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Steve Traitz, Sr., a fighter, boxing trainer, and business manager for the Roofers Union Local 30, passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2016 after an extended illness. He was 79. Traitz, from the Kensington section of Philadelphia, fought as an amateur boxer before turning pro in 1954. He fought through 1957 and then returned for one bout in 1960. Traitz closed his career with a professional record of 8-5-1, 7 KOs. His most notable opponents were Billy Robb, Joe Washington and Chico Corsey. Nine of his bouts took place at the Cambria A.C., the legendary fight club located in Traitz's Kensington neighborhood.
However, Steve Traitz made his biggest impact in boxing with the Montgomery Boys Club, a boxing gym in Eagleville, PA, that he founded. The Club catered to countless young boxers through the years. Two of those boxers were Steve's sons Joe Traitz and Steve Traitz Jr. Although they were known as Traitz Sr. and Traitz Jr. to the boxing world, the father and son team were actually Steve Traitz Jr. and Steve Traitz III. The elder Traitz also had a major impact on the lives of many boxers once their careers ended. As the business manager of the Roofers Union Local 30, Traitz guided many ex-fighters into second careers as roofers. This gave those former fighters direction and a livelihood after their days in the ring were over.
Prominent boxers such as Matthew Saad Muhammad, Mike Rossman, Mike Everett, Billy Abel Jr., and many, many more all found work thanks to Traitz. Traitz was a father of two sons and three daughters, but was considered a father figure by many young men who looked to Traitz for guidance in the gym and on the roof.
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