Sadness prevailed throughout the region with the loss of a number of prominent residents in 2025.

Here at the Times News, we anguished with the passing of our esteemed retired society editor, Marigrace Heyer Parfitt, who died on Aug. 27, while among the other notable passings was that of the legendary Marian Catholic High School retired principal John P. Malarkey; the loss of a former Nesquehoning mayor and a current councilwoman; and a number of deaths of people prominent in the business and civic communities.

Here is a look back at those deaths:

Marigrace Heyer Parfitt

Described in our headline as a “pillar of the newspaper,” Marigrace left us on Aug. 27 at the age of 86.

She was the wife of Robert “Bobby” Parfitt, retired Times News editor.

Described by reporter Amy Miller as her “mentor, confidante and friend,” Marigrace had an admirable career in the newspaper industry that began in the 1960s and lasted until her well-deserved retirement in September 2006.

Her hard work showed many times as she became a statewide award-winner in the profession.

John P. Malarkey

“Mr. Marian,” Malarkey, passed on June 5 at the age of 91. He was the husband of Jane (Stutzman) Malarkey.

For decades, Malarkey’s name was synonymous with the Catholic school in Hometown.

He began his teaching career in 1960 at Marian and was assistant principal from 1970 to 1977. In 1977, he was promoted to principal, a position he held until his retirement in 1998.

Even after retirement, Malarkey remained involved at Marian, where he labored thousands of hours as a Men of Marian.

He received the Panther Valley Shamrock Award in 1988 and was inducted into the Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Marian Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2021, he was bestowed the honor of having the Marian Catholic High School Gymnasium dedicated in his name. In a culmination of his life’s work, Marian High School inducted Malarkey into the Distinguished Marian Alumni Hall of Fame in 2023.

K. Tony Walck

Nesquehoning residents saw former mayor K. Tony Walck and sitting councilwoman Mark Fox lose their lives this past year. Walck died on Feb. 3 and Fox succumbed on Nov. 29.

Walck, the husband of Rose (Sniscak) Walck, served as mayor from 2003 through 2013. During that time, he was active in many community groups and events, including helping to start a junior recreation commission and crime watch group.

He also served as the borough’s Community Emergency Response Team coordinator, was part of the Carbon County Animal Response Team and Nesquehoning Lions Club, and volunteered as a fire police officer and crossing guard at the Panther Valley Elementary School.

Mary Fox

Fox, a longtime Nesquehoning volunteer and councilwoman, was known for her big heart and love for the community. She served as vice president of borough council, and in November was reelected to the council, which she served since 2010.

In addition to serving on council, Fox was known throughout the community, most recently getting certified to serve as Meeds United Methodist Church’s pastor, as well as a volunteer with the area Girl Scout program.

Over the years, she served on the Nesquehoning Planning Commission, was the chair of the sewer committee, volunteered at Coaldale Hospital as a candy striper, was a camp director at Camp Evergreen, and was a member of Nesquehoning Historical Society.

Leonard W. Ostergaard

The co-owner of Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy in the Lewistown Valley, Ostergaard, 64, of Andreas, passed away Feb. 2.

He and his wife of 35 years, Ann (Daukshus), owned and operated Heisler’s. The business was started Ostergaard’s uncle and aunt, Morris and Pearl Heisler, in 1957.

The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce said Ostergaard was a beloved member of the community and owner of the diary bar that is a cornerstone of the local economy and way of life.

Linda Yulanavage

The Tamaqua community lost a woman described as “a tireless advocate when Yulanavage died on March 23.

The longtime Tamaqua community leader, volunteer and businesswoman was remembered for her dedication to the borough, her family and her friends.

The 76-year-old was the former Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce executive director and Tamaqua Main Street manager.

She was a founding member of the Tamaqua SOS (Save Our Station), which spared the historic Tamaqua Train Station from the wrecking ball, and the Tamaqua Beautification Association. She was named Citizen of the Year by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce in 1990 and served on Tamaqua Borough Council.

John Drury

A key figure in the revitalization of Jim Thorpe, Drury died on June 12 at the age of 92.

He founded the Mauch Chunk Museum, was a member of the Kemmerer Park Board, past president of the Jim Thorpe Commerce Association, member of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, as well as executive director of the Switchback Gravity Railroad Foundation.

In 2002, he was named one of Mauch Chunk Trust Company’s Community Heroes.

His passion to help those less fortunate drove him to become an integral part of Carbon County Chapter of Family Promise, which provides shelter for local families in need.

Others of note

The Palmerton community mourned the passing of former borough fire Chief Joseph Kercsmar.

Kercsmar, 73, of Palmerton, died on Feb. 20. He was the husband of Joann M. (DeSousa) Kercsmar.

He was employed for over 43 years by the Borough of Palmerton, retiring in 2014.

A lifelong member of the Palmerton Volunteer Fire Company, he worked his way up from junior firefighter in 1968, to becoming fire chief of both departments No. 1 and No. 2.

The Marian community also lost a second school leader when Scott H. Murphy, 42, of Lake Hauto, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 14.

He was the husband of Wendy (Marek) Murphy.

Murphy was the head basketball coach in Hometown, where he just guided the Colts to the District 11 championship.

He was head coach there for three seasons and previously was an assistant coach for the Colt cagers for six years.

A second Times News retiree, Carol A. Zickler, 81, of Mechanicsburg, formerly of Nesquehoning, passed away on Sept. 24. She was the wife of Edward L. Zickler Jr.

Carol was the Nesquehoning town correspondent for our newspaper for over 40 years and was a past president of the Nesquehoning Women’s Club.

Nesquehoning lost another former community leader when Bernard J. Gogal, 82, passed on Aug. 21. A lifetime member of the Nesquehoning Fire Company, he served as its chief from 1975 to 1992.

The community of Slatington mourned the loss of longtime firefighter Anthony Gnas, who died on Dec. 2.

Gnas served the community with dedication for more than 60 years, providing guidance and knowledge to generations of firefighters. He was also an assistant EMA director for the borough.

And we would be remiss if we did not mention the passing of Lamont R. “Mike” Ebbert, 91, of Lehighton, who passed away on Dec. 29, 2024, and was laid to rest in early January.

He taught in the Lehighton Area School District from 1959 to 1972, when he became assistant principal of Lehighton Area High School, and later became principal of three Lehighton elementary schools before returning to Lehighton High until his retirement.

He was also a football coach at Lehighton High School from 1959 to 1971, formerly served on the borough council and was a member of Lehighton’s Water Authority Board for 34 years.