John Dennis Ursu believed a quick wit and sense of humor could lighten almost any situation.

He relied upon both during his roughly 40 years of teaching middle school math and science in several local schools.

"One of the other teachers said he was like the Pied Piper. When he walked down the hall, the kids would just flock to him," said his daughter, Leslie Hengelsberg of Richland.

When not making his students laugh, he made his friends smile on the golf course. He was known for bringing a thermos of coffee and a bag of treats to the golf course and teasing his friends that they didn't have any, said Raymond Navarro, Mr. Ursu's close friend who taught with him at Arsenal Middle School in Lawrenceville.

Mr. Ursu died Wednesday of prostate cancer at his home in Ellwood City. He was 65.

Mr. Ursu was born in New Castle, Lawrence County. He grew up in nearby Ellwood City, where his father worked as a police officer and his mother ran a real estate agency with her mother.

His love of sports can be traced back to his childhood. In addition to golf, Mr. Ursu also played basketball, baseball and football.

He found his other love at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City -- Norma Morabito Ursu, his wife of 41 years. They met at a small town dance when he asked her if she needed a ride home.

After graduating from high school in 1962, Mr. Ursu attended Slippery Rock University. He received a bachelor's degree in education in 1966 and earned a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Pittsburgh.

His mother, Ann Abbaticchio Ursu, was a major motivation for him during college. When he thought about dropping out, she pushed him to continue, said John Pratt, who has known Mr. Ursu since kindergarten.

Mr. Ursu shared the importance of staying in school with the hundreds of students he taught in the Butler Area School District, the Ellwood City Area School District and the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

After retiring five years ago, Mr. Ursu played golf four or five days a week and participated in charity tournaments. He also was a member of the S.O.I. No. 608 and a past member of the Saxons Club.

"He enjoyed the simple things in life," Mrs. Ursu said yesterday. "He loved his kids and didn't want anything except for his kids to be happy."

In addition to his mother, daughter and wife, Mr. Ursu is survived by a son, Christopher of West View; a sister, Susan Lipinski of Lower Burrell; a brother, Philip Ursu of Indiana, Pa.; and three granddaughters.

A viewing will be held between 9 and 10 a.m. today at Samuel Teolis Funeral Home in Ellwood City, where a blessing service will follow at 10 a.m..

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