About Me

Rudy and Sue Ondrejco have been hosting the Western PA Slovak Radio Hour since July 1979. Rudy was born in the village of Poľov, Slovakia, near Košice (in Eastern Slovakia). He emigrated to the U.S. in 1969. Sue was born in Pittsburgh, and her family's roots also trace back to Eastern Slovakia.

Together, Rudy and Sue offer a unique and engaging perspective on Slovak and American-Slovak customs and traditions.

To contact them: wpaslovakradio@gmail.com

History

Slovak culture has had an outsized influence on the history and culture of the Pittsburgh area. During the waves of immigration from Eastern Europe throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, a great number of Slovaks settled in Pittsburgh, drawn by plentiful work opportunities in the coal mines and steel mills. The greater Pittsburgh area has embraced Slovaks and aspects of their culture ever since. A Slovak-language radio program has been broadcasting in the Pittsburgh area since the early decades of the 1900s. The current Western Pennsylvania Slovak Radio Hour was built through the dedication of individuals committed to preserving Slovak language and culture. Rudy and Sue Ondrejco have been hosting the radio hour since July 1979. The program faced a critical moment in December 1979, when it encountered financial challenges common to ethnic broadcasting. To prevent its loss, Mr. Andrew Holovanisin and Margaret Kuzma rallied local Slovak leaders, leading to an organizational meeting on January 14, 1980, at the National Slovak Society home office in Southside. This meeting resulted in the formation of the Western Pennsylvania Slovak Radio Hour Committee, with Andrew Holovanisin as its first president and Margaret Kuzma as its first financial secretary. This committee became the backbone of the program, working tirelessly to secure funding and ensure its continuation. In 1982, under the leadership of president Ann Abaray, the committee organized the first Dinner-Dance to create a social atmosphere and further support the program, a tradition that continues to this day. The Western Pennsylvania Slovak Radio Hour can be heard live every Sunday afternoon on WPIT 96.5 FM/730 AM, and is now also available anytime via our new podcast.