Vincent F. Lackner, Sr.

LACKNER

Vincent F., Sr.

Vincent Frederick Lackner, Sr. (96), beloved husband of Margaret (Judy) Skeehan Lackner for 71 years.   Survived by loving children Margaret Anne, Vincent Jr.  (Anne), John, and David (Lynn) and grandchildren Christiana (Nicolas), Katarina, Ashley Cortright (Jimmy), Kyle (Leyla), Jordan, and Abigail (Maany). Preceded in death by infant daughter Rosemary.  Brother of J. Joseph Lackner (Mary) and the late Msgr. Paul, Rev. Francis, and R. Daniel Lackner (Lois). Also survived by many nieces and nephews.   Son of the late Frank A. and Marguerite Hamill Lackner, he grew up in Knoxville, graduated from Central Catholic High School,  attended the University of Notre Dame, and graduated from St. Vincent College.   He received a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Toronto.

An avid squash player, he was the Pittsburgh Class C champion at 14 and Class B champion at 17, and won the Midwestern Intercollegiate Tournament in 1942.  He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in WWII in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Pacific theaters.   He taught philosophy from 1949 to 1954 at Duquesne University where he was a founder of the Faculty Senate.  Starting in 1951, Vince and Judy became the home base for the Duquesne University visiting professor program, and hosted many notable philosophers from Western Europe for the next 20 years.

During a hiatus from teaching, he worked for King Merritt Company, predecessor to Federated Investors. 

He taught for 30 years at California University of Pennsylvania, serving as chairman of the Philosophy Department from 1962 to 1985, and founded the Faculty Senate.   From 1967 until 1977 he hosted the weekly Sunday morning program “Faith and Today’s World” on WTAE-TV, with the Rev. Carl Stromee as co-host. 

Even after his retirement in 1992, he continued as a board member of the California Student Activities, Inc.  He wrote California’s statement, “Emphasis on Values,” and helped to develop a course in Ethics.   Active in community affairs, he founded the Sheraden Citizens’ Council in 1963 and served several terms as president.

He was recently honored by Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh City Council (including Councilwoman Theresa Kail Smith), and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.  They presented him with a proclamation naming September 22, 2018, as “Prof. Vincent F. Lackner, Sr.” day in the City of Pittsburgh for his many years of exceptional service to his community, his city, his county, and his country.

As an avid mathematician, he took particular delight in acknowledging that, as a 96-year-old, he had just celebrated his 97th Thanksgiving and his 97th Christmas.

The family will receive friends on SUNDAY from 12 noon to 2 pm at the WILLIAM F. CONROY FUNERAL HOME,   2944 Chartiers Ave., Sheraden.  Additional visitation will be Monday at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Greentree 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Memorial Mass at 10 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Catholic Charities.

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