Joseph Daddona

We will always remember Joe for being a very kind, sincere and generous person! He and his wife Anne were so important to
us and will always be remembered . rest in peace!

Joe was as big as life in all that he did. He was always interested in helping others in all his endeavors. He is sorely missed. H James Hulton, former Staff Executive, Allentown - Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce

We can´t believe it´s been 20 years! We still miss you every day, and we hope that you and Anne have rejoined and a dancing to the music

Mayor Joe liked to joke about his trumpet playing at the Allentown Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce board meetings. He had a great sense of humor! Jim Hulton, former Staff Executive, Allentown Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce.

I was a staff executive at the Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce when I knew and worked with Mayor Joe. He was a great invited member of our board of directors. He certainly was a very big factor in Allentown becoming an All America City. He was larger than life in everything that he did. I am still shocked at his passing. He always seemed to be very healthy.

Joe was a great Mayor of Allentown several times. He was always enthusiastic and proud of his city and did well to promote that throughout all his Administrations. I was glad to be associated with him. I am shocked that he passed so early because he always seemed to be so healthy. May he rest in peace. Jim Hulton, former Staff Executive, Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce.

I always admired Joe as one of the outstanding leaders of and for Allentown, and for the Lehigh Valley. I first got to know Joe when Allentown re-applied to become an All-America City for the second time. It was a pleasure to work with him in the re-application process. I was an Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce executive then. It was an honor to work with him on the TV show Lehigh Valley Crossfire after he completed his third term as Mayor of Allentown. It still is hard to believe he is gone. Rest in peace, Joe. Jim Hulton, now a resident of North Wales, PA.

I still miss you everyday! I always admired Your strength and love
For your family. You were a great man.

It is still unbelievable to me that Joe is gone. Joe was larger than life in all that he did. Although I was not a Democrat, I respected Joe for what he believed in and for all his hard work that he did to make Allentown and the Lehigh Valley a better place to live and work. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him on Lehigh Valley Crossfire.

Jim Hulton
Communications Professional
Philadelphia, PA Main Line

I knew Joe when he was Mayor of Allentown three times and I was a chamber executive and later was honored to partner with him to do Lehigh Valley Crossfire on WFMZ-TV. Joe was a great promoter and firm believer in all the things for which Allentown ever stood. I am shocked at his passing.

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 442 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the `Mayor Joseph S. Daddona Memorial Post Office'. (Introduced in House)



HR 2490 IH





109th CONGRESS



1st Session



H. R. 2490

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 442 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the `Mayor Joseph S. Daddona Memorial Post Office'.





IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES



May 19, 2005

Mr. DENT (for himself, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Ms. HART, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. SHERWOOD, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. MURTHA, Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. PITTS, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. MURPHY, and Mr. PLATTS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform







---------------------------

-----------------------------------

------------------





A BILL

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 442 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the `Mayor Joseph S. Daddona Memorial Post Office'.





Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,



SECTION 1. MAYOR JOSEPH S. DADDONA MEMORIAL POST OFFICE.



(a) Designation- The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 442 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, shall be known and designated as the `Mayor Joseph S. Daddona Memorial Post Office'.



(b) References- Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the `Mayor Joseph S. Daddona Memorial Post Office'.

Joe Daddona was always so friendly to me that I would occasionally wonder why he thought I was so special. From when I was a novice running for City Council without a chance of winning, until now when I work at the Lehigh County Senior Center, Joe was always so pleasant and accommodating. I finally realized that it wasn't because I was special, it was because Joe was special. He treated everyone with the utmost respect and courtesy. He is deeply missed.

Though I may not recall everything Mr Dadonna has done for the city of Allentown, I do recall that his reputation was respectfull. My prayers go out to his family during this dificult time. God bless you all!!

My deepest sympathy, my prayers are with you & your family. Joe was loved by MANY people. I will miss his kind and outgoing personality. He always had the time for everybody he knew.

With Our Sympathy & Prayers.

Joseph Daddona was mayor for several of the years I lived in Allentown while employed by the Morning Call. I admired him as a man who worked unceasingly to promote the city. After I left Allentown, I wrote the mayor a letter abuot bocci courts in Hershey. He responded with a very warm letter. He will be missed.

Mr Dadonna:

Was truly what a mayor and citizen

should be. He was genuine,dedicated,

and above all PROUD of his city and

also PROUD of his heritage. I'll...

always remember you for what you did for others,go in peace you good and faithful servant you earned the rewards that awaiting you in heaven.

God bless you in your eternal rest, and deepest sympathy to the entire family. You may be gone, but will never be forgotten.

Thanks for everything Joe.

Wayne, Elaine Beller & Family

To the Family,

My family and I were very sorry to hear of your loss. Kim and I were good friends as children and I can remember the fun we had playing with Joe at the house. He was always bright, caring and enjoyable to be around. These are some of my fondest childhood memories. My prayers are with you all.

Sending my sincerest condolence to all of the Daddona family ...especially his nieces Vicki, Sherry, LooLoo, and their mother Lucille ... they were a close family and lucky to have had Joe for their Uncle.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Mayor Daddona's family. He was a kind, good spirited and well liked gentleman. You will always be Remenber..

Our thoughts and prayers go out to

the Daddona family.

We in the Lehigh Valley have lost a good and faithful servant.



Al & Claire Fruhwirth

My deepest sympathy for the Daddona Family. I worked with Joe at Western Electric in the "Test Set Construction" Dept, which was located on Franklin Street at that time.

I can only remember him being a jolly guy, always with the jokes, you never knew he had a serious moment. However, his political career proved that false. Joe was a

doer, he got things done and was for the common man. Bless you Joe and family.

Dear Anne & Family,

My thoughts are with you at this very difficult time. Having had the pleasure of working with Joe over the years on many business projects, I will miss him for so many reasons. Perhaps Joe's infectius passion for everything he would become involved in, from government to marketing, is what will leave a void in my life the most. I'm so proud to call Joe my friend and cherish the time we spent together. Warm Regards, Jeff Wenck

Our deepest sympathies go out to Mayor Daddona's family. He was a kind, good spirited and well liked gentleman. I worked under Mr. Daddona my first five years working for the City of Allentown. He was always concerned how the work atmosphere was and how you were being treated as a worker. He treated you as an equal. He always had a joke that would make you laugh no matter how you felt at the time. He will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives he touched.



God Bless,



Judi & Mike Volanski Jr.

I was his hairstylist when he had his talk show on t.v. He was the most pleasent person to talk too. He will be missed. Condolences to his family.---Jackie

Dear Ann and Family:

As I sit here preparing to attend tonight's viewing and tomorrow's service, I find it difficult to express to you the love and affection I had for Mayor Joe and you. In this time of grief I am only relieved in knowing that I was so fortunate to serve as Mayor of Easton during his tenure in Allentown. I am proud to say he was my mentor, I learned so much from him about public service and managing a city. We travelled the state and country together and wherever we went he was well-liked and respected not only for his humor, but more importantly for his total commitment to his position.

I wish you, his family, my deepest and most sincere gratitude for allowing him the time he spent in public service and please now that he will be missed by many, many people all over the region, state and country.

A lot of wonderful tributes have been offered this week and most of them have to do with his love of Allentown. From my perspective Mayor Joe was dedicated to his city but also very progressive in his thinking and approach to Valley-wide issues.

I am happy to say he was a good friend and I miss him already.

I first met Joe when I became a member of the Allentown Sertoma Club in the early 1970’s. I distinctively remember his indomitable spirit for life, his incredible ability at multitasking, his infectious laughter, and a huge appointment book intended to keep him on schedule! In subsequent years I became an Allentown Councilmember. Although we didn’t always agree, his heart and mind, was, at all times in the right place, Allentown and its citizens.

My deepest sympathy,

Dear Ann,



Our thoughts and prayers are with you during your time of grief. Joe was so special to so many people. I had the pleasure of knowing Joe, from his work with Queen City Electric. He always had a smile and always had a joke! He helped me get my Notary commission.

A really great person.



I will always remember his birthday - Aug. 14 since that is my mother's birthday. I told him once about sharing the same birthday as my mother and the following year - my mother got a birthday card from him. That's the kind of guy he was - always doing for others.



May he rest in peace.

Dear Ann & family,

Joe will be greatly missed. I first remember meeting Joe when I worked for Milton Sheftel, and at Allen Supply. Joe was always so friendly and interested in what everyone had to say. Through the years since then I ran into Joe at a number of places and he always had a smile on his face, he always asked how I was and my family. I was always amazed that he remembered me from our first meeting.

God bless you all.

One of the kindest people you could know. Mayor Daddona attended our son's Boy Scout Banquets and we always ended up sitting at his table, graciously he spoke to everyone and made you feel comfortable whatever walk of life you were from. He represented Allentown well and loved doing it. I will miss seeing him at the area events. My sincere sympathies to his family and those who knew him best.

I think that everybody who knew

ex-mayor Joe Daddona feels like a part of them is gone with the passing of our beloved mayor. But,Joe Daddona's example of kindness, caring and his sense of humor lives on in the people he came to know. Joe attended my father's funeral and sent my mother a long heartfelt letter expressing his condolences. When the mayor was receiving slack because, he was mayor and also helping people in the community through his talk show, I wrote a letter to the editor expressing that this mayor helps the community through his talk show. Joe Daddona, subsequently, telephoned me to thank me for the letter. I will miss him. God Bless

Joe Daddona and his wife Ann, and the children. I think Joe Daddona is up in Heaven sharing jokes and talking politics with Pete. Sincerely, Mary

I met Joe in the early 1960's at my first Junior Chamber of Commerce Meeting in Allentown when I was a Health Educator for the former Lehigh County TB and Health Society. Joe was an effervescent and a very smart leader who cared about everyone. When we became "retired roosters" at the JCC's, and as I was about to depart for Ohio for my next assignment, he reminded me to always look ahead and adapt to change. He will be missed by all.

Joe Daddona: Absolutely Allentown in All things Allentown. He had the interest and spirit of the City at heart, and the jokes that would make you laugh (or groan). He was proud of them just as he was proud of Allentown and its citizens.



Now he's off with General Harry Trexler, and I expect finding new jokes and stories as they look over Allentown together.

Joe was a man that loved being Mayor and represented the city well. A real leader that will be missed. He made the city a better place.

Dear Ann & family,

It was with great sadness that we read about Joe's passing. Joe and I first met in 1956 when he was a freshman at Lehigh and I was a year ahead of him. We were both local students and shared many common interests, friends, and membership in organizations. He would visit my home in Bethlehem and even if I were not there he would spend an hour talking with my mother. She placed a high value on education and admired a Korean war veteran who was studying electrical engineering. Later when Joe first ran for mayor she wished she lived in Allentown just so she could vote for him. Joe provided many pleasant memories to that little old Polish lady. And to me too.

The last time I saw Joe had to be about 20 years ago when he had participated in a fun run with his daughter. Our joy is knowing that Joe is now in a better place with no more suffering, an eternity of running for fun and maybe even mayor, and a chance to spend another hour or two talking with that little old Polish lady.



God bless,

Paul & Evelyn Podgurski

Dear Ann & Family,

Joe was a great person which everyone already knows. No matter when I saw him, there was always a smile on his face and a hand to shake. He will surely be missed by many, many people. I am sorry for your loss but know he is in much better hands than anyone can imagine. I am sure he is keeping watch on all of you and will give you strength in the times you least expect it.

Debbie Niedermeyer & Family

In 1978 I was 16 years old and worked as an intern at Channel 69, WFMZ. Joe Daddona began hosting his own show there. After the first live show Joe went out of his way to ask me, a teenager running the camera, what I thought of the show. It made me feel great that The Mayor would ask me my opinion of his work. He continued to do that for the rest of the time I worked there. Mayor Daddona genuinely cared about others feelings, no matter their age or "status." That's a lesson for all of us. Thank you Joe, for all the good work you did, and the many small acts of kindness. God Bless You.

my sincere sympathies to the family. he was a great man ,and a good mayor.

I remember Joe coming into my Half Price Card Store/Cards n Things at 805 Hamilton Mall. He used to say we were the best kept secret in Allentown, He tried so hard to revitalize the downtown shopping district. I liked his down to earth personality and respected his roll up your sleeves work ethic.

I just wanted to say what a joy it was to take care of Mayor Joe while he was on our Hospice Unit. I also happened to be the one to pronounce him on his final night with us. It was our pleassure to take care of him since he took excellent care of Allentown while he was in office. He like Ronald Reagan loved what they did and enjoyed their time in public service. Hope this brings your some peace and comfort in this difficult time. A lot of people feel like they lost a loved one. May God bless you and your family.

Diane Roebock RN

dear mrs daddona & family i'm very sorry for your loss, joe was a good man he will be sadly missed. bonita loch & family friends of the charles costello family

A very good Mayor.

Very friendly man.

Allentown will miss him.

Joe was a very positive influence in my life and somewhat of a mentor.I was a member of a small group of business people who with Joe's leadership started "The Business Group". Our hearts and prayers are extended to the Daddona family at this time.

Our prayers are with the Daddona Family.



Joe and Patti Gatti-Glory

We lost a good friend with Joe's passing. Although we didn't always see "eye to eye" on politics, we always felt "heart to heart" about life. One can only guess the number of lives Joe has impacted. I will always remember Joe and be sorry that he left us so soon. Love to Ann and family

My sincere condolences to the Daddona family for their loss. Mayor Joe was a great man with tireless energy for the City of Allentown and its' citizens. Although he will be greatly missed, his family and friends can rest with the thought that he is in a much better place.

Although I didn't know Mayor Daddona personally, I did live in Allentown when he was mayor. I know Victor, his brother. My deepest sympathy goes out to Victor and the whole Daddona family.

(Joan, Formerly of Allentown Toy Co.)

Joe is the reason I'm self-employed. He provided my initial contacts for starting my own consulting business. I'll really miss his emails with questions about his computer and the visits I made to his home to fix the never ending problems with his WinFax program. Joe will always be rememberd by me for Malone's pizza, countless coupons for Yocco's hot dogs, and, most of all, for his love of people. Rest in peace Joe. And may your family be comforted in this time of great loss.

My sincere sympathies to the family and our community for the passing of one great Allentonian.

My late husband, Lee, was also a Sertoma member and we had many fun times together.

God Bless.

Morris & Sara(Sally) Ginder

Ann, I had the pleasure of knowing you and Joe through a friend's mother who ran an herb shop and served tea. You were always such loving wonderful people. Joe had such a good sense of humor and I truely enjoyed the time I spent with you both. My prayers are with you. Thank you for sharing Joe with us.

Ann,

You have our deepest sympathy. Joe was a dynamic person especially when we served in the Jaycees in 1962-63. He will be remembered as a very kind person and was well liked by my parents as they met him at the Knights of Columbus. I also new Joe as a bright Electrical Engineer when we worked at Western Electric. We have all lost a good friend.

Lou and Sheila Demko

Joe was a great mayor and made our city proud of itself. He and I shared the fact that our fathers were shoemakers and Italian immigrants. During the recent Senior Fest, he helped me and AARP get a booth to help explain the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. I recall his e-mailing me to say how important this project was.

Dear Ann and Family,

Please accept our condolences in the loss of your husband. Please accept our sincere sorrow.

We had a Pa. lottery operation in Freemansburg, if you recall, Ann.

Joe was a visionary, and part of his vision included technology and the Internet. Back in the mid-90's, his radio show with Bobby Gunther Walsh at WAEB-790 was one of the first broadcasts to stream on the web -- complete with live webcam -- not only in this area, but in the country.



I had the honor of producing that show online, streamed by Enter.net, and Joe knew -- even back then -- that the Net was going to change the entire field of communication.



And true to form . . . it happened.

Dear Ann and Family,

Our sympathy and thoughts are with you. Joe was a wonderful person and mayor. I was lucky to see him last fall and recieve yet another pen. Since the early '70's Joe felt like family. Having worked with my father, officiating my brothers wedding and proclaiming Jim and Catherine Chambers Day at my parents 50th aniversary party Joe was always warm, kind and funny.

We will all miss him.

Sincerely,

Valerie Chambers-Barber

to the family of joseph,may peace of christ be with all of you at this sad time , he is with god and his mother and father whom he always spoke so well of, thank you and it was apleasure to have known you joseph i had a great convesation with joseph at emma,s furnal , he said it all ,

Our deepest sympathy to all of the family. He was a great Mayor.

I first met Joe as a member of the Allentown Jaycees in 1967. After I served as the President in 1970-71, Joe approached me at our annual banquet, following the installation of the new president, and he said, "There is nothing quite so usless as a past president." He was right.

I've had the pleasure of serving with Joe on a number of civic & social activities over the years. I also had the opportunity recently to communicate with him by e-mail when I learned of his condition. As usual, he was upbeat and busy. He'll be missed by us all. And yes, I have an "All American City" license plate signed by my Mayor. My condolences to Ann and her family. He left a great void in Allentown.

Ann, our deepest sympathy!

Love,

Muriel & Dick Diefenderfer

Sharon Diefenderfer

Debbie

Our prayers are with you!

I will always remember the Mayor's calls to my father after he was diagnosed with cancer in 1972 until his death in 1977. While they knew each other from my father's 30 years with the Allentown Police Department, Mayor Daddona was really just checking in with an old friend. Those calls meant so much to my father.

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS. THANX FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR (ALLEN) TOWN.



DAVID, LORALYE, ALYSSA, & VICTORIA

Deepest sympathy to the Daddona Family. I went to Wm. Allen H.S. with Kim, and though I only had the pleasure of visiting the Daddona household a few times, I was always treated with a warm welcome. Blessings to you all, and may the Lord be with you in this time of sorrow.

As President Of The Sertoma Club Of Easton I have had the pleasure of meeting & enjoying the company Of Joseph Daddona.



He will be greatly missed by all the members of our club & also the East Pa/Nj District



He'll be hard to replace in Sertoma

We send our sympathy to all of the family....

We never had the please of meeting Joe Daddona, but had spoken to him several times, last year, about Football, which he enjoyed. I pray he wasn't in too much pain, and if he was at least now he is in peace and with the Lord.



I ask the Lord to Bless Joe Daddona and his family, helping them through their time of grief. Help the family to remember all their 'special' times, the memories, the good times, the laughter shared they with him.



Sincerely,

My father, Clifford Bartholomew, also a mayor of Allentown, always spoke highly of Joe. I was at Allentown High with him. My mother Ruth and I express our deepest sympathy. Sincerely, Chuck Bartholomew

My father grew up with Mr. Daddona and one of the fondest memories I have was at a picnic up at Camp Horseshoe when Mr. Daddona took some of the kids for a walk - I will never forget him bringing his bugle along and playing it on top of the mountain. Also, he was a true friend to my father and I can never thank him enough for the kind words he expressed when my father passed away. May God rest his sole. Allentown was a much better place because of Mr. Daddona. My sympathies go out to his family - I will keep them all in prayers.

Our deepest sympathies to Mike & Vivian, and all of the Daddona family. Joe was truly a GREAT Allentonian!

Joe,you are one good friend.

Dear Mrs. Daddona

The first time I heard his name was when I lived in Syria in the 1970s and 1980s. I saw his photograph with my father in law in our small village of Zawaitina, Syria. He was truely the mayor of the Christian Valley as well as he was the mayor of the city of Allentown. The Christian Valley is where most the Syrians in Allentown came from the towns of Amar, Mishtayeh, Marmarita, Hawash, Mezina, Ain Al-Raheb, Anaz, Mashta Azar, Jawar Al-Afes, Kafra, Nasera, Hosen, and Zawaitina.

When I moved to Allentown, he was still the mayor, he was always respected by all the people I knew. Later on I enjoyed listening to him on AM790 radio. Everytime I heard his voice on the radio I prayed for him to stay in good health. I never met him, but he always had a special place in my thoughts. He was a man that I always respected and I am sure he will be always be remembered as a great man and as a man who stood for his words by all the people of the Lehigh Valley and the people of the Christian Valley in Syria. Now, my family and I live in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and believe me if I tell you I am very sad that I never met Mr. Daddona and I will not have the chance to be there in his departure. We will pray that he is in a better place now.

He was a great Mayor and will be missed dearly...

OUR SINCERE SYMPATHY TO THE DADDONA FAMILY. WE LOVED MAYOR DADDONA AND HE WILL BE IN OUR HEARTHS FOREVER.

IRENE & ERNIE TOTH

Will be missed by all.