A fitting salute for the man known as ‘Mr. Collingdale’
Collingdale takes a back seat to no one when it comes to celebrating out Independence.
But on this July 4, there was a special sentiment to the July 4 celebration in this tiny borough. Bittersweet, you might call it. It was the first Independence Day since the town lost its biggest cheerleader.
Frank Kelly was not there to lead the celebration.
They did not call Frank Kelly ‘Mr. Collingdale’ for nothing. He served as mayor in this town for nearly five decades.
Kelly passed away last November. Kelly was appointed to Collingdale Borough Council in 1966. He was backed for mayor three years later, and held the post ever since. He was closing in on completing a 12th consecutive term when he passed away, making him the longest serving active mayor in Pennsylvania.
While Kelly was absent this July 4, his spirit once again filled the town.
And it will continue to do so. That’s because Collingdale used this most American holiday to honor its No. 1 citizen. The man whose name became synonymous with Collingdale now also adorns a park he fought to create.
Officials gathered Thursday to honor Frank Kelly by officially naming the pavilion in Collingdale Park the Frank C. Kelly Pavilion.
It’s an especially appropriate honor. The park was one of Kelly’s crowning achievements in leading the town.
“One of his greatest accomplishments was getting this park, the funding for it,” said son-in-law Jim Gonzoph, who was joined by family and friends in a special ceremony and unveiling of a sign on the pavilion bearing Kelly’s name.
“Collingdale was his life and his life’s work was to serve its people,” said longtime borough Manager John Hewlings. “He was always straight and to the point with everyone.
“Sometimes you liked what he had to say and sometimes you didn’t, but Frank always had what was best for the Borough of Collingdale in his mind and his actions.”
Kelly would be first to tell you the secret to being a good public official. It’s about the people, know what they want, serving their interests, not your own. More than anything else, you couldn’t let the trappings of office give you a sense of entitlement, that somehow you were now better than the people you serve.
“There’s nothing worse than a politician who thinks he is better than the people who elected him,” said Kelly, who in addition to his duties as mayor worked for Philadelphia Electric for 41 years.
Maybe that’s why people voted for him for mayor for 12 consecutive four-year terms.
“You have to treat people the way you’d want to be treated,” Kelly said. “And you can’t look down on anybody. I think it helps that I worked for a living and put in my 40 hours like everyone else.”
Kelly certainly put in his time in Collingdale. Nearly a half-century’s worth.
It was a trait his son got to see first-hand.
“My father loved every member of Collingdale, every person he worked with, and he always tried to make their lives better,” said Patrick Kelly. “It’s great to see that by naming this pavilion after him and all the things that everyone has said about him today that you all loved him back.”
“Every day – and there were roughly 17,885 of them – he brought the same level of passion and commitment to this borough and its residents,” said daughter Kristine Olley. “What an example of public service. Olley stressed the honors heaped on her father after his passing were “earned through hard work, sacrifice, patience and loyalty.”
No one can ever doubt that Frank Kelly loved Collingdale.
On Thursday, the day the nation sets aside to celebrate the freedom that makes us a beacon to the rest of the world, the borough returned the favor.
Frank Kelly was not there, but his spirit continues to course through Collingdale’s veins.
And for years to come, those visiting Collingdale Park will be greeted by a memory of the man who made it possible when they visit the Frank C. Kelly Pavilion.
Over the course of five decades, Frank Kelly became synonymous with Collingdale. Now his boundless energy and spirit remains in the park he fought hard to create.
We hope future generations remember that when they visit Frank C. Kelly Pavilion.
Kelly passed away last November. Kelly was appointed to Collingdale Borough Council in 1966. He was backed for mayor three years later, and held the post ever since. He was closing in on completing a 12th consecutive term when he passed away, making him the longest serving active mayor in Pennsylvania.