It was an event the late Joe Pampanin would have loved, because he had participated in so many similar ones.

On Presidents Day, the late Carbon County detective and retired state policeman was remembered at a Miller Keystone Blood Center bloodmobile held in Lansford, where the number of donors exceeded expectations "definitely because of him (Pampanin)," said coordinator John Karnish of Lansford.The bloodmobile visit, one of three sponsored throughout the year by St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, drew a steady flow of donors, with 59 units being collected, which was nearly 1-1/2 times the 40-unit goal set for the event."Joe (Pampanin) was a good man," said Karnish, who has been coordinating the bloodmobiles for St. Katharine's since October, 2008, and who yesterday gave his 107th unit of blood since he started donating back in 1962."I knew him maybe 35-40 years, and he always gave. That's why we wanted the bloodmobile to be in his memory. And, sure enough, a lot of people showed their love for Joe by coming here today to donate, just like he would have."In addition to the 59 units collected, there were 12 referrals among the 71 who intended to donate.Pampanin, who died last Oct. 13 after a nine-month fight against cancer and leukemia, battled myelodysplastic syndrome, a disease that attacks the body's platelets and leaves the victim anemic, said his daughter, Helen McCarroll. That, she said, required numerous blood transfusions during the popular Summit Hill man's battle with the illness. Her father's needs, she said, prompted an awareness of the importance of blood donations."It (giving blood) is an important thing to do," Helen said. "Dad needed it to stay alive, and, so, after our loss, we believe the right thing to do is to try to give back, so that, hopefully, another family's loved one will benefit. We hope to make a positive out of this."Her sister, Ann Paton, added, "We really appreciate everyone's kindness. It's a great feeling to know Dad was loved so much."Karnish, meanwhile, underscored the importance of the bloodmobiles, which are held in February, June and October at St. Katherine's and April, August and December at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Summit Hill, where the Pampanin family worshipped."To me, having an ample blood supply is like having money in the bank," he said. "It you don't have it, there's nothing to draw on. People don't realize how vital it is to have that supply. A lot of sick people rely on it."He recalled Pampanin as being a faithful contributor to the bloodmobile visits to both Summit Hill and Lansford."He always gave," Karnish said.An Army veteran, Pampanin served in the Pennsylvania State Police for 25 years before retiring, and then worked in the county district attorney's office as a detective and victim witness coordinator before his illness. He was also active in community service as a member of the Summit Hill Lions Club.Ironically, at the time of his passing, his wife, the former Betty Philipovich, to whom he was married for 46 years, requested contributions in his name be made to, among other things, the Miller Keystone Blood Center. Yesterday, in his memory, donors continued to honor that wish.