TimesLeader.com

Always ‘Mayor’ Loftus

He was “Bob” to a small circle of people, “Dad” to only two, and “Mayor” to thousands.

While Bob Loftus had not held the office for nearly 30 years, most everyone he encountered addressed him by the title he wore from 1961 to 1980: Mayor.

Several of those were encountered on his daily walks from West Pittston to Exeter and back. Mayor Loftus was one of the first in the region to embrace walking as a means to good health and his tall, lanky figure briskly striding along Susquehanna Avenue and Wyoming Avenue on the West Side was a familiar sight for many years.

Mayor Loftus, who died Monday at the age of 91, was the last of a breed. He was a very big fish in the small pond of Pittston and Luzerne County, serving not only as Mayor of Pittston but also as Democratic Chairman of the County. Through his position he undoubtedly offended some, but there were far more who benefited from his tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Pittston and its surrounding communities.

Mayor Loftus loved Pittston. In retirement, he was in a position to travel the world, but he rarely did so. He was happiest right here in his home town.

He had become a Pittston historian, of sorts, and liked nothing better than an audience, great or small, to listen to his tales. And his audiences, great or small, loved to listen.

Mayor Loftus will be missed.

We offer our condolences to his wife Rita and family and encourage Pittston City officials to consider an appropriate means to honor his memory.