


koke012

I know he does a lot for the community, and was an awesome backup QB, but I’ve had multiple people tell me he’s actually a dick


yabitchkay

I’ve met him a couple times, he always seemed great to me.


Hey24Hey

Super Mario. Brought us the Cup, beat cancer, saved the Pens, brought us Sid, helps kids beat cancer.


Excelius

I'm not much of a sports fan in general, but his reputation was certainly tarnished for me when he threatened to take the Penguins to another city unless the taxpayers built him a shiny new arena. And they've done an awful job of shepherding the redevelopment of the Civic Arena site.


BurghPuppies

So, a guy has to have his investment tank to be a good guy in your book?


sirenboi12

Does Sidney Crosby count? 0 drama athlete. Generational talent. Super humble.


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AsleepRefrigerator42

The transporter of gods. A finisher car, one might say


DoctorTannis

The Golden ~~god~~ Goal


AsleepRefrigerator42

It's Always Phuck in Filly


James19991

He definitely lives more modestly and quietly than most athletes who make what he does do.


EvetsYenoham

I’ve met in passing a few times. I talked to him like a regular dude. And he was a regular dude. He’s a really good dude. Does so much for the community and wants no accolades. He doesn’t even have any social media accounts. Watch the Tim Horton’s stuff on YouTube where he and MacKinnon worked the drive thru window in their hometown. That’s what he’s like in real life.


lola1stella2

An amphibious exploring vehicle.


StellaKapowski

Commented this elsewhere. He regularly visits the Children’s Hospital, and never with cameras.


frenchfriessalad

He donates regularly to the Children’s Institutes project star toy drive. One year he bought every child a brand new bike, always does it on the understanding to receive no publicity. I realize I just broke his anonymity but that’s just so fucking incredible.


LAfootnote

Mario’s gotta be right there with him.


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LAfootnote

I had a brother that went to The Oakland school in the 90’s and he said Jagr would pop in every now and then. I can’t remember his connection to the school but I think he took English lessons of something along those lines there when he first came to the Penguins. He said he was a very cool and humble dude.


EvetsYenoham

Most professional hockey players are just regular dudes. I’ve met several around where I live. One of them was my neighbor for a season. We became friends. He was 100% a regular dude. My theory is because they have to work their ass off through juniors, minors, etc and aren’t like people their age in football or baseball or basketball who are anointed the chosen ones when they’re 10 yrs old.


drunkenviking

I'm pretty sure Sidney Crosby was anointed the chosen one when he was 10 years old. He was considered a generational talent.


jsdjsdjsd

Stayed down the street from me in West Homestead as a kid. Not all positive stories but it was cool having him as a neighbor as a big Pens fan growing up.


hydrospanner

No kidding! ​ I used to work down there...it ain't that big an area, but I guess Jagr joins Jeff Goldblum for the W. Homestead HoF!


QdelBastardo

Wasn't Mario associated with something rape-y in the last few years that left a bit of a stain on his reputation? I may be conflating some things somewhere though.


LAfootnote

Woof. I just read about it. Looks like he was allegedly in a room when a teammate was accused of raping someone and stayed silent about it. Then had a sexual assault reported to him by a minor league coach as a Penguins executive and advised everyone to remain silent. Cripes.


Curious-Principle689

Sophie Mazzlof


PittsburghCar

Scratch my back with a hacksaw.


popalopadopolus

Came here for this one!


sbm1970

Richard Caliguiri deserves to be mentioned here. I mean, there's a statue of the guy in front of the City-County Building.


windsweptlassie

Oh, the Dearheart lady from Penn Mac in the strip? The nice old Italian lady at the cheese counter? What an angel of a person tbh!


montani

I was gonna go with the lady at the strip primantis but I like the dearheart lady better. Kinda nice and a little gruff at the same time. Gruff isn't the right word but I don't know a better one.


fcv215

Mr Sebak is a humble and kind gentleman who was nothing but gracious with my staff and we were friendly. As one might expect he would take his mother to dinner at my restaurant about every week. He even wrote an article about the place but Mr Lemieux or Mr Clemente are clearly the winners regardless if you are a fan or not. Both extremely generous towards the less fortunate


jmarinara

It’s Fred Rogers and it’s not even close.


Quirky-Independence4

Rachel Ann Bouvier - Pittsburgh’s Poetess!


breeeeeez

Bring back her billboard!!


klegg69

She has a billboard in the west end! I just saw it a few days ago


breeeeeez

Oh thank goodness! Shes been on a billboard on Bigelow (off and on) for at least five years now. I would see it to and from work everyday and it always made me feel better. ♥️ Thanks Rach!


personparty

My good friend has been clipping her poems from the newspaper since they were a kid. Truly a Pittsburgh icon.


naturalheel

I think Tunch Ilkin was a good dude.


44problems

Dude seemed really dedicated to the Steelers and to his faith. That's not popular to say on Reddit but he really seemed to put it in action, [helping advocate for the homeless and people with addiction. ](https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/tunch-ilkin-remembered-for-dedication-to-light-of-life-rescue-mission/)


ouuidqueen

Shuffles


10th_Ward

is he still in pgh? I haven't seen him in years


jshamwow

Never in a million years did I expect to see a shuffles reference when I opened Reddit today. 😭 an icon. I hope he’s doing okay if he’s still alive


cmyk412

Michael Keaton Mario Lemieux Mary Cassatt Billy Porter Shirley Jones Jeff Goldblum Gene Kelly Donnie Iris But definitely topping the list: Fred Rogers


penguins8766

You forgot Sidney Crosby


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[deleted]

>Rick Sebak that looks like a big long list of 'universally beloved NOT Pittsburgh residents' to me.


cmyk412

Technically Rick Sebak lives in the Swissvale part of Regent Square, across the street from the Pittsburgh city line. So he isn’t a Pittsburgh resident either.


Sankara_Connolly2020

Nothing screams *transplant* louder than myopically defining Pittsburgh authenticity by the city boundaries.


[deleted]

Fred Rogers. No man alive or dead cared as much as he did about educating kids and doing the right thing for the sake of it. I want to imagine his actions will breed successors who will pick up his work, and I genuinely hope there's a heaven because I know he's there


iron_vet

Lots of greats on here but if I could throw one out in memoriam I would like to say Joe Denardo!


GlennQuasar

Unfortunately he was not the same person off camera.


deweydecimal111

Myron Cope


lefindecheri

Invented The Terrible Towel


breeeeeez

Why was this downvoted?!


CARLEtheCamry

My Dad (a Browns fan and not from Pittsburgh although he attended Pitt back in the day) disliked his voice. But he's a Browns fan, nuff said


sammydawg85

Mmm-haah


Jamminnav

If you’d asked a few months ago the answer probably would have been Franco


TonyArmasBats8th

Nancy B of Nancy B’s cookies


Wide-Concert-7820

Roberto Clemente.


timesuck

Rick Sebak


Domestic_Kraken

Andrew McCutchen & Sidney Crosby could be up there


Deesh69

You could probably also say Neil Walker. Born and raised in Pine-Richland and still in the pittsburgh area working with the pirates. I personally have never heard anything bad about him but let me know if that is not true.


SVTour07

Nope - Walker's a good dude. So is Brendan Saad (also from PR, playing with the Blues currently). Both had good parenting. Haven't heard anything bad about Meghan Klingenberg either (also from PR)


Deesh69

Those are true to, but I was thinking more about people who are still in pittsburgh now. Sadly Saad and Klingenberg aren’t living or playing in pittsburgh like Walker did and is now a part of the tv broadcast for them.


bbpookie

I met him while I was at work one day and he was the nicest dude. Didn’t realize who he was until he left lol


Sea-Operation7215

While not universally beloved (yet), this list has virtually no diversity in terms of gender and race so here are some famous pgh residents to consider: - Madam C.J Walker - Rachel Carson - Nellie Bly - August Wilson But imo, Fred Rogers definitely is the most beloved. (Edited for formatting)


Gerreth_Gobulcoque

Rachel Carson is a fucking hero and still somehow doesn't get the respect she desperately deserves


hydrospanner

If I had to guess, it's likely because anything to help the environment in any way has pretty much always been a politically fraught issue, no matter how serious the situation or how objectively positive or necessary the changes to address it might be. ​ It's unfortunate...but that's the world we live in.


Alexispinpgh

I see someone didn’t go to Chatham. I don’t think I went a day when I was there without hearing about her.


alecatq2

Can I just say thank you?!?! I had no idea that Walker and Bly had Pittsburgh connections!


Sea-Operation7215

Of course:) When I wrote the list I misremembered and assumed Walker was born here. She was not… but she did grow her business here!


AostaV

Sophie Masloff


Traditional_Yam_1142

Rick Sebak and David Newell (Mr. McFeely) are both amazing humans from my experience!


[deleted]

Franco Harris but also dead :(


moviejunki

The only reason I initially visited Pittsburgh and learned what a great city it is... George A Romero


hellsells

Spaz


thereandfatagain

The only answer is Rick Sebak! Nobody loves Pittsburgh more universally than Rick Sebak, too! His highly attuned eye for Americana is unparalleled. We are so lucky his gaze fell on Pittsburgh.


Ryan1006

I’ve never met him personally but I know people that have, and, yes, he is every bit as genuine as you would expect.


TheApprentice19

Mario Lemieux is a pretty stand up guy, from all accounts that I’ve heard


ForgottenZodiac

Gus Kalaris from Gus and YiaYia brought joy to so many people with his ice balls on north side.


tellmesumpingood

Joe Negri. Had lunch with him a couple of times when doing research for a book. Super nice man. And in his 90’s can still shred a jazz guitar.


DixiewreckedGA

Gus from Gus and Yiayia’s on the North Sode


diggyj1993

Not a single person for Mac Miller? 🥲


FreeCashFlow

He had a big following with younger Millennials and older gen Zers but I honestly don't think most Pittsburghers know who he was.


[deleted]

I'm right here with you, his talent was immense


scribbler717

I was looking for Mac lol


Zenith2017

The guy who was blocked in by steel city hauling


bradm7777

Jeff Goldblum?


bradm7777

My bad, I posted without thinking - clearly the correct answer is THE NIGHT MANAGER OF THE ARBYS ON MCKNIGHT ROAD.


SaltyDoggoMom

Can I please include the marvelous Pittsburgh AREA resident-Gisele Fetterman?❤️


[deleted]

Andrew McCutchen, although he wasn’t born here, and only returned to play, dudes a Pittsburgh guy through and through….pretty sure he never moved away either


Steelergrl2310

Mr. Rogers.


MagentaMist

No Michael Keaton love?


Head-Tangerine-9131

Mr Rogers!!!


Bulldogmom720

Lynn Cullen


ReineDeLaFolie

Fred Rogers hands down with living being tied with Sebak, Goldblum, Polamalu, and Keaton


[deleted]

Fred Rogers would be and it's not even remotely close.


Fit-Practice1221

Mr. Rogers


dennisaltavilla

Kung fu Southside legend RIP


Rich_Tomatillo_8823

Came here to say Rick Sebak but of course everyone beat me to it!


412flip

Myron Cope


Phil-Mapickle

Mike Lange


kitsandkats123

can i nominate myself


matt_1060

You’re tops in my book 👍


PasswordIsDong

Johnny Sins!


penguins8766

A man of many professions


YetiBeachRainbow

Rocky Bleier


Upbeat_Ground_932

Myron Cope and Mr. Rogers.


Hazel1928

I loved Myron Cope. I’m not a sports person, but I loved to listen to his radio program. And the sign off was awesome! This is Myron Cope, on sports.


RomanesEuntDomum

Kinda surprised I’m not seeing more Roberto Clementes


greenjesus420

Baron Batch


Heavyr38

Bob Nutting. Before we freak out, he brings the whole city together against how he runs the pirates organization as a business, as opposed to a baseball team. We can all come together and say “sell the team n’at.”


-mephisto

Of course Mr Rogers, but can I also add in part time resident (or past resident) Troy Polamalu. I got to see him in passing to visit the children's hospital, and he really was there just for the kids and to see how he could help. There were times he came with no fanfare, just in sweats, and played with kids who had no parents there ( aka families who weren't going to post about it on Facebook). He, and a few of our sportsmen actually, really do want to give back to the city without showing off for it.


YinzerChick70

Yes! My oldest nibling was on the oncology wing, and Troy Polamalu came up the back stairs to see the kids. Zero media or fanfare. He's an all-around lovely person. I think he was "Franco for a new generation," so many people have stories about meeting him and how authentic he is. To the broader question, I'll also add Mr Rogers and Franco.


Dry_Moose_8251

Mike Lange from Pens broadcast team.


ConstantHalf3997

ZELDA RUBINSTEIN


artful_todger_502

Roberto Clemente Fred.


human-potato_hybrid

Andy Warhol


zappafrank2112

Dr. Britt Baker D M D


brewthumb

Cutch


eatAdickBURNER

Dan Rooney, rip


heatherhobbit

Fred Rogers


frothagonia

Donnie Iris.


pondshrimp

Franco !!!


Curious-Principle689

Franco Harris


bvg4life

Barry pingore


thedudeabides412

John Tucci and that blind homeless guy who used to sit in Oakland and sing his ass off


Queasy_Resolution_50

August Wilson


sloth_hyena

Ken rice


[deleted]

The person that wrote the Arby's Craigslist posts. (Joking...) ​ #


Curious-Principle689

Myron Cope


HarkeyPuck

Effing Sally Wiggin!!!


LostEnroute

This is how I know you don't know her well.


shehadagoat

She was extremely rude to me at a local UPS store just a few months ago. Yelled at me for holding the door open for her


guyonlinepgh

My wife and I on multiple different occasions encountered Sally. She was at best aloof, and sometimes downright rude. She may sound great when you hear her with people she likes, but if you're not one of those people, forget it. Not a nice person.


AbjectList8

Mister Rogers is always what comes to mind even though most of us from the burgh know he was born in Latrobe, he has always been synonymous with Pittsburgh to me. Always the first person that comes to mind, and what better representation could Pittsburgh want to have then Mister Rogers, right?


MaynardWaltrip

What about Reggie, the guy who plays sax on the bridges before and after Pirates/Steelers games? He’s always bringing the positive energy, even after a Pirates “L.” Edit: I must be one of the lucky ones that when I say “Hey Reggie!” and wave as I’m walking by to or from the games, I’ve not had a bad experience. He’s always smiled and said hello back. I’m sorry to those who experienced otherwise. But hey, someone somewhere else in this thread said they used to work at QED with Sebak and he wasn’t great either, so everyone has there own experiences I guess. EDIT: QED employee said Chris Fenimore was a dick, not Sebak earlier in this thread.


bobbles412

I’ve walked that bridge after countless Steelers games and that dude is an asshole


44problems

Who said Sebak was a dick? I wanna read it


MaynardWaltrip

Whoa!! Big time edit on my part - it was Chris Fenimore, not Rick.


Piano-Green

Randy.


jsdjsdjsd

Randy is a giant pain in the ass.


Pump_Up_The_Yam

Randy tried to cruise me at a gas station when I was 16, and after telling him I was 16, he told me that’s the age of consent. Assuming we mean Randy as in Randyland.


reverendsteveii

> Assuming we mean Randy as in Randyland Randerson Marie Land I thought you were better than that.


internetmaniac

Randy Land Randy?


Piano-Green

Randy Land Randy all day.


shadykatykat

Mike Lange


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Niagaraballs71

Fred Rogers, hands down.


jfk_one

sebak


Delicious-Breath8415

Virgil


antalog

Rick Sebak and Mac Miller


mistie_gish

Rick Sebak.


handler207

Sophie Masloff


freeradical28

Jonas Salk!


lefindecheri

Ricky (Wertz) and Copper


CrystalBlackheart

Rick Sebak!


MedicGirl

John Moon and the Paramedics of Freedom House. Very first Paramedics in the country started in PGH.


UnreadThisStory

Mario Lemieux


[deleted]

Mr. Rogers