Albert E. Tucker, phone installer, school football star

Albert E. "Mike" Tucker, 82, of Drexel Hill, a former Bell Telephone Co. of Pennsylvania installer and a high school football star, died of heart failure Sunday, Sept. 4, at his home.

Mr. Tucker grew up in North Philadelphia and played football for Roman Catholic High School.

In November 1946, before a crowd of 43,000 people at Shibe Park, he scored Roman's only touchdown against West Catholic in the Catholic League Championship game. West Catholic won by 12-7.

Mr. Tucker received an award as outstanding high school player from the Maxwell Football Club and was later inducted into the Roman Catholic Sports Hall of Fame.

After graduating from Roman in 1947, he played football for Temple University for two years on an athletic scholarship.

He then delivered milk for Sealtest Dairy until 1968, when he joined Bell, now Verizon. He retired in 1993.

Mr. Tucker and his first wife, Marie Eccles Tucker, were married for 20 years and had four children. She died in 1970.

In 1972, he married Anne DiPietro, a widow with three children who lived in the same neighborhood. Mr. Tucker and his new wife combined their families, ranging in age from 4 to 18. "Everyone in Yeadon took credit for hooking us up," she said. "They called us the Brady Bunch."

In the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Tucker coached Catholic Youth Organization football at St. Louis Catholic Church in Yeadon. In later years, he enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events and spending time with his family at its summer home in Wildwood Crest.

Mr. Tucker and his wife moved from Yeadon to Drexel Hill 15 years ago.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Robert and John; daughters Patricia Flack and Margaret Hodgen; stepchildren Mike DiPietro, Maria Driscoll, and Elizabeth Dougherty; 19 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Friends may call from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Logan Funeral Home, 57 S. Eagle Rd., Havertown, and from 9:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11, Thursday, Sept. 8, at St. Louis Church. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.

Donations may be made to the church, 821 W. Cobbs Creek Parkway, Yeadon, Pa. 19050, or to Roman Catholic High School, 301 N. Broad St., Philadelphia 19107.