I have known Richard J. “Bucky” Szulborski for more than 40 years. His passing has given me pause from my daily routine.

I first met Rich at the Lehigh Valley Railroad. He worked three desks down from my mother, Helen Zettlemoyer - between my mom and Margaret Dougherty.

CONNECTIONS: Bucky was known as the principal organizer of the Christmas City Fair, a fair that celebrated the merger of the three Bethlehem boroughs, west south and north in July 1917 to form the City of Bethlehem. He came to love and support (financially) the Christmas City Fair during his tenure as chairman. During the fair, he brought people together to work in making the city a better place to work, live and celebrate. He connected citizens, just as the city connected three boroughs to form one great community,

COLLABORATION: When I was a member of the late Paul Marcincin’s staff, Bucky and I organized a group called Bethlehem’s Breakfast Club. This club was an outgrowth of my role as the city’s Section Three (3) coordinator. The eight-10 members would meet and discuss what the city needed to do for the North and South side business communities. I would take that information back to city hall and discuss it with Mayor Paul Marcincin, his administrative assistant, Barbara Caldwell, and my boss, Community Development Director Jim McCarthy. Many good ideas and issues were discussed and dealt with by the mayor’s staff. This feedback provided vital guidance for city staff. It was also an “ear into the community” for the mayor. Bucky always had good ideas for our club.

COOPERATION: As a member of city council, Bucky sought ways to cooperate with his colleagues on council, and the mayor and his staff. After many contentious discussions regarding the creation of Musikfest, he knew it would compete with the Christmas City Fair. He was contacted by the mayor regarding this issue, but noted, “Well, I guess music is part of the city’s corporate seal, so let Jeff Parks have at it.” The Christmas City Fair died a slow death as a result.

He found new life on many nonprofit boards such as the Sun Inn, South Bethlehem Historical Society and Housing Opportunity Movement.

I served on the latter two boards as well. We shared a passion for history - especially Southside Bethlehem history. He and I both unveiled Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Historical Markers; he for the Northampton Heights Neighborhood (where former Mayor Marcincin and a handful of other Bethlehem politicians had grown up and lived) and I at the site of The Crown Inn, which was located near the former Lehigh Valley Railroad terminal.

He served with me as vice president of the Housing Opportunity Movement board for the past four years. He had a passion for connection, collaboration and cooperation to move the board forward in the area of transitional housing.

His sudden passing came as a gut punch to many on the HOM board. I am sure there the South Bethlehem Historical Society felt the same.

Personally, stories with Bucky regarding the Lehigh Valley Railroad, or some of the Southside personalities like ‘snaggle tooth’ Theresa, Anna the ‘noodle lady’ and well-known Southside athletes such as Billy Packer, Chuck Bednarik, Pete Carrill and others. Maybe we could erect a historical marker at 669 Atlantic Street, his long-time residence. Unfortunately, it might not be big enough to list all of Bucky’s accomplishments.

To my friends, this is a call to service. If you volunteer for a board, take a page out of Bucky’s playbook and get involved. Connect, collaborate and cooperate.

So, rest well and go in peace, my friend. We will truly miss you.

Jeffrey R. Zettlemoyer

President

Housing Opportunity Movement, Bethlehem Inc.