Robert Kopecek, Longtime President of NCC, Dies

President of Northampton Community College for 26 years, Kopecek led while campus, enrollment and community outreach expanded.

  Robert Kopecek, who led Northampton Community College for 26 years while it significantly expanded course offerings and more than tripled the size of its student enrollment, died at his home in North Carolina on Thursday, the school announced. A news release on the college Website said Kopecek is “remembered as a visionary and hard-driving leader, determined throughout his presidency to expand access to education, to foster economic development, and to make Northampton a world-class community college.” Kopecek took over from the college’s founding president, Richard C. Richardson, in 1977 and remained in that role until his retirement in 2003. He was replaced by Arthur L. Scott, who retired a year ago. While Kopecek was president at …

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Obituary: Joan H. Bergstresser, 79, of Palmer Township

Joan H. Bergstresser, 79, of Palmer Township, died Thursday, Dec. 13.

Joan H. Bergstresser Joan H. Bergstresser, 79, of Palmer Township, died Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth.  She is the wife of the late Lee R. Bergstresser who died Feb. 16, 2007.  Born in Philadelphia on January 26, 1933 to the late Clifford and Jean (Rue) Hudson.  Joan is a member of Palmer Moravian Church, where she was a past Sacristan.  She graduated from the University of North Carolina, earning a Bachelor in Mathematics in 1956, Bronze Life Master from American Contract Bridge League, and served on Easton Area Public School Board from 1977-1983. Joan enjoyed many activities with her contemporaries. SURVIVORS Loving children: Cliff P. and his wife M. J. of Damascus, MD, Gary R. and his wife Janet of …

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Coroner Seeking Kin of Allentown Man, 52

The Lehigh County coroner is trying to find the next of kin of an Allentown man who died Saturday

Anyone with information about the relatives of Raymond Rudd, Sr. -- a 52-year-old Allentown man who died Saturday -- is asked to contact the Lehigh County coroner's office at 610-782-3426. Rudd died at Sacred Heart Hospital. He lived at 122 N. 11th Street in Allentown. An autopsy was performed Monday but cause of death is pending results of toxicology tests, according to the coroner's office.

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Arlen Specter Celebrated at Funeral by Friends, Family and the Famous

Vice President Joe Biden was among those to speak about the 82-year-old former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania who died Sunday.

Former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) was remembered by loved ones Tuesday as a man of independence, virtue and influence, with well over 1,000 people, including Vice President Joe Biden, filling a suburban Philadelphia synagogue for his funeral. Har Zion Temple in Lower Merion Township's Penn Valley held the 90-minute ceremony before Specter, who died Sunday at 82 in his Philadelphia home, was to be buried in Huntington Valley. Pallbearers wheeled his American flag-draped casket out of the temple as Frank Sinatra's "My Way" played. Before the funeral, the Specter family greeted a steady stream of mourners that began pouring in more than two hours early. Many of those who waited were heard talking politics, as might be expected at the …

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Sen. Arlen Specter Dies

The former U.S. Senator fought a long battle with cancer.

Former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter died Sunday, according to CNN, at age 82 in his Philadelphia home. Specter represented Pennsylvania in the Senate for 30 years. Specter started as a Democrat but switched to the Republican party before being elected to the U.S. Senate. The senator made headlines in 2009 when he switched to the Democratic Party. Specter announced his diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease in 2005. He underwent multiple treatments of chemotherapy and finally succumbed to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Sunday. Sen. Pat Toomey released the following statement, “A man of sharp intelligence and dogged determination, Sen. Specter dedicated his life to public service and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His impact on our state and public policy …

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Former U.S. Open Tennis Chair Merv Heller Dead at 65

Funeral services for Merv Heller of Bethlehem are set for August 28 at Central Moravian Church.

Mervin A. Heller Jr. of Bethlehem and formerly of Berks County died on Aug. 21, 2012 at St. Luke's Hospital following a prolonged illness. Heller was former chair of the U.S. Open tennis competition - one of the most prestigious events in sports. He was born June 10, 1947, in Reading, Pa., son of the late Mervin A. Heller Sr. and Rachel Turkington. Mervin will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Jan S. Heller of Bethlehem; daughters: Marnie A. Healey and her husband, Nathan, of Wyomissing, Christina Heller of Los Angeles, CA, Katie Heller of San Francisco, CA, and Jenna Berninger of Baltimore, MD; as well as his grandchildren, Ana and Vieve Healey. He was preceded in death by his aunt, Lillian Heller. He will be remembered for his dynamic …

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Obituary: Henry J. Wolst, 69, of Forks Township

Henry J. Wolst worked for the former Bethlehem Steel as a plant patrolman for 22 years.

Henry J. Wolst, 69, of Forks Township, died Monday, August 6, 2012 at his residence. He is the husband of Cindy L. (Fidler) Wolst. Born in Fountain Hill on January 9, 1943 to the late Henry F. and Carole V. (Schwartz) Wolst. Henry worked for the former Bethlehem Steel as a Plant Patrolman for 22 years until retiring.   SURVIVORS In addition to his loving wife of 25 years last September; son: Henry W. Wolst and his wife Jessica M. of Hellertown; sister: Bonnie C. Wolst of Hellertown; Grandchildren: Henry N. & Taylor M.    SERVICE Family and friends are invited to call 9-10 a.m. Thursday, August 9, 2012 at the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc. 326 Main Street – Hellertown followed by the service at 10 a.m. Online expressions of sympathy can be …

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Politicians React to Deaths of Charles Snelling and Wife

Friends and associates were stunned to learn that Charles D. Snelling, a well-known Republican activist, had killed his wife then himself Thursday at their home.

  Friends and associates of Republican political activist and entrepreneur Charles D. Snelling were shocked at Thursday’s news that he had killed his wife, Adrienne, and then himself to end their struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, with which Adrienne had suffered for six years. For instant updates, follow Palmer-Forks Patch on Facebook and Twitter. Here is what they said: Dean Browning, a Lehigh County Republican committeeman and former chairman of the Lehigh County Commissioners, has known Snelling for about 10 years as a friend, mentor and confidant. He said Snelling had phoned him on Wednesday, saying in a message left on his work phone that he was referring a customer to New World Aviation, where Browning is chief financial officer.  …

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Prominent Doctor Terry Bartolet Dies

Bartolet, 71, died of a heart attack at his home.