Father Rodney Inducted in Washington Greene Labor Council Hall of Fame

The Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rodney Torbic was inducted into the Washington Greene County Central Labor Council Hall of Fame on April 20, 2024 at a banquet in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

During his first year serving St. George Church in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania Father Rodney was asked to do prayers at the December 6 annual observance remembering 37 miners who died in the Robena Mine in 1962. 

Doing the prayers at the Robena Memorial led to further involvement with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), St. George Church was built and largely supported by miners and their families. 

Almost every family in the parish had a member injured or killed in the mines Father Rodney continued to do the prayers at the memorial each year and increased his involvement substantially.

He began attending rallies in support of healthcare and pensions for miners. He does prayers at the pensioners picnic each year, participates in the Labor Day Parade in Pittsburgh and began praying daily for miners living and departed.

Father Rodney has traveled extensively to Washington DC and several states with the miners to support safe work conditions, protect health care and secure pensions. He was made an honorary member of the UMWA Local #1980. 

Upon retirement as the parish priest in 2017, Father Rodney requested and received the Archpastoral Blessing from His Grace Bishop Irinej to continue to work with the miners. His Grace encouraged the involvement.

UMWA International District #2 Vice President Emeritus Edward Yankovich presented Father Rodney for Induction at the Hall of Fame Banquet. Vice President Yankovich administered the office in Uniontown not far from St George Church.

Other inductees for the day included UMWA Vice President at Large, Donnie Samms, Tony Heller- President of the United Food and Commercial Workers and President Gerald McEntee (Posthumous Honoree) of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts was the Featured Speaker for the Program.

The Very Reverend Protopresbyter Sasa Nedic, Church Board President Stan Brozik and Choir and Kolo President Sonia Janson, as well as several parishioners from St. George Church attended the Induction. The Reverend Presbyter Njegos Perkovic from St. Elijah Church also attended as did members of Father Rodney’s family. 

His Grace Bishop Irinej and the plentitude of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church offers its heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rodney Torbic for his many years of fruitful and devoted service to Christ’s Holy Church. Father Rodney, in addition to the many recognitions rightfully bestowed upon him, is a recipient of the highly prestigious Award of the Serbian Orthodox Church, granted by the Holy Synod of Bishops, the Order of Saint Peter of Cetinje, as a sign of recognition “for his active love for the Holy Mother Church, which he has manifested through his missionary work, evangelization, peacemaking, as well as his personal sacrifice”.

Induction Statement 

I am greatly humbled and overwhelmed by this induction into the Hall of Fame by the Washington Greene Central Labor Council. Participating with the United Mine Workers of America has always been a continuing honor.

The St. George Church in Carmichaels where I served as parish priest was built and largely supported by miners and their families. Almost every family in the parish had a member who was injured or was killed in the mines.

Being asked in 1999 to pray for the miners who lost their lives in the Robena Mine led to my further involvement with the United Mine Workers, I felt an obligation to begin attending rallies and to ride the buses.

The UMWA’s fight for healthcare, pensions, safe work conditions and against the evils of bankruptcy became a part of my life. The disasters in Sago and Upper Big Branch occurred while I was in Carmichaels and deeply affected me.

Earlier mining disasters in Monongah, Farmington, Jacobs Creek and elsewhere became vivid.  My appreciation for miners’ work conditions increased. The fight for fairness, safety, health care and pensions became more important.

UMWA rallies demonstrate the value of unions working together.  Being in Alabama, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Washington. and Charleston with different unions standing in solidarity with the UMWA was very heartening.

Unions represent and stand for the dignity of work and the dignity of the worker. Unions stand for and demonstrate the best care for each worker. Unions express the strength of the best relationships among workers.

Unions lead to a stronger, a better and more productive workforce. Workers and their families have peace of mind knowing the security that comes with union representation,

My heartfelt congratulations goes to Dear Brother inductees Donnie Samms, Anthony “Tony” Helfer, and +Gerald McEntee of blessed memory. You are inspiring examples of the importance of workers standing together in solidarity.

The Washington Greene County Labor Council has my deepest gratitude for this honor. Thank you to President James Watt, Vice-President Rich Yakubec, Secretary Donna Patrina, Treasurer Terri Boyce, COPE Director Toni Valone and Trustees Kevin Malley, Wayne Watson, and Colt Kovach.

Thank you to President Cecil Roberts for being here today and always being at the forefront for workers. Thank you, Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson.  

Thank you to dear Brother Ed Yankovich for the honor of your presentation. 

Thank you for your support -Chuck Knisell, +Marlon Whoolery and Jim Riggi, Thank you Maryellen Pallow for always calling me. Thank you to my family, my brother priests and my friends from St. George Church.

Thank God for all in attendance on this wonderful day!

Father Rodney