|
From the McDonald PA Record-Outlook, September 5, 1984, page unknown:
Andrew GAITENS, McDonald realtor and insurance agent, is show above with a
few of the toys he has turned out in the wood-working shop in his home.
GAITENS became interested in wood-working about 20 years ago when he sold
William SPAUDE's home in McDonald as the SPAUDE family was preparing to move
to Florida. GAITENS bought SPAUDE's tools and that was the beginning of an
interesting hobby for the McDonald insurance agent.
GAITENS, who started in the real estate business in Mt. Lebanon, worked for
a brief period as an underwriter for a Pittsburgh firm and became a licensed
realtor in 1950.
His first office in McDonald was on East Lincoln Avenue. He operate there
until he bought the A. V. CAMPBELL agency in South McDonald Street about
1952. |
In the early sixties, he got into another phase of wood-working when he
purchased the present Professional Building in McDonald from the WEISSBERG
family. He personally did a lot of the carpentry work as the building was
transformed from a furniture store into a commercial- residential complex.
The Gaitens Agency, Inc., is housed in the building.
The talent for renovating rubbed off on young Bob GAITENS, one of the three
GAITENS children. He is the author of a book on renovating real estate which
has received national attention.
Bob, who has earned many real estate degrees, has been associated with his
father for several years and is president of the corporation. Andy is
secretary-treasurer and is still active in the firm's operation.
To round out the GAITENS family--Mrs. GAITENS was Eleanor MCGREGOR of
Bridgeville. Son Tom is a certified public accountant and resides in Upper
St. Clair Township. Daughter Jean is the wife of Robert MOORE and they
reside in McDonald.
There are nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild, and that group has
kept Grandpa busy over the past few years making numerous toys.
GAITENS, though, has not confined his wood-working skills to toys. His home
features several excellent functional tables, cabinets and other items he
has made. Many smaller objects were copied by him after he viewed them in
department stores and hobby shops and tucked the details away in his mind.
In discussing his hobby recently, Andy sounded like one of Santa's helpers
when he informed a visitor that he now has to get busy creating a few
Christmas gifts.
|
