Albert W. Dudreck

ALBERT W. DUDRECK

Albert “Al” W. Dudreck, 91, passed away peacefully at his home in Fox Chapel on Dec. 27, 2022. Born in Pittsburgh on Dec. 12, 1931, Al was the oldest of four children of the late Andrew “Al” Dudreck and Anna (Goch) Dudreck. He attended Duquesne University and served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Al was a prominent advertising executive in Pittsburgh for more than 55 years. He started his career at age 19 as an office boy at the Pittsburgh agency, W.S. Hill.   He eventually became a co-founder of DDF&M Advertising where he served as a principal partner and chairman for 30 years. At his retirement in 1996, DDF&M had grown to the fourth-largest agency in the tri-state area and handled major regional accounts including Kings Family Restaurants, Seven Springs Resort, Shop & Save Supermarkets, Dollar Bank and Midas Muffler Shops. After his retirement, Al served as executive director of MAGNET Global Network, a worldwide advertising agency network. Al, who often attributed his success to the saying, “Do a common thing, uncommonly well,” earned wide respect among his industry peers and many others he encountered in life. He was named Pittsburgh Agency Man of the Year in 1989, and in 2002 was elected to the Pittsburgh Advertising Hall of Fame by the Pittsburgh Ad Federation. He was a longtime member of Oakmont Country Club as well as the Hackers golf group. He also was a Pittsburgh Steelers season ticket holder for decades and enjoyed attending many games as well as three Super Bowls. Among Al’s favorite pursuits were golfing, traveling, wine, food, sporting events, reading and watching old movies.  Over the last 10 years, he spent several months each year living at Pelican Preserve in Ft. Myers, Fla. In recent years, Al and his sisters and brothers-in-law, enjoyed dining out once a week, either for lunch or dinner at various restaurants in the Pittsburgh and Ft. Myers areas, and created their own grading system for the establishments. Al was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Joan (Daniels) Dudreck, and his sister Carol (Dudreck) Jones. Survivors include his two children, Thomas A. Dudreck (Isabella Stumpfoll) and Cheri (Dudreck) Gmiter (Kevin Gmiter); three grandchildren, Matthew A. Dudreck (Jamie Nye), Kristin (Dudreck) Barber (Morris Barber), and Andrew Gmiter (Chrystal); three great-grandchildren, Hannah G. Dudreck, Andrew J. Dudreck, and Mason E. Barber; and two sisters & brother in-laws, Barbara (Dudreck) Taddonio and husband Lee, and Diane (Dudreck) Scoletti and husband Michael;  nine nephews & nieces; thirteen great-nephews & great-nieces and two cousins, Richard & Dennis Babinecz. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 from 1pm -7pm at English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 378 Maryland Ave, Oakmont, PA, 15139. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 10 am in Holy Family Parish (St. Irenaeus Church), 387 Maryland Ave., Oakmont PA, 15139. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. If you wish to attend, a burial will be held in Monongahela Cemetery, Monongahela, PA, at 1pm. Please meet at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP), 6926 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA  15208; or St. Margaret Foundation, 815 Freeport Rd., Pittsburgh, PA  15215; or Catholic Charities, 212 9th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (ccpgh.org).

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