Don Nadolsky is surrounded by his children, from left: Ross, Kiana and Kiera. Nadolsky died June 9 from a tragic fall at PNC Park during a Pirates game on May 24. Courtesy photo

Father’s Day has always held special meaning for the Nadolsky family of Cresson.

Don Nadolsky had used the occasion to take his children to a Pittsburgh Pirates game in the past — he went regularly — and planned to do the same again soon.

His daughter, Kiana, got him a Pirates pillow for Father’s Day, and the three Nadolsky children — Kiana, her brother, Ross, and younger sister, Kiera — each purchased the same Pirates cap to wear to a game a few years ago.

“We wanted to match,” Kiana said.

Their hearts are heavy this year after Don — who was stricken with a disease called inclusion body myositis that robbed him of his ability to walk — suffered a tragic fall at a Pirates game on May 24.

During the seventh inning stretch while singing “Take me out to the ballgame,” Don stood up from his motorized scooter in the disability section, slipped backward and hit his head.

He never regained consciousness and died at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital on Friday, June 9, with his family at his side. Nadolsky was 61.

“It breaks my heart,” Kiera said.

Despite the tragic ending, his son Ross said, “I have been to a few Pirates games with him, with my sisters. We felt comfortable that in his last moments, he was enjoying himself.”

“He was having a blast,” Kiera said.

“He went out doing what he loved to do — going to a Pirates game with his friends,” said Cathy Nadolsky, the children’s mother.

Cathy and Don were divorced, “but we stayed close friends,” she said, adding their first date was a Pirates game at Three Rivers Stadium.

The accident was especially traumatic for his May 24 companions.

“I knew when he didn’t deflect that fall and he hit his head, it wasn’t good,” said Phil Davis, who grew up with Nadolsky and were close friends “since our first Holy Communion.”

“I’ll never get over this.”

Davis said friends Rick McConnell and Tom Vargo were also along. All helped Nadolsky through his difficult challenge.

“His walking was depleted in the last three years, for sure,” Davis said. “He’d often say, ‘Welcome to my world.’ It was tough because there’s no end to it. It’s a progressive disease, and you slowly see the decline.

“The end outcome was a horrible thing (and with) … his disease he’d (eventually) lose the use of his arms and his legs and then he’d need 24-hour care. I know he never wanted to be in a position where he’s bedridden.”

Though heartbroken, his family and friends have appreciated the outpouring of support expressed during visitation Tuesday and at Wednesday’s funeral.

“It’s a hard thing of what-if and I’m sure there’s some relief, maybe even for Don,” Davis said. “He was still trying to live life to the fullest.”

When stricken 12 years ago, “they gave him six years,” Cathy said. “They say people die from falling or choking, and I had given him the Heimlich probably 20 times.”

A GoFundme page has been set up to help the family, and a benefit pool tournament will be held Sunday, June 25, at The Shovelhead Tavern in Cresson.

“Don was a real good (pool) shot,” Davis said. “He also enjoyed going out and driving out in the country. He had a quad, and he’d go out in the woods. He loved hanging out with his friends and having a good time — Pirates, Steelers or going to games.”

He was cremated wearing a Pirates hat and a Steelers sweatshirt.

All the Nadolskys graduated from Penn Cambria. Ross also became an electrician.

“I had the background from my dad,” he said. “He showed me when I was younger how to do outlets and switches, and it kind of turned into a career when I moved up to Connecticut.”

Kiana, who works in retail, lived in an apartment above her dad in Sankertown.

She eulogized him.

“I know Father’s Day is going to be hard,” she said. “We’ve been getting a lot of messages on Facebook and on his phone and our phone. He was friends with a lot of people in the community. He was always playing pool and hanging out at the local bars.”

Kiera is a student at Mount Aloysius and lives at home after transferring from Duquesne.

“She was worried about her dad,” Cathy said. “They ended up getting a lot of extra time together.”