Longtime owner of Harry's Bar in Greensburg dies of covid-19

Regulars at Harry’s Bar could be sure of one thing: they were welcome, and Mike Emanuel would remember their names.

Harry’s, on North Maple Street, was Greensburg’s answer to Cheers, the bar of TV fame, Emily Owczykowski said.

The longtime employee at Harry’s and close friend of Mr. Emanuel and his wife, Kathy, said the tavern owner did his best to make everyone comfortable.

His mother owned and operated the bar for decades, and Mr. Emanuel helped out there for most of his life. After her death in 2013, he retired as a district manager for Sunoco and took over the bar full time.

Michael Emanuel of Southwest Greensburg died Sunday in Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital after a three-week battle with covid-19. He was 61.

He was born Feb. 9, 1960, in Greensburg, a son of the late Alex D. Emanuel and Yolanda “Helen” (Petroy) Emanuel.

His rapid decline last month stunned friends and family.

“He was out chopping wood one day and very sick the next,” daughter-in-law Kacie Emanuel said.

Owczykowski said the burly barkeep with the 1,000-watt grin was extremely cautious at the bar. He erected clear acrylic petitions, kept a strict count on how many customers came in and reopened only well after state officials gave taverns and restaurants a green light to resume operations.

Kathy Wineman Emanuel said she wasn’t sure whether her husband was vaccinated.

“He told some people he was. He told others he wasn’t,” she said.

But the woman who fell for Mike Emanuel three decades earlier when she was a single mother of two small sons was sure of one thing — his deep and abiding love for her and her boys, both of whom he adopted.

Alexander Emanuel said his father always was working and always looking for an opportunity to help people and make a difference. Years ago, he sponsored youth baseball. More recently, he participated in countless charity golf tournaments.

Owczykowski said Mr. Emanuel began soliciting donations from customers, friends and family in the fall and offered to match whatever they gave. Then, shortly before the holiday, he’d go out and buy “about 12 or 15 brand new bicycles” and give them to the local Toys for Tots drive.

“He always said there was nothing better as a kid than seeing a brand new bicycle under the tree at Christmas,” Owczykowski said.

“There’s no one like him,” Kacie Emanuel said. “Even if you weren’t getting along, you could call him in the middle of the night and he’d be the first one there. Mike Emanuel was honestly the best human I’ve met in my life.”

Mr. Emanuel attended Zion’s Lutheran Church, Greensburg. He was a member of the 333 Club, Ash Club and VFW Post No. 33, all of Greensburg.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Deborah Emanuel.

In addition to his wife and son Alexander, he is survived by another son, Joshua M. Emanuel of Greensburg and two granddaughters, Bella and Kora.

Family and friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Leo M. Bacha Funeral Home Inc., 516 Stanton St., Greensburg. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday in Zion’s Lutheran Church, 140 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg, with the Rev. Brian B. Chaffee officiating. Masks are mandatory at the church. Interment will follow in Greensburg Catholic Cemetery.

The family requested memorial contributions be directed to the Humane Society of Westmoreland County, P.O. Box 1552, Greensburg, PA 15601.