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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Sunday, January 04, 2015

John Rybak, RIP

John in 2012
Prominent Southside Bethlehem Attorney John W. Rybak has passed away after a lengthy illness. A lawyer's lawyer, his uncle was a law partner with my dad. His father, a former State Representative, was an attorney. His brother Tony is a lawyer. And so is his wife, Assistant District Attorney Pat Broscius. Together, they have three children.

A graduate of Penn State and University of Mississippi School of Law, Rybak maintained his practice in South Bethlehem since 1983. I could recite his accomplishments, but let me instead leave you the words of love his brother Tony posted on his Facebook page.
To all of you who have sent your thoughts and prayers to my family and I, to everyone who has posted fond memories of my brother, to those of you who were able to take the time to see John in his final days as he continued to fight like hell, exactly the way my father taught him to fight, no matter the odds, and to all of you who knew and were touched in this world by my brother, John William Rybak, thank you from the bottom of my heart. He was and is a true Lion, in every sense of the word- including Nittany- and it is doubtful that a giant such as he will be seen again anytime soon.

If you want to honor his memory, feel free to fight the good fight, help your fellow man every time you are called upon to do so, and put everyone before yourself all the time. Then eat a hot dog, look up to heaven, and thank John for being an excellent example of what living a good and honorable life should look like.

I can never thank you enough, John. I love you. Please be at peace.
Judge Emil Giordano was saddened by the news.
"John Rybak was a great lawyer. He was always prepared. He was always honest and he always fought the good fight. I will miss him dearly. He represented a lot of children in the dependency matters. He displayed very much common sense."

Updated 6:45 pm

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had the opportunity to work with John on a few occasions; he was a great guy. My condolences to his entire famly.

Anonymous said...

RIP sounds like a great man. Such a loss to his family and the community.

Anonymous said...

One of the best attorneys I ever witnessed in court. He was a great caring man and he will be deeply missed.

Dennis Galligani said...

My heart is hurting tonight but to think of john makes me smile and feel good. Not only was John an excellent lawyer and champion of the underdog, but more importantly, he was simply a great human being who touched and impacted a lot of lives. I've played basketball with john for many years and he couldn't jump more than two inches off the ground but he is now jumping Real high in heaven. God bless Pat and her three children.
Denny Galligani
(Former Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and Juvenile Justcie Center Director)

Bernie O'Hare said...

Denny, I am sure your comments, as well as those offered by Judge Giordano, will comfort John's family when they get around to reading this blog.

Anonymous said...

Worked with John at my stint at CYF. A true professional and fighter for good. The children and citizens of NorCo has lost a true asset and honest man. RIP

Anonymous said...

Excellent tribute by his brother

Carol Rybak Frye said...

Bernie, I knew your Dad as a child, and he, like Pete, Bill, John and Tony, always made the underdog comfortable and well represented. Growing up with them as mentors was an honor. John will be deeply missed as an integral part of our family, and of the public family of man. Thank you for sharing this memory of him. xx Carol (Rybak) Frye

Bernie O'Hare said...

Carol, Thank you, but Tony's eloquence says it all. I am sorry for not just your loss, but a loss for us all.

Patricia G said...

John made the world a better place, and made me a better person. I distinctly remember one case in particular, when John as usual was looking out for the best interest of our children. John reminded this teenage boy that he is serving as his father, and would never let anything happen to him. To this day, the young man I am referring to is in his twenties now, calls me from time to time, and always asks for John. He changed his life, and the lives of countless others'. Thank you John for your inspiration, and for teaching me that good enough is never enough. I will never forget you.

Unknown said...

Rybak I always will miss you

Unknown said...

thank you so much for everything for all you help