In a year in which COVID-19 played roles in untimely deaths of hundreds, sorrow prevailed throughout the year in the passings of numerous people, including some who were prominent in our communities.

They included:

Jan. 8:

The Rev. Phyllis Wolford, a Tamaqua pastor who inspired the community, was taken in death. She was the well-known and respected pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Tamaqua, since 2008.

The pastor was remembered by community members for her faith and positivity.

Rev. Wolford was born in Palmerton and was a graduate of the town’s high school. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bryant College and later earned her master’s from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

Jan. 23:

COVID-19 claimed the life of longtime Times News photographer Bob Ford of Jim Thorpe. He was 56.

Ford, who joined the Times News staff in 2002, was an award-winning photojournalist who showed the community in his photos and particularly enjoyed covering local sports and following high school athletes through their careers. He took pride in putting together the graphics for the players of the year and also enjoyed taking nature photos and aerial views from a drone.

He won many awards in his career, including a “Best of Show” by the Pennsylvania Associated Press Media Editors in 2019.

Feb. 6:

Co-workers of Sebastian “Sebby” Amico, a Walnutport Realtor, mourned his Jan. 28 passing and recalled he had a heart of gold, and was beloved by family, friends, and co-workers alike.

Amico was a licensed Realtor in Pennsylvania for 33 years, the past eight of which were spent with RE/MAX Unlimited.

He was recognized as one of the top agents on the board of the Greater Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors.

Feb. 11:

Weissport lost one of its most active community volunteers when Linda Schoenberger, 68, passed away due to complications from COVID-19.

Schoenberger served on many local committees, Weissport Borough Council, president of the Redneck Festival, the Concerned Citizens of Weissport and the Lehighton Pool Pals. She was also involved with Easter Seals, the Lions Club, and was a past Brownie/Girl Scout leader.

Feb. 12:

The community service of Edward J. Conarty Jr. was recalled publicly after his passing in an Allentown health center at the age of 92.

Conarty was well-known throughout the region for his commitment to the fire service. He retired as fire chief of the Lehighton Fire Department; was a founding member and former president of the Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1 Ambulance Association; and previously served as treasurer of the 4 County Fireman’s Association.

Feb. 19:

Former Carbon County Commissioner Dean D.W. DeLong was taken in death. He served the county during the 1980s and 1990s and was also a former county treasurer.

As a county commissioner, he was instrumental in the construction of the 911 communications center on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning, creating an archives department and office of fiscal control, and establishing departments to centralize and expand county purchasing and human services.

He also served as chairman of the board from 1992 until 1996.

Sept. 28:

The longtime host of the American Cancer Society’s telethon, Carl “Bud” Wychulis, died after a battle with leukemia.

Bud had a gift for entertaining people, and used it to help his friends and neighbors. He sang and played in bands around Carbon and Schuylkill counties for 50 years.

He played in bands like the Mudflaps, Remember When, and the Bud and George Duo, and was an annual familiar face on annual cancer society telethons.

Dec. 26:

Brian Unangst, sportscaster for Blue Ridge Cable Channel 13, died of complications from COVID-19. Unangst, of Bath, was 50. He leaves behind a wife and four daughters. He was a member of the Wolfpack Search & Recovery. He was a first responder/volunteer for Wolfpack SAR for the last six years, and during that time served as a board president, Captain, and K-9 handler with his K-9 partner Bogie. Unangst was also part of the Christian Motorcycle association and a sports anchor/reporter for BRC13 since 1991.

Dec. 27:

The death of Retired Navy SEAL and the first commanding officer of SEAL Team Six, Richard “Dick” Marcinko was announced on the Navy SEAL Museum’s Facebook page. A native of Lansford, he was 81.

Retired Navy Commander Richard Marcinko in 1980 created and was the first commander of the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six, which shot and killed Osama bin Laden in his compound in Abbottobad, Pakistan. According to armytimes.com, Marcinko led the SEAL team in what has become known as the Navy’s most successful SEAL operation during the Vietnam War: the May 1967 assault on Ilo Ilo Han. Marcinko and his men killed many Viet Cong and destroyed six of their sampans, according to the Navy SEAL Museum. Marcinko deployed a second time with SEAL Team Two during the Vietnam War. His platoon assisted Army Special Forces during the Tet Offensive.