A revered former mayor of Scranton, a former police officer who lit up the holidays and a local, college and NFL standout whose sudden death shocked fans and friends from West Scranton to Wisconsin top the somber list of notable deaths in 2025.

A pair of trailblazers died young and a pair of beloved community pillars left the stage with legacies that live on. Who we lost in 2025:

Samuel Dino Argo: 73, Pittston, known as Danny Argo, local musician who often played La Festa Italiana, and was a longtime member of Pittston City Council, July 18.

George Bieber: 70, Moosic, president of Moosic Borough Council, 14-year member of Riverside School Board who served 17 years as public safety director at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, June 20.

Alex “Ace” Brogna: 86, Pittston native, minor league baseball player and a well-respected basketball and football official, helped bring back professional baseball to area with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, June 7.

Tom Culkin of Scranton decorates his Moosic Street house for Christmas in November 2022, which he enjoyed doing for more than 50 years. (FILE PHOTO)

Tom Culkin: 77, South Scranton, Vietnam War veteran and decorated officer over a 32-year career with the Scranton Police Department, known for extravagant holiday displays at his home, July 17.

William “Billy” Ferrario: 47, West Scranton native and standout offensive lineman with the Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers, Sept. 23.

Paul LaBelle: 78, South Abington Twp., musician, conductor and bandleader best known for founding and leading the Exact Change Band, June 20.

Melanie Naro: 59, Dunmore, first female president of Dunmore Borough Council and first woman elected chair of the UNICO board of directors, Nov. 15.

Christopher Musti: 48, Scranton, Pennsylvania state constable and youngest director elected to Scranton School Board, Feb. 7

Richard N. Roman: 52, Butler Twp., served since January 2019 as the district executive for PennDOT’s Engineering District 4, Nov. 1.

John ‘Stanky’ Stankovic performs during the Kielbasa Festival in Plymouth on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

John “Stanky” Stankovic: 89, Nanticoke, legendary Northeast Pennsylvania polka king who entertained millions of people from around the world for decades, Dec. 25.

John L. Stopay: 86, Plains Twp., ran family’s candy business until 2012 when it was sold, Nov. 27.

Thomas Robert Woods: 86, a well-known local radio and TV personality at WARM Radio, WILK Radio and WBRE-TV, May 19.

Former Scranton Mayor and Veteran, David Wenzel, says a few words at the start of the Rolling Thunder Inc. Pennsylvania Chapter 3 Salute to Veterans Ride on Sunday, July 21, 2013.

David J. Wenzel: 80, Scranton, lifelong public servant, decorated disabled Vietnam combat veteran and advocate for the disabled who served as tax collector and mayor of Scranton, Nov. 5.

© 2025 The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.). Visit thetimes-tribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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