Cable Pioneer Walsonavich Dies at 84

Former CATV Service Inc. president and owner Margaret Walsonavich died Saturday at the age of 84, AP reported.

Walsonavich’s brother, Peter, founded CATV in 1953, and another brother, John Walson Sr., founded Service Electric Inc. in the 1940s, according to AP. Service Electric was the first cable system in the country to offer Home Box Office, according to the Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania.

Walsonavich is survived by a sister, several nephews and a niece, AP reported.

“Margaret and her family were certainly recognized as leaders in the industry, and she continued to pursue the growth of the company," CATV general manager Sam Haulman told AP.