EASTON, Pa. — A grieving daughter awakened Wednesday morning not feeling up to celebrating.
Allison Sproat-Chang needed that time, she confessed, to continue tending to her broken heart and endless tears.
The sudden, shocking heart-attack death Monday of her father, John L. Sproat Jr., 68 — an invaluable, beloved staple in Easton government and the community at large for 50 years — was almost too much to bear.
Her expression was a tangle of hurt that needed a quiet place to land.
“This morning, I thought I needed to continue grieving alone. I thought my family needed some private time to deal with this. I just didn’t want to be here — until I got here. The way these people love my father has made me feel better.”Allison Sproat-Chang
And so, on a biting, late-winter morning, more than 150 folks assembled at Centre Square to observe a memorial ceremony and to honor one of their own.
And suddenly, a man’s daughter had found she was at the right place to be.
“This morning, I thought I needed to continue grieving alone,” Sproat-Chang said. “I thought my family needed some private time to deal with this.
"I just didn’t want to be here — until I got here. The way these people love my father has made me feel better.”
'Just a wonderful man'
Easton on Wednesday journeyed to the center of town to wrap its figurative arms around everything John Sproat, a recently retired Easton supervisor, did for its residents.
They came to share stories of his undying love for Easton, his hometown.
They came to thank his family for him coaching their children.
“I remember him coaching my son in baseball,” Joan Ridell said. “I remember his patience and positive demeanor. Just a wonderful man.”
They came to tell stories about listening to Sproat play drums for a local band, Joyous, for 42 years.
The favorite son who became Easton’s drumbeat and heartbeat.
“John gave his life to this city. He started working on the garbage trucks when he was 18. Everything he did was for the city.”Easton Mayor Sal Panto, on the passing of his childhood friend, John L. Sproat Jr.
Gloria Domina is president of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards and former executive director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association. She was saddened at Sproat’s passing.
“When John was behind those drums, he was lost in the music,” she said. “But mostly he had a tremendous sense of community, especially helping youth.
“When I die, I’d like to be remembered as John is.”
They came to hear Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. conduct a ceremony during which the city flag was lowered to half-staff in his memory and hear the mayor speak from the heart about his childhood friend from South Side.
“We grew up together,” Panto told the gathering. “We didn’t have a lot of money; we didn’t know we were poor because everybody helped everybody else.
"It's what I'd like to create in our city again, when our children will be able to grow up here and thank us for getting them in a society that allowed that.
“John gave his life to this city. He started working on the garbage trucks when he was 18. Everything he did was for the city.”
State Rep. Bob Freeman described Sproat as the best the city has to offer.
"He was Easton," he said.
They came to share their memories with Sproat’s wife of 42 years, Robin, his son, John III, his daughter, Allison, and their extended family.
“Look at all these people here on a day like this,” Sproat-Chang said, managing an infrequent smile. “They loved our father. I’m glad I’m here.”
'A great — no, outstanding, guy'
When a man works as a city supervisor, coaches multiple youth sports teams in the Police Athletic League, the Boys & Girls Club of Easton and St. Anthony’s Youth Center, is a life member of fire departments and fills the city with music for 42 years, he is more than just a resident.
That type of man becomes an irreplaceable thread woven tight into the fabric of a thankful community.
“Our dad was dedicated to his job, his family and his community,” said Sproat’s son, John III. “He did everything he possibly could under the sun to please everyone. He was always willing to help. Always there. Never said no.
“While this is a really hard time for us, we thank the city for honoring him today. We’re just trying to get through this and process it."John Sproat III
“While this is a really hard time for us, we thank the city for honoring him today. We’re just trying to get through this and process it. It happened so suddenly, which makes it very difficult.”
City of Easton equipment operator William Appling smiled at Centre Square remembering his old boss of nearly 14 years.
“Best boss I ever had,” Appling said. “Helped the city, helped kids, played music, did anything anyone needed. Just a great guy — no, outstanding guy. I’ll miss him.”
As the crowd began to disperse at Centre Square, a grieving son was thanking people for honoring his father, one day before he was laid to rest.
And then John Sproat III shared what he’d like to do to honor him too.
“I’d like to sit in on drums with Joyous,” he said. “My dad taught me how to play drums. I think he would like that. I would love that.”
