Year in Review: Deaths, departures marked…
Year in Review: Deaths, departures marked county in 2021
PHOTO BY NEUMANN UNIVERSITY
J. Patrick Killian
By Colin Ainsworth |
J. Patrick Killian closed out his near 30-year spot in the director's seat at the Delaware County Commerce Center at the start of the year. Killian had originally planned to retire in December 2019, then elected to stay on briefly through the transition of power after Democrats took control of county government. Retirement then saw an abrupt second delay when the pandemic hit and county businesses were under duress.
The Havertown resident and U.S. Naval Reserve veteran started his public service career in his native Lackawanna County before becoming press secretary for late U.S. Senator John Heinz's 1976 campaign. Following Heinz's death in a helicopter crash in Lower Merion in 1991, Killian was tapped to helm the Commerce Center's troubled predecessor, the Partnership for Economic Development.
Schoolhouse Center Director Kim McDaniel received a retirement parade benefitting the St. Patrick's Day season when she retired from her post in March. Scores of senior citizens donned Irish green and lined up in cars down MacDade Bouelvard and headed down Swarthmore Avenue to the center in appreciation of her leadership at the largest senior center in the county.
Haverford Township had a trifecta of heavy machinery serenades this year to honor local residents. A stream of well-wishers peaked with a crescendo with fire trucks, police cars and a parade of friends down Clamar Avenue in February to wish resident Paul Becker a happy 100th birthday. The World War II veteran and Philadelphia native has resided at his home in the Bon Air neighborhood for over 50 years.
Haverford School District honored Director of Transportation George Ramplin on 41 years with the district with a surprise school bus ride to work on his last day in April. Superintendent Maureen Reusche surprised Ramplin at his front door in Havertown with the bus ride, led by a wailing parade of fire trucks and police cars. Ramplin started his time with the district as a bus driver, moving up to maintenance work, then lead mechanic, transportation manager and finally, in 1994, director of transportation.
A years' long effort to recognize former Glenolden Police Chief Robert Sparks came to fruition in March when county, law enforcement and borough officials unveiled a "Hero Plaque" on the spot where Sparks gave his life in service to his community.
On March 25, 1975, Sparks and Officer Jerry Quinn were off duty before heading to a police officers' meeting. The pair stopped at Mirman's Pharmacy on the corner of East Glenolden Avenue and Chester Pike for Quinn to pick up a prescription. As the officers exited the pharmacy, two armed men approached, assuming Sparks and Quinn were the pharmacists carrying the day's receipts for deposit. The men attempted to rob Sparks and Quinn, who identified themselves as police officers. One male fled down East Glenolden Avenue with Quinn in pursuit and shots were fired. The second robber didn't run; instead he shot at point blank range, fatally wounding Sparks.
Quinn served his community honorably and went on to become mayor of the borough. In 2014, Dennis Daly, a police officer in neighboring Norwood, approached Quinn with the plan to place the plaque in time for the 40th anniversary. Unfortunately, the plan ran into hurdles and in 2019 Quinn passed away. But Daly promised he would get it done. What was once Mirman's pharmacy is now the site of Pal Che Tang Soo Do, Korean Martial Arts Studio who allowed the plaque to be placed in front of its business.
In May, American Legion Post 227 launched Springfield's Hometown Hero Banner program by honoring late Philadelphia Fire Department Captain Matthew LeTourneau, who died fighting a rowhome fire on Jan. 6, 2018. The township native joined the Springfield Fire Co. in 1991 at 16 and went on to become a county and state fire instructor, teaching at the Delaware county Emergency Services Training Center and through Pennsylvania. "I can't imagine a better way to start the program than to honor Matt's sacrifice," said Rich Debany, Commander of Post 227.
Ongoing efforts to identify remains of servicemen lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in a September announcement that those of Navy Radioman Third Class Charles Andrew Montgomery will return home to Delaware County for burial at Arlington Cemetery in Upper Darby. The Folcroft native was among the 429 crew members lost when the USS Oklahoma was sunk during the Dec. 7, 1941 surprise attack. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began efforts to 2015 to exhume unidentified sailors recovered from the Oklahoma, resulting in a match with DNA supplied by a family member of Montgomery.
Also in September, the U.S. Coast Guard announced it would commission its 45th Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter in honor of Steward's Mate 1st Class Emlen Lewis Tunnell. The Radnor native, who went onto become the first African-American player enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was awarded the Coast Guard's Silver Lifesaving Medal for heroism during World War II. Later in November, the first crew members to serve on the cutter would pay a visit to Radnor Township as part of a stop in the Philadelphia region enroute to Key West. The service members visited the grave site of Tunnell and then to the township building for speeches and presentations.
First responders from across the county turned out for a clap-out ceremony and final radio sign off for Crozer EMS Deputy Chief Parademic Larry Worrilow in October. Worrilow's 44 years with Crozer Health began April 1, 1977 when Crozer-Chester Medical Center took over Ems operaitons in the city of Chester. He began his service to area residents in 1974 with the Moyamensing Hook and Ladder Fire Co. in the city.
The county said goodbye to several prominent residents over the course of the year, opening in January with the loss of the Rev. Augustine "Gus" Esposito, longtime professor and administrator at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and former president of Monsignor Bonner High School. Esposito died after a five-week battle with COVID-19 virus at age 69. The Collingdale native was a 1969 Bonner graduate. He assumed the presidency of his alma mater in 2002 and took on the presidency of Archbishop Prendergast in 2007 when the two schools became co-institutional.
After his departure in 2009, Esposito was instrumental in rallying Bonner alumni in 2012 to appeal to the Philadelphia archdiocese to save the school from closing. The efforts resulted in the archdiocese merging Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast that year. Esposito was the celebrant at the final closing Mass for the Prendie Chapel on Nov. 2, 2019.
COVID-19 complications resulted in the death of another former school administrator two days after Esposito when former Pennsylvania Institute of Technology President William B. Robinson. Robinson too was an alumnus of the school he would later lead, rising to the presidency in 2017, 50 years after he graduated.
Matt Meyers, executive vice president of the college called Robinson a visionary, "adopting programs that were consistent with careers which were growing and emerging in our communities," he said. "He oversaw the growth of our nursing program, which nearly doubled, and spearheaded us getting the first regionally accredited program in cannabis education… and now it's grown into three different tracks," he said.
Coronavirus complications also claimed three members of law enforcement during the year. Delaware County Park Police Superintendent Scott Mahoney died from complications in May at age 47. Hundreds of officers saluted and a bagpiper played in front of St. Pius X Church in Marple as Mahoney's flag-draped coffin was carried out. Police officials held a "Shot for Scott" vaccine clinic for public safety and IBEW workers in his memory the following month.
At the close of October, Westtown East Goshen Regional Police Department Officer Joshua Micun died from a coronavirus-related illness. Micun, 37, a Delaware County native, started working for the Chester County joint-township department in 2015. He was chosen by his peers as WEGO Officer of the Year four years later.
Micun previously worked as a police officer at Upper Providence and Aston townships. He was a graduate of Columbia Southern University. While an Aston police officer he was recognized for his heroic actions. Micun was a legacy member of the Green Ridge Volunteer Fire Co. Station 63 and Aston-Beechwood volunteer, Station 72, fire companies. He was part of the live-in program at Green Ridge.
Haverford Township police and residents mourned the death of Sgt. Kevin Redding after he succumbed to COVID-19 complications on Dec. 20. The department lined township streets the following morning as officers escorted Redding's body enroute to Stretch Funeral Home. Dozens of officers lined the street as his body, draped in an American flag was taken inside. After word of his death became public, hundreds of residents reached out on the department on social media to offer their condolences "Rest in Peace Kevin," wrote Karen Ramplin. "I always enjoyed talking to you while working the football games. Prayers for your family and the Haverford Township police department."
Back in April, Haverford Township lost Commissioner Andy Lewis at 64 in April weeks after being diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease. Lewis, a Republican, began in municipal government when he was elected in 1986 as township supervisor in Skippack Township, Montgomery County. Public office ran in the family for Lewis, whose father, Drew Lewis, ran for Pennsylvania governor and was the U.S. Transportation Secretary under President Ronald Reagan. His mother, Marilyn Lewis, was a former state representative.
After his move to Haverford in 1997, he was elected in 2003 as the Fifth Ward Commissioner. In 2007, he was elected to Delaware County Council, where he completed a four-year term and decided against seeking re-election. Lewis was elected back to the township board of commissioners in 2015 as write-in candidate against two others on a platform of good government and "getting things done."
During his time in office, he played a major role in the shaping of the Haverford Reserve development and the community recreation and environmental center known as the CREC on the former Haverford State Hospital property.
Catholic League football lost a legend in June when former St. James and Cardinal O'Hara coach Bob Ewing passed away at 88. A 1951 St. James graduation, he was offered the freshman job at his alma mater in 1963, moved to the varsity in 1965 under his high school coach, Francis "Bean" Brennan and became the offensive coordinator under Joe Logue, coaching the likes of future New York Jet Joe Klecko and players on St. James' 1972 Philadelphia City Championship team. Ewing moved to Cardinal O'Hara in 1975 and quickly transformed the Lions into a Catholic League power. In 16 seasons, Ewing compiled an overall record of 116-55-4 and a league mark of 79-24-2. He retired in 1990, having guided the Lions to a city title in 1979, Catholic League championships in 1979, 1980 and 1985, six Southern Division crowns and four Suburban Section championships.
Colin Ainsworth