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Times Leader Staff

As we toast the new year and look forward to 2009, it’s only fitting to sit back and lift a glass to the people we lost in 2008.

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Smith

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Schuler

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We mourned individuals of all ages and backgrounds this year – from three young heroes who died in war, to a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor; from three Tunkhannock Area teens who died tragically hours after a high school graduation ceremony, to a Nanticoke centenarian who left a legacy of local history; from a newspaper columnist who amused readers with his “Thoughts for Grownups,” to a Kingston native who went on to national stardom.

Some lived long and rich lives, like Julia Znaniecki of Nanticoke who died on May 29, less than a week after noting her 100th birthday.

Others left us way too soon – including the many teens and young adults who died in accidents.

2008 was a sorrowful year on the local military scene.

Lt. Col. Richard J. Berrettini, 52, a Dupont native, and resident of Eldred, McKean County, died Jan. 11 in Texas from injuries suffered while serving in Afghanistan. A Pennsylvania Army National Guard officer, Berrettini died nine days after the Humvee he was riding in was hit by an improvised explosive device in Khowst Province.

1st Lt. Jeffrey F. DePrimo, 35, of Pittston, died May 20 while serving in Ghazni, Afghanistan, when his Humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device. He served with the Pennsylvania National Guard unit out of West Pittston.

On July 8, former Wilkes-Barre resident Sgt. Douglas John Bull, 29, became the seventh person from Luzerne County to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since the war on terrorism began in 2001. A member of the 1st Infantry Division, Bull was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. He died when an IED exploded near his vehicle.

We said goodbye to three notable veterans; beloved Times Leader columnist Bill Smith, of Wilkes-Barre, and Peter Deletkanich, of Edwardsville, and Alex Bronsberg, of Swoyersville, two of the Wyoming Valley’s last Pearl Harbor survivors. Deletkanich, 89, who died on Feb. 27, was on the USS California when it was hit by four torpedoes on Dec. 7, 1941.

Bronsberg, who died on July 31, was setting up a radar system on top of a mountain near the Navy base when the attack occurred, said his friend Steve Nalewajko.

Smith, 83, the longtime voice of veterans, died on June 25. The World War II veteran penned a weekly column, “Views on Veterans,” that was published in The Times Leader. Besides being an advocate for veterans issues, Smith is remembered as a loving and warm family man.

The Times Leader family was hit with other losses: former pressman Thomas Dale; longtime advertising director C. Wesley Boyle; retired circulation director Joseph Hurley, and columnist Jack Charest of Kingston, who wrote a column for many years from the perspective of a “seasoned” citizen.

Hurley’s passing also was felt on the sports scene. As president of the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame, he worked tirelessly to ensure local athletes received recognition for their accomplishments.

Another sports enthusiast, former Bishop Hoban girls basketball coach Bob Schuler, died Nov. 24 at age 76. Schuler coached the Lady Argents for 21 years, amassing a 410-162 record while taking the Wilkes-Barre team to three state championship games.

The Wyoming Valley lost three dedicated community leaders.

Edmund Poggi, of Kingston, died March 6 at age 96. A prominent businessman, Poggi was active in numerous community organizations and served on many boards.

Stan Hamilton, 74, of Wilkes-Barre, lost his battle with cancer in April. Hamilton, a community activist who moved to this area from New York in the 1970s, is remembered for his Hands of Hope Ministries.

Pauly Friedman, of Kingston, who was active in numerous social and civic endeavors, particularly the Family Service Association, died in December.

Znaniecki, of Nanticoke, dedicated her life to education, local history and civic and community efforts. In addition to being a wife, mother and teacher, she authored the “History of Nanticoke” for the city’s bicentennial celebration in 1976 and for years helped keep Polish tradition alive through the annual Kosciuszko Foundation Ball and the Polish Room at Wilkes University.

Another individual whose dedication to education reached thousands was George McCutcheon, who died June 1 at age 90. He was the first local educator to be hired by Luzerne County Community College in 1967 and was instrumental in establishing many of the school’s programs and organizations.

Longtime downtown Wilkes-Barre businessman Andrew Stetz died on April 18. Stetz operated a men’s clothing store on South Main Street until 1998.

Three men who served their municipalities as mayors – and a longtime Wilkes-Barre councilman – died last year.

Exeter Mayor Joseph F. Coyne III died in September of brain cancer after 30 years of service to the borough, 17 on council and three terms as mayor.

Joseph J. Stochla, who served as mayor of Edwardsville from 1991 to 2002, died in October and former Nanticoke Mayor Wasil Kobela died in May. Kobela also served as a member of the city police department, including 20 years as chief.

Wilkes-Barre Councilman Philip McCabe, who was elected to four terms, died in June at age 75.

Viewers and listeners bid farewell to some familiar faces and voices in the local media.

Timothy Kidwell, known by sports followers as broadcaster Tim Karlson, died in October at age 56. Karlson was best known for his role as sports director at WNEP-TV Channel 16.

Ron Allen, an icon in the radio and sports communities for more than 40 years, died in September. Allen, 71, was known for his work with WARM Radio and for hosting the “Ron Allen Sportsline.”

Two other notables in broadcasting, Paul Oles, who hosted “Dialing for Dollars” on WNEP and performed many of the station’s promotional pieces, died in June; while longtime WARM Radio personality George Gilbert Schumacher died in April.

We also mourned the loss of individuals whose roots are here and who rose to national acclaim during their lives.

Television star and Tony Award-winning actress Edie Adams, who was born in Kingston, died in October at age 81.

Another Kingston native, Betty Jane Williams, a female pioneer in the field of aviation, died last month at age 89. A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, she was inducted into the Women in Aviation International’s Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2006.

Louis Teicher, a famed pianist and one-half of the duo of Ferrante & Teicher, died in August. Teicher was born in Wilkes-Barre.

Tragedy struck the Tunkhannock Area School District – twice – this year.

In April, recently retired Superintendent Frank J. Valvano, died at age 58 of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in Hazleton.

In June, three teens, including two Tunkhannock Area students who had graduated just hours earlier, were killed in a crash in Wyoming County. Brandon Murray, 19, and Brittany Giberson, 17, died in the June 6 collision. Brooke Hunsinger, 17, an Elk Lake student, also was killed.