Delaware County is losing its icons.
I'm not talking about buildings. Or businesses.
I'm talking about people.
Last week it was Collingdale's Frank Kelly.
Today it's Rocco Gaspari Sr..
If most people referred to Kelly as "Mr. Collingdale," certainly the same can be said of Gaspari's relationship with Lower Chichester.
Gaspari, 80, passed away this week at Riddle Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Kelly served for decades as mayor of Collingdale.
Gaspari was his counterpart on the other end of the county.
A lifelong resident of the Linwood section of the township, the Republican served as president of the board of commissioners and as the local magisterial district judge.
He was first elected to the board of commissioners back in 1965. Two years later he became the board president. He held that post for 26 years. After retiring, he was elected magisterial district judge and served in that capacity until 2005.
He also did something else.
On occasion he would call me.
Sometimes he was angry at something that appeared in the newspaper, or perhaps something that we did not cover that he believed merited attention.
Even when he was upset, Gaspari was always the gentleman. He had a genuine respect for what the newspaper did and the important role it has in the community.
It's a trait he shared with Kelly, who also was not shy about offering his opinion on our coverage.
In the conversations I had with Gaspari, we learned we had some things in common.
We held similar beliefs and came from similar upbringing.
I can tell you that family was everything to Gaspari. He was extremely proud of his sons, Rocco Jr. and Tom, who is now Lower Chichester Township police chief. Rocco Jr. is the president of the Lower Chi commissioners.
We also were products of a parochial school education, in particular the firm tutelage of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
After a number of phone conversations, Rocco said he'd like to drop by the office some day.
I told him to feel free.
He did exactly that a few weeks later. We sat in my office and talked - not about the newspaper or Lower Chichester business - but about life.
We talked about our parents, how we grew up, the values our parents instilled in us, and the ones we hoped to pass on to our children.
"My husband was the kindest person you could ever meet," said his wife of 60 years, Catherine 'Kay' Gaspari.
She'll get no argument from me.
Rocco Gaspari Sr. was an icon on one end of the county; Frank Kelly was likewise on another.
They will be missed.
By one editor in particular.
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