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FOLLANSBEE -- Reflecting on the life of Anthony Paesano, who died Saturday at the age of 93, Mayor David Velegol Jr. noted Paesano made an impact on others through the variety of roles that he assumed throughout his life.
"Between coach, teacher, principal, the school board, chamber and scholarship foundation, it's unbelievable," said Velegol, who led Follansbee Council in observing a moment of silence for the late former mayor during Monday's Follansbee Council meeting.
Velegol is among many who are remembering the ways Paesano helped others and served the community.
A graduate of Duquesne University, Paesano taught history and coached football at Follansbee High School and Brooke High School, serving as principal at the latter school for 16 years.
Known for his gravelly voice and commanding nature, he led students attending Brooke's football assemblies in cheering the Bruins to victory.
Former state Senator Ed Bowman said the first time he met Paesano was on such an occasion.
"Tony stood up and when he spoke, it was like someone pulled a switch. It was completely silent," said Bowman, who also assisted Paesano with various city projects he pursued as mayor.
Following 30 years as an educator, Paesano had served on the Brooke County school board for 10 years before resigning for a successful bid at the top rung of the local government for his hometown.
As mayor, Paesano worked for the establishment of Veterans Drive, an industrial access road on the city's west side that helped to alleviate truck traffic on Main Street, and he pushed for renovations to the Market Street Bridge.
"A lot of people fought him on that," said Velegol, noting with the Veterans Memorial Bridge in place and plans under way for a new Ohio River span in southern Brooke County, some suggested the 100-year-old Market Street Bridge was destined for retirement.
"When he believed in something, he was very persistent," said Velegol, who said Paesano was the loudest voice in a chorus of public officials and residents who pushed for the bridge's continued service.
The effort resulted in $10 million in federal funds being invested to renovate the bridge in 2010. Later, Paesano worked with retired school officials Marty Bartz and Kathy Kidder to successfully petition for the span to be included on the National Register of Historic Places.
"Tony was probably the most influential in that," agreed Bowman, who said Paesano often approached him for state funds and other assistance for Follansbee.
"It was pretty tough to say no to Tony," he said, while adding he's happy to have been able to help Paesano and the city.
Before his tenure as mayor ended, Paesano added another hat to wear: President of the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce.
As mayor, he dubbed his salary 'the mayor's contingency fund," donating money from it to various causes.
As chamber president, he recruited members and other civic groups to observe Make a Difference Day in various ways, yielding support for causes ranging from the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, a local food pantry, to the Wounded Warriors Project.
Make a Difference Day began as a promotion by the USA Weekend publication to encourage community service, and Follansbee was among communities chosen by the national publication to receive a grant for a civic cause. As the chamber's chosen beneficiary, the Anderson Children's Home received $2,000 to purchase a washer and dryer.
Debbie Puskarich, who as executive director led the chamber with Paesano and followed him as president, recalled weekly, informal meetings over coffee in which, "He'd talk about changes he'd like to make in town and people he wanted to honor."
Through the chamber's annual dinner and a yearly fundraising dinner held by the Follansbee Community Days Committee, Paesano recognized residents for their community service and professional accomplishments.
Among the honors was the Make a Difference Day Award.
Before presenting it, he would tell a story about a boy walking a beach and lifting numerous starfish the tide had washed ashore and tossing each back to the ocean.
The boy explained to a spectator that because the tide was going out, the starfish would die if he did not, and was told there were too many starfish, that he would never make a difference.
But the boy smiled, Paesano said, and as he tossed another one into the water, replied, "It made a difference to that one."
"Making a difference was a really important concept for him," said Velegol, who noted his name has since been added to the award.
"His first heart was always in education," said Puskarich, who said that with support from many chamber members, Paesano launched a grant program in which local teachers received funds for innovative approaches to teaching, particularly hands-on activities that engaged students' interest.
Noting he had attended college on a football scholarship, Paesano once remarked that it bothered him, as principal of Brooke High School, to see intelligent students not able to attend college because they lacked the funds.
So, in 1989, he worked with others to solicit scholarship funds for graduating Brooke seniors through a group called the Brooke County Schools Education Foundation.
Through his efforts and others and with the generosity of many local businesses, groups and citizens, the foundation has provided more than $4 million in scholarships to thousands of students over the last 33 years and in recent years, was named in his honor.
After leading the chamber for 25 years, Paesano decided to step down, saying at age 89, he felt it was time.
But Puskarich and Velegol said as recently as last week, he expressed interest in the group's activities and the city in general.
"Even after he was no longer chamber president, he still called on Thursdays," said Puskarich.
"Follansbee was still on his mind," agreed Velegol.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., acknowledged he answered Paesano and others' pleas for a life extension to the Market Street Bridge but said it's his friendship with Paesano he will remember most.
"He was my friend unconditionally. I've lost my dear, dear friend," he said.
Manchin said, "I've never met a person who was so dedicated to his family and community. He lived and breathed it. He was a mentor. He showed me what public service was all about."
Paesano was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Lorraine, with whom he had three children: Toni, Frank and John; several grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.