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ASHLEY — Sitting Mayor David Evans passed away Wednesday morning after a series of strokes. Evans, 81, had a long career in politics, spanning terms as a member of the Hanover Area School Board as well as mayor of the small borough.

“I always called him the godfather of politics,” Joe McGlynn, councilman and fire chief, said. “He was my dearest friend.”

Along with being a member of the Hanover Area School Board for 34 years, Evans also served on the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center Joint Operating Committee.

According to Evans’ obituary, he graduated in 1953 from Ashley High School and attended Penn State University.

Evans’ son Dave said his father was his best friend.

“Dad was the mayor and a gentleman,” Dave said, adding that the mayor loved his family, was proud of his Irish heritage and relished opportunities to be involved in community service.

Those in politics had similar sentiments for Evans.

“He cared about people,” Councilman Frank Sorokach said.

Sorokach spent time on the school board with Evans in the 1980s as well as on borough council while Evans served as the borough’s chief executive.

The councilman said Evans “never missed a Saturday” of work at Carter Footwear. He also worked as a courier for the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority until his retirement in 2014, Evans’ obituary states.

The mayor was also a member of the Lions Club in Ashley.

Joe Wroblewski, a past international president of the club, said Evans was “always there” for events and charity functions with the club.

“He was very good in the standpoint of participation,” Wroblewski, of Dallas, said.

Dave said his father “loved the town he grew up in.

“He could be found singing Sinatra at Charlie’s (Cafe) or the Ashley American Legion, or rooting for the kids at the Hanover games.”

Evans
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By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko.