By Carla J. Zambelli,

Richard “Dick” Yoder, a native son and two-term Mayor of West Chester,  passed away on Tuesday. He was 79 years old.

Yoder grew up in the Borough of West Chester, attended high school there, and graduated from West Chester State Teachers College in 1959.  

After serving in the United States Marine Corp, he began his teaching career at the high school level. He later became a professor at West Chester University.  

Yoder ran for West Chester Mayor in 2001 and again in 2005. He was elected both times. After reaching the eight-year term limit, he was succeeded by Carolyn Comitta in 2010.

Mayor Comitta, who served on Borough Council during Yoder’s tenure as mayor, credited Yoder as her inspiration to seek higher public office. 

“When I was thinking of running for mayor I met with him regularly at Gramm’s Kitchen. We would have lunch and I would ask what it was like to be mayor; what makes a good mayor. He was always generous with his time,” Comitta said.  “After I was elected, I continued to have lunch with him regularly. I continued to learn.”

Former Borough Council Member Wayne Burton described him as being all about the people, always gracious and inclusive. “He was a great guy who did great things; always a service to his community,” Burton said.

Former West Chester Mayor Tom Chambers issued a brief statement about the loss of his dear friend Dick Yoder:

“Dick and I were both born and raised in West Chester and I have known his family practically all my life. We were personal friends. We were also fellow former members of the U.S. Marine Corps.

To sum up what I think about Dick Yoder, and what I am sure so many of his friends and acquaintances who knew him well thought of Dick, he was West Chester through and through, a guy who loved his community and served it so well, not only as the Borough’s Mayor for 8 years, but also by his active service in a number of community organizations.

As a West Chester citizen, he was truly remarkable, caring and supporting his fellow citizens and culminating with his election to two terms as the town’s Mayor, a post that he earned and richly deserved. And he didn’t disappoint.

I have lost a good friend and comrade. My condolences and heartfelt sympathy go out to his wife, Jean, and his great family. It was my privilege to have known him and I am grateful that he counted me as one of his many good friends.”

Ernie McNeely, Borough Manager during most of Yoder’s tenure and current Township Manager of Lower Merion, described Yoder as a true gentleman.

“Dick Yoder was a dedicated public servant. He transcended any political label as Mayor of West Chester and had broad support from all parts of the community,” said Val DiGiorgio, chairman of the Republican Party of Chester County, echoing McNeely’s comments.

In addition to public service, Yoder’s love for sports, especially football, was a guiding theme in his life. He was asked by WCHE 1520 AM to call a couple of WCU football games and ended up being the color commentator for two years. He never asked for a penny in compensation from the station.

WCHE General Manager Bill Mason described Dick Yoder as Mr. West Chester.  “It was literally god, country, family, and West Chester,” Mason said. “To meet him was to become a friend. He was beloved by everyone he came in contact with.”

Tom Comitta–town planner and husband of West Chester’s current Mayor Carolyn Comitta–praised Yoder’s abilities as a broadcaster. “He did the most astute play by play at WCHE 1520 AM; the most vivid announcing. You could visualize the entire game on the radio.”

Yoder’s teaching career spanned over 40 years. Yoder began his career as a teacher and coach in the West Chester Area School District.  In 1962, he accepted a position at West Chester State College as an Assistant Professor of Physical Education. He coached football for 17 years in the borough. In 1979, he accepted a post as Director of Athletics at WCU. He also received a Master’s Degree in Administration from Villanova University In 1962.   

While at West Chester, he coordinated the graduate program of Sport and Athletic Administration and served as Chair of the Physical Education Department, Acting Associate Dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Coordinator of Safety Education.

In 1979, as Director of Athletics, he was responsible for relocating the Philadelphia Eagles to West Chester University for their summer football camp.

Yoder was also a member of the West Chester Rotary Club and a charter member of the West Chester Sunrise Rotary Club. 

In 2009 the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce awarded Yoder their Lifetime Achievement Award. Six years later they gave him their “Citizen of the Year Award”.  At that ceremony, Mayor Comitta gave Yoder a key to the borough but not before offering some words of praise.

“Dick, this award is citizen of the year but I would call you citizen of the century.”

He is survived by his beloved wife Jean and his children and grand-children.