NorCo Controller Richard "Bucky" Szulborski Has Passed Away

Northampton County Controller Richard "Bucky" Szulborski has died. according to a county news release. 

Szulborski served on Bethlehem City Council for 12 years before voluntarily stepping down in 1995. He was first appointed Controller in  2018 to serve the unexpired term of Steve Barron after his confirmation as Fiscal Affairs Director. He was appointed again in 2021 to fill the unexpired term of Tiny Bassil after he died in office. 

Szulborski was highly regarded by members of both parties, but never ran for the position, only serving as an interim Controller.  

Szulborski has an extensive record of community service to various organizations, including Camelot for Children, the Catholic Youth Organization, the Sun Inn Preservation Association, the Bethlehem Recreation Commission, the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and the Bethlehem Area Public Library Board. He was also a regular judge in various beauty pageants and forged long-lasting friendships with many of the contestants. 

He loved Pennsylvania Dutch food, and often regaled me with stories of his trips to the Amish country.

He and I at one time had lunch together nearly every day at the courthouse cafeteria, and were together working on finding the culprit who was stealing salt and pepper shakers, left and right. 

That mystery remains unsolved, but I expect Bucky will let me know from his new vantage point. 

He had a corny sense of humor. He told me that you if you cut the edges off of pills, you remove the side effects.

Executive Lamont McClure lamented the loss of Bucky so soon ofter Tony Bassil had passed on."The passing of Tony Bassil was a devastating personal and professional loss to us. The passing of Bucky only magnifies the grief we feel and highlights the tremendous value both gentlemen brought to the Office of Northampton County Controller.”

I have no information on funeral arrangements and will update this story when I learn the details.