One ruled Upper Darby. The other did likewise in Ridley.
Now both are gone.
Delaware County politics will never be quite the same.
Nick Catania died Tuesday at Fair Acres at the age of 86.
The longtime boss of the Ridley GOP passed away eight months after his contemporary, John McNichol, died suddenly back in January.
In today’s media saturated society, we throw around terms like ‘icon’ pretty easily. But I used it on today’s front page to describe the passing of Catania. I hardly think it was an exaggeration.
Nick Catania was a power to be dealt with in Ridley and Delaware County for more than half a decade. He led the powerful Ridley Republican Party. He was first a county commissioner and then a county councilman.
While McNichol worked behind the scenes, Catania was more of a public figure. He was an elected official.
Maybe that’s why he never lost his common touch, his respect for everyday people, and his concern for those who were struggling.
It simply is one of those names that will always be affiliated with Delco politics and the heyday of the county Republican Party.
Catania. McNichol.
The longtime leader of the Republican Party, Tom Judge Sr., remains from that era. As does former Springfield GOP boss Charlie Sexton. Both are retired now.
It’s unlikely we will see the likes of them again.
CLICK HERE for our full story on the passing of Nick Catania.
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