As a Scranton school director, Mark Walsh fought for building a new high school.
As a football player for Scranton Central High School, he helped lead the team to an Eastern Conference championship.
As a person, he was sincere, positive and a gentleman, his friends said.
Mr. Walsh, a local lawyer, died Tuesday after a lengthy fight with cancer. He was 53.
Fondly remembered
On Wednesday, friends and colleagues remembered the man who almost became a Lackawanna County judge and who would do anything he could for his family and friends.
"He was the most determined person I have ever met," said longtime friend and fellow lawyer John Minora. "I'm broken-hearted by it."
Mr. Minora first met Mr. Walsh in fourth grade and the two would play football or basketball daily in the city's Hill Section. They both played on the 1976 championship football team, and both played football in college: Mr. Minora at the University of Rochester and Mr. Walsh at Columbia University. Their paths met again when they both attended Dickinson School of Law.
"I wasn't at all surprised that he survived a terrible prognosis for as long as he did," Mr. Minora said. "He never accepted the word 'quit.'â"
Scranton Tax Collector Bill Courtright first met Mr. Walsh more than a decade ago and helped him with his campaign for judge. Mr. Walsh was co-manager of Mr. Courtright's current campaign for Scranton mayor.
"We became best friends. He was a great guy," Mr. Courtright said. "He was probably one of the nicest and sincere people I have ever met."
Mr. Walsh was also solicitor for the Scranton Single Tax Office and former city council solicitor. After two terms on the Scranton School Board, he ran for Lackawanna County judge in 2001, losing to Vito P. Geroulo by about 250 votes.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick O'Malley spent eight years on the school board with Mr. Walsh and served as vice president when Mr. Walsh was president. Amid criticism from the public and from fellow board members, Mr. Walsh fought for the construction of Scranton High School.
"He knew that the students of Scranton needed a new school," Mr. O'Malley said. "He was always concerned with the betterment of the students."
Moment of silence
A moment of silence for Mr. Walsh was observed at Wednesday's commissioners meeting.
"He was a true gentleman," Mr. O'Malley said. "All of us lost a great man."
Mr. Walsh's funeral is scheduled for Saturday with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. at Divine Mercy Parish at the Church of St. Joseph, 312 Davis St., Scranton. Obituary on Page B8.
Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter