As recently as this fall, 73-year-old Paul Garlitz Jr. was throwing flags, calling penalties and running all over Western Pennsylvania's high school football fields with able-bodied teenagers.

"For 73 years old, man, he could still get around," said his son, Paul Garlitz III.

Paul Garlitz Jr., of Mt. Lebanon, died Thursday while on vacation with his wife, Sylvia, in Orange Beach, Ala. His family said doctors believe he died of natural causes.

Mr. Garlitz was a self-employed contractor, working on homes in the South Hills, and was a Mt. Lebanon High School and Duquesne University alumnus. Since Sept. 21, 1961, Mr. Garlitz had officiated high school and youth sports in Western Pennsylvania.

"He was very fair," said fellow official Lou Rogers, "and he knew the game, soccer, probably better then anybody I knew."

Mr. Garlitz refereed at football, basketball, soccer and girls' lacrosse games in the area.

One thing that made Mr. Garlitz such a good official, Mr. Rogers said, is his ability to talk to kids and coaches.

"Paul was the kind of referee that if a kid did something, he explained the call to the kid," Mr. Rogers said. "If I were the kid, I'd appreciate that."

In addition to officiating games, Mr. Garlitz assigned games to other officials.

Bill Sinning, the PIAA male officials representative on the WPIAL board of control, said Mr. Garlitz assigned officials for more than half of the area's boys' and girls' high school soccer games and a majority of junior varsity and youth football games.

"We're talking four, five or six guys to replace him," Mr. Sinning said.

Mr. Garlitz ran the local soccer and basketball officiating chapters and helped promising young officials develop their skills.

"He will be greatly, greatly missed," Mr. Sinning said. "I think it will be sometime in November before they realize how much they are going to miss him."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Garlitz is survived by two daughters, Sharon Garlitz Kelly and Suzanne Garlitz; his mother, Dorothy Garlitz; two brothers, John Garlitz and Richard Garlitz; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation is from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Beinhauer Mortuary, 2828 Washington Road, Peters. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Thomas More Church, Bethel Park. Burial will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education, P.O. Box 11664, Pittsburgh 15228, or Thomas More Family Life Center, 126 Fort Couch Road, Pittsburgh 15241.

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