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To the Editor,
RIP Anthony "Tony" Paesano -- I was once asked to introduce Tony, who was being recognized by the city of Follansbee's Make a Difference Award, an award that Tony created while mayor to salute those who changed lives.
I was stumped.
What words could remotely explain his impact on people in our community? Standing at the podium, looking at the audience, I thought of the answer, and it was quite simple. I stepped back and asked the audience a series of questions: "If Mr. Paesano impacted your life as your teacher, please stand. As a coach, as a principal, as mayor, as a church leader, a school board member, Chamber of Commerce president or an elderly person who needed help with a water bill, please stand. A student wanting help to go to college and needed a scholarship or one who lost a parent and a hug from Tony to help you get through the day. A football player fired up from one of Tony's epic pep assembly talks -- Beat Weir! A teacher under his leadership who shared his vision of Brooke Pride as they touched students' lives."
At the end, there was not a person in the audience who remained seated.
Anthony Paesano, who died Nov. 5 at the age of 93, was a husband, father, friend, neighbor, leader and role model reached out to anyone in need. This same great man who could entertain U.S. Senators and governors in his home, yet always had time to come out of his house to argue with my 10-year-old son over who was the better TV wrestler, Dusty Rhodes or Rick Flair.
I called Steve yesterday about his passing, and the first thing he did was imitate that raspy voice, "Hey you, Piccirillo, I want you in the Omni."
We also owe much gratitude to Toni Ann, Frank and John for sharing their father with all of us. That couldn't have been easy. "God, country, family and community" was his motto, and he lived it every day. I will never drive up the alley behind his house and not think of the impact he had on Steven, Janet and me. I imagine many other tears will flow when we drive past Main Street, looking at that empty porch and missing that great man.
"The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive."
- Albert Einstein
James Piccirillo
Follansbee