SARA LUCILLE DORAN

Sara Doran was the fourth child, second daughter, born of David Daniel and Sarah Jane Pickard Doran. She was born on August 30, 1900 in Ford City, PA, probably at 832 4th Avenue. Her godparents were Aleck M. Magrath (?) and Mary Blitz. In the 1915? Doran family picture, Sara is fifth from the left; in the 1917? Doran family photograph Sara is to the left slightly behind her Dad. Sara probably received all her schooling in DuBois, Pa - perhaps going to St. Catherine's High School, as Gerald and Hazel did. The Doran family later moved to Pittsburgh (the 2nd time) c.1916/17 living first at 224 Chalfont, then moving to their first owned home, 5518 Howe Street (Shadyside) in May 1919. Sara was working as a telephone operator, according to the 1920 PA census, the year John, the last of the 15 Doran children, was born.

Sometime during the early 1920's when Sara was working for the Oldsmobile Dealership on Baum Blvd. (1920-23?) in Pittsburgh, she was courted by a dashing fellow, with twinkling eyes, Harry Burt Reno, Jr. Harry Reno worked for the Columbia Steel and Shafting Company of Carnegie, Pa (1911- 1960 and had been living, since his birth in 1896, with his family (siblings: David, Martha, Edna and Thomas) at 1105 Lakewood Ave. Sara married Harry, a non-Catholic, in St. Paul's Cathedral Parish House, Pittsburgh, in the mid 1920's?

The couple lived for a while in the Philadelphia, PA area. In the 1926 Philadelphia City Directory H.B. Reno is living at the Pennsylvania Hotel in West Philadelphia (39th & Chestnut). Sara & Harry lived later in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, before alternating homes between Detroit and Pittsburgh. One Detroit address was 18651 Roselawn. Newly married and living for the first time far away, Sara missed the usual bustle of children. Thus, they were thrilled by the arrival of little Hal in 1926. Harry and Sara became doting parents, later allowing their child not only to drive a car, but a motorcycle and a single engine plane. The Reno's often would wave dishtowels in the backyard to say "hello" to Hal buzzing by.

Pittsburgh addresses for the Reno's were: 244 Parker Dr, Mt Lebanon (c.1942); 14 Bradford Ave (c.1945-47); 664 Morrison Dr. (1953-54); 39 Ladera Drive, Bethel Park (c.1958-1964)

Sara took after her mom in at least three ways -- she had a plumpish figure, a happy good nature, and she made heavenly pies. I remember the "vulcanizing' of one pie crust, as she snipped here to add there. They were truly mouth watering creations. As a homemaker, Sara liked modern furniture, always willing to try something new. Her older furniture then traveled around Pittsburgh to other Doran homes.

Harry Reno had a sudden heart attack and died October 10, 1960, aged 64. Four years later, Sara, discovered she had cancer. Her sister, Mary Flister, was with her at the hospital when she died September 20, 1964. Harry and Sara are buried in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Upper St. Clair, Pittsburgh, PA.

Their son, Harold, who grew up in Pittsburgh, went to the same schools as his future wife, Marilyn Elinor Andreen. Both attended Mellon Jr. High (Hal in 1940-41) and Mt. Lebanon High (Hal in 1941- 44). Marilyn continued her education at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute (1944-48) while Hal went one year to the University of Pittsburgh (1946-7).

Hal and Marilyn married, August 21, 1948, at St. Bernard Parish House in Mt. Lebanon, Pgh, PA. Soon Sara & Harry were delighting in Hal & Marilyn's six children: Gerald Alan (1949); Sharon Lee (1951); Christine Anne (1953); Sandra Carol (1955); Barbara Claire (1956); and Mark Kevin (1958) Hal & Marilyn currently live in Florida.