BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Northampton County on Friday was mourning the passing of county Controller Richard “Bucky” Szulborski.
Szulborski, a former Bethlehem city councilman and county controller for nearly the past two years, died of natural causes, County Executive Lamont McClure said.
He had given the controller’s report at a Northampton County Council meeting two weeks ago.
- Richard "Bucky" Szulborski served twice as Northampton County's interim controller
- He served three terms on Bethlehem City Council, too
- A Democrat, Szulborski grew up in South Bethlehem
McClure said Szulborski twice stepped up to serve as controller on an interim basis — first in 2018 after Controller Stephen Barron resigned to join McClure’s administration and again in 2021 after the death of Controller Tony Bassil.
“I knew him well enough to appreciate how much joy he brought to the job,” McClure said. “He took it seriously without taking himself seriously, and we always really appreciated that.”
A Democrat, Szulborski grew up in South Bethlehem and served three terms on city council in the 1980s and ‘90s. He was boyhood friends with former Mayor Bob Donchez, who succeeded Szulborski on council in 1995.
“He was very involved in the city, his church and the community."Bob Donchez, former Bethlehem mayor and a longtime friend of Szulborski
Szulborski was a real estate agent and partner in Plaza Realty. He was in his mid-70s, according to Donchez.
The former mayor said Szulborski was the driving force behind the old city fair held annually under the Hill-to-Hill Bridge. He was active in the old St. Cyril and Methodius Roman Catholic Church in South Bethlehem and with the Sun Inn Preservation Association.
“He was very involved in the city, his church and the community,” Donchez said. “Bucky never married but has a brother and was very community-oriented. He was a positive influence in the city.”
McClure said Szulborski made a similar mark on the county.
“He stepped up for the people of Northampton County twice to ensure that the controller’s office had a sure and steady hand when the office became vacant,” McClure said.
“It was really a pleasure to work with him.”
Szulborski pledged when he took over after Bassil's death that he would not seek the elected office for controller in 2023.
In the fall, Northampton County voters will choose between Democrat Tara Zrinski and Republican John Cusick. Both are on Northampton County Council.
The controller is the county's fiscal watchdog, with the office overseeing financial and performance audits of county agencies.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
