Each week, I focus my attention on someone or something Greater Pittston, but this week I’m changing it up a bit.

The late Sid Michaels Kavulich wasn’t my legislator, but he was someone I called a friend. Sid was a friend to so, so many people. Sid passed away this past week from complications from heart surgery; he was only 62 years old.

Most people are lucky if they have a successful career at one job, but Sid was successful at two careers – TV and as a PA congressman.

Many of you will remember Sid as one of the sports broadcasters from WBRE/WYOU for many years along side his friend and mentor, the late Jim Miller. He went by Sid Michaels back in those days. Jim and Sid were quite the combination and, when Jim passed away, Sid was devastated.

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If you had seen Sid over the last few years, it may come as a bit of a surprise that he even needed heart surgery. I had no clue because he was the epitome of being in great shape. Somewhere between his TV career and his time as a PA congressman, Sid got into bodybuilding.

He was in magnificent shape. I bumped into him after one of his bodybuilding competitions; he had lost a ton of weight and was tanned as many bodybuilders are for competition. At first, as I was amazed by how he looked. Part of me was jealous and the other part was stunned at how much weight he had lost.

Sid was a big supporter and a fan of Paralympic skier Stephanie Jallen. He was on board with Team Stephanie when she was very young and just aspiring to race, only dreaming of competing in a Paralympic Games at some point.

I had to take a photo of a fundraising effort for Stephanie and Sid was there — that’s when we met, striking up a friendship that lasted 12 years.

It was always great to see Sid out and about or if I had to cover something where he had to perform some kind of official duty.

If I was covering something and Sid was there, I always made sure I ran him down to say hello. No matter how busy he was, he made time to say hi and chat for a few minutes. He made me feel like we were old buddies from the neighborhood block.

Sid and I not only grew up in different towns, but in different counties, as well — he in Lackawanna County and me in Luzerne County. Even though I looked older than him, I thought he was a few years older than me. Turns out, he was only a year older than me.

I always felt honored Sid knew me because he knew tons of people from his broadcasting career and then from representing his legislative district.

Another fact many may not know, Sid was a real man of God. He was a devout Catholic. I recall running into him at an event and him telling me he couldn’t stay long because he had to be at church for a commitment as he served his church in several capacities.

I loved running into him at RailRiders games where he was so relaxed taking in a game with his lovely wife Linda. In fact, it seems like a few weeks ago, but it was more like two months ago, I saw him at Agolino’s Restaurant in West Pittston.

“You’re a little out of your territory,” I said to him. He laughed and said he really enjoyed the food there. I’m racking my brain, but that may have been the last time I saw him.

Sid and Linda raised three children, Loni Kavulich-Loiselle, Ariel and Zachary Kavulich, in Taylor, the town in which he grew up.

I’d like to thank Loni for keeping all Sid’s 2,000 friends on Facebook updated about his health condition since the surgery. It was a few days before he passed away that I felt Sid was going to pull through because Loni had posted a positive comment on his condition. It was a false hope and I’m very sorry we lost him.

Sid’s work wasn’t done yet; he had so many more years left to help the constituents in his district and beyond. He was a give the shirt off his back type of guy.

He was up for re-election this year and, next month for the general election, Sid was unopposed which would have allowed him to hold office for another term. You know a candidate is really good when they run unopposed.

For Linda and his children, Sid will be greatly missed. For his constituents, he will be a tough man to replace.

Sid’s viewing will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Riverside Jr./Sr. High School.

Good luck, Jimmy

It’s hard to end this column without wishing our good friend Jimmy Fisher a fond farewell as he departs the Sunday Dispatch and Times Leader Media Group.

Jimmy was a transplant from outside the area and had to figure out who the key players are in Greater Pittston. After all these years here, it’s safe to say, Jimmy has become one of our adopted sons and everyone now knows Jimmy Fisher.

Job well done, my friend, best of luck and congratulations on your recent marriage.

Quote of the week

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.” – Jonathan Swift, Irish author

Thought of the week

“The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming other and no one thinks of about reforming himself.” – St. Peter of Alcantara

Bumper sticker

“Genius is one of the many forms of insanity.” – Cesare Lombroso, Italian criminologist

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My Corner,

Your Corner

Tony Callaio

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-655-1418 or by email at sd@psdispatch.com.