To the Editor:

I have come to understand how many good people it takes to help run a town - from staff, firemen, police, public works, volunteers. And the list goes on. The Borough of Northampton is one such town. It has, is and will be well run because it has a wonderful, caring citizenry.

I have had the pleasure of watching the town grow under the direction of Gene Zarayko. For over 30 years, he has been the borough manager, and to those of us lucky enough, we got to witness something very special. On June 1, 2016, Gene retired. For me personally, (it was) a very sad and empty day.

When I say he was special, I mean he had an incredible passion and love for the town and people of Northampton. In the world of small-town politics, his personality cast a large shadow, making many people and things that much better. Very few of us will have the ability to direct and change the course of a town. To want something better (be it small or large) for the greater good of those to come, for such a long time, is a love few of us will know.

I have come to love his smile, his excitement for the town, but most of all, the light in his eyes that exposed such a beautiful soul. Small-town politics can get quite personal and messy, but in the end, I would hope it would be about the greater good. I saw this greater good in Gene. May the Lord bless and keep him well in retirement as he had tried to do for the town of Northampton. Hopefully the good citizens of Northampton, when they see him, will take a moment to thank him.

Scott Gillespie

Coplay