For 37 years, Jeff Guzzo served the New Tripoli area as a delivery driver. During that time, he established himself as a caring person, one who took the time to talk to people, to reach out and help where he could. The people he served considered him part of their families.

Guzzo retired from UPS on April 26. He was celebrated at a lunch in his honor Sunday at the Thunderhead Lodge along Route 309 in West Penn Township.

He explained how he started working for UPS.

“In 1987, after high school, I graduated from college,” Guzzo said. “I went for political science and criminal justice. I did my internship with the Allentown police. I had some friends who were cops, and I decided ‘This isn’t for me.’ ”

At the time, a girl he was dating suggested that get a job with UPS, saying that it was a really good company.

“I did, and here I am,” Guzzo said.

Close to 100 people stopped by to swap stories, enjoy lunch and wish him luck in the future. Everyone there had good things to say about Guzzo.

“He always took time to talk to his customer, no matter how busy he was,” Dorothy Kuntz said. “He was a hard worker, a wonderful person.”

“During the pandemic, my husband and I joined a wine club,” Sylvia Gardner said. “Whenever the boxes arrived, Jeff always brought them inside for us.”

“There’s nobody like him,” Darlene Kistler said. “When my husband died, he just shut the truck off and just sat with me.”

Guzzo was also known by the four-legged neighbors, too. Dogs would jump into his truck for special treats.

Eddie Lubinsky organized a GoFundMe for Guzzo, and presented him with a check of just over $5,000.

“Thank you,” Guzzo exclaimed. “Thank you to all of you.”

What are his plans now that he’s retired?

“My son and granddaughter live in Florida,” he said. “So, I’ll eventually move, maybe in about a year and a half.”