For David Collavo, sporting events in general and baseball in particular were more than games. They provided him with life's lessons.

That's why, despite hip replacement surgery and knee injuries and a bout with illness, he continued to don his protective mask with the McKeesport Baseball Umpire Association for 25 years.

He also refereed scholastic basketball games.

"He liked good competition. He believed in playing hard, playing the right way, and never giving up," said Maryellen Kilian Collavo, his wife of 31 years.

Mr. Collavo, 57, of Baldwin died Monday after a long battle with cancer.

A supervisor with the U.S. Postal Service for more than 30 years, Mr. Collavo owed his nickname to baseball.

When he was in grade school, a teacher called him "Rocky" because his last name was similar to American League player Rocky Colavito.

Several years ago, Mr. Collavo started the Baldwin-Whitehall Women's Christmas Basketball Tournament.

He made an annual visit to Williamsport for the Little League World Series but was forced to miss this year because of illness.

"He was involved in so many things," said his daughter, Erin Fennell, who played basketball in high school and at Clarion University. "He loved sports, especially baseball. He loved the Pirates through thick and thin."

Two of his most cherished pieces of baseball memorabilia involved the 1960 World Series. For his 50th birthday, his wife got him a baseball autographed by Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, and he had a picture of Forbes Field autographed by Yogi Berra.

Tomorrow is the 46th anniversary of Mr. Mazeroski hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 to lift the Pirates over the Yankees.

Mr. Collavo also was affected by the current round of baseball playoffs.

"He was in the hospital, but he rallied one night to watch the Tigers beat the Yankees," his wife said.

The son of Victor and the late June Collavo, Mr. Collavo is survived by his wife, three children -- Erin, Matthew and Casey -- and two grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Michael, and a sister, Susan.

The family received friends yesterday at the John F. Slater Funeral Home and funeral mass is scheduled this morning at St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church in Pleasant Hills.