A varsity wrestler at Central, Alfred “Al’ Pattavina enlisted in the United States Army after graduation and served in the Pacific Theater during WWII until 1946. Active in the Army Reserves, Al was recalled to military duty during the Korean War. He left the service in1952 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Pattavina received a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska/Omaha and began a career noted for its public service. Mr. Pattavina joined the Omaha Police Department from 1947 and stayed for 34 years, moving from patrolman to Deputy Chief and then to Acting Chief. Mayor Gene Leahy named Mr. Pattavina the City of Omaha Director of Public Safety, and he retained that position, as well as the serving as Police Community Relations Coordinator, throughout the terms of the next three mayors. Mr. Pattavina was a charter member of the VFW and the Omaha Police and Fire Post #9551, and also helped to establish the ROTC program at Boys Town. After his retirement, Mr. Pattavina became the Chief of Security for Bluffs Run and later for Big Red Keno. Throughout his life, Mr. Pattavina enjoyed participating in youth sports, serving as a baseball umpire, volunteer high school wrestling coach and college wrestling official, receiving numerous awards and recognitions for his volunteerism. Al was married to his wife Arletta for 34 years.
Al passed away in 2004 at the age of 80.