Editors note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail publishes A Life Remembered. Each story in this continuing series takes a look back through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others at a member of the community who died recently. Todays A Life Remembered is about Bill McLaughlin, who died Saturday, Jan. 23, at age 71.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. Bill McLaughlin didnt grow up in Chambersburg, but he spent much of his life improving the town for future generations.
Through his more than two decades on Chambersburg Borough Council and his roles with local development organizations, he helped guide the town through changing times.
McLaughlin died Saturday, Jan. 23, at age 71 after a battle with COVID-19. He left behind his wife of nearly 50 years, Sue, two sons, a cherished daughter-in-law and a young granddaughter, among other family members.
Bill was a unique individual, said Mike Ross, a friend and colleague of more than 30 years. He was witty, he was insightful on political and community issues, and he was passionate about Chambersburg. He was not native to Chambersburg, but he embraced the community for the 40-plus years he lived here.
Born May 1, 1949, McLaughlin grew up near Philadelphia.
He arrived in Chambersburg in the 1970s, armed with a bachelors degree in hotel and restaurant management from Penn State.
He began his career managing restaurants in the area. He went on to spend time as the food service director at Fulton County Medical Center and Chambersburg Hospital.
McLaughlin spent most of his career as a real estate broker. He was involved in the sale of the Penn Hall Junior College campus on Philadelphia Avenue, which is now a Menno Haven retirement community, as well as the development of the Nicholson Square neighborhood, according to his obituary.
In 1992, McLaughlin began his 24-year run on Chambersburg Borough Council. He spent 10 of those years as council president, and 10 as chairman of the finance committee. In these roles, he had a hand in projects that have made the Chambersburg area what it is today.
These include the Chambers 5 Business Park on the southern end of town and the business district in the Norland Avenue corridor on the other end. Farm fields at the turn of the century, the areas now employ thousands of people, produce millions in tax revenue and help to attract more people and companies to the region.
There was a lot of development during his tenure, said Ross, the president of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation. Norland Avenue, Walker Road, (Interstate 81) exit 17 development. He looked at ways to secure investment in the borough, and I think he was highly successful with that.
Asked about projects in which McLaughlin played a key role, several people pointed to the boroughs wastewater treatment plant.
The $39 million facility opened in late 2017, the result of a multiyear effort involving the borough, and Guilford, Greene and Hamilton townships. The comprehensive upgrade increased capacity and enhanced treatment processes with environmental impact in mind.
McLaughlin was also vital in securing the project to upgrade sewer lines, according to Ross.
Not enough people get remembered for trying to improve the infrastructure of the community, but he realized that was a real need for the borough to serve its residents and accommodate additional growth, he said.
Jeffrey Stonehill, Chambersburg borough manager, said McLaughlin advocated for utility services in the borough. The borough is the only municipality in the state that provides electric, water, natural gas, trash, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and parking.
A friend to all
McLaughlin was known for his charisma and for effectively communicating with anyone, no matter their differences.
Bill was incredibly kind to me when I was a newly elected councilwoman in 2000, and I would sometimes disagree with him and do things that drove him nuts ... but he never, ever did anything to try to undermine me. I always knew where I stood with him, and we laughed a hell of a lot, Sharon Bigler, who sat with McLaughlin on borough council for 15 years, wrote in a tribute on Facebook. Bigler and a reporter were unable to connect for an interview.
McLaughlin was not shy about sharing his opinions, but he would do so in a constructive way, Ross said.
He editorialized on issues he thought were important. Sometimes it was a perspective that at the time others may not have agreed with. But he was respectful of those who may have a differing viewpoint, he said. That, I think, made him effective.
David Keller, chairman of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, said he always admired how McLaughlin wasnt afraid to speak his mind. He said McLaughlin was passionate about public service.
Because he knew a lot of people and knew not only how things worked but how to make them work for him, McLaughlin was the person to go to for advice or for help with an issue, friend Bill Gindlesperger said.
His expertise coupled with the drive to do the right thing, it made him a very key member of our community, he said.
A keen reader, especially of books about history, McLaughlin was armed with obscure facts and details. Ross said anyone playing Trivial Pursuit would want him on their team.
Who knows the names of all the popes during the Renaissance? In fact, it wouldnt surprise me if he knew the name of every pope beginning with St. Peter. He simply had a knack for knowing quirky facts, Ross said.
But more than his work as a public servant or anything else, McLaughlin loved his family. He often gushed about his loved ones, especially granddaughter Alina, Gindlesperger said.
When you started talking to him about (his family), the sun and the moon came out, Gindlesperger said. He was just so proud of them and loved them so much.
He worked to do the right thing
As part of his effort to make Chambersburg better for residents and businesses, McLaughlin joined community boards and worked to attract talent to town. Over the years, he served on the boards of directors of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation, Downtown Chambersburg Inc. and the boroughs Elm Street Advisory Committee, as well as the Chambersburg Exchange Club.
A colleague on borough council since 1994, Allen Coffman emphasized his term as president of the Pennsylvania Municipal League, which works to strengthen, empower and advocate for effective local government, according to its website.
Richard Schuettler, the executive president of the organization, called McLaughlin a historic leader. President in 2000-01, he was the first person who was not a city official to hold the role.
Due to Bills tireless efforts and leadership, League membership grew to a historic level and has continued to the present. Bill was a tremendous advocate for the League but also municipal government throughout the Commonwealth. His legacy is intact. Our heartfelt condolences to Sue and the McLaughlin family, Schuettler said in an email.
McLaughlin worked closely with the two borough managers during his tenure. Stonehill, the borough manager since 2010, said it was McLaughlin who invited him to apply for the job.
He was a friend and mentor, and I will miss him very much, he said.
McLaughlin also sought out other roles in local government. Since leaving borough council at the end of his sixth term in 2015, McLaughlin ran unsuccessfully for Franklin County prothonotary that year and for Chambersburg mayor in 2017.
In announcing his mayoral campaign, McLaughlin said: I am running because I feel there are things I can do as mayor that are being left undone. Im not an ideologue. I get along with people on either side. The mayor can serve as a force to bring people together.
A victim of COVID-19
Several friends and former colleagues shared that McLaughlin was battling COVID-19 for a few weeks before his death.
I thought if anyone could have survived, it would have been Bill, but it just wasnt meant to be, Bigler said in her Facebook post.
Gindlesperger said McLaughlin was the ninth person he knew personally to die of the coronavirus or of a pre-existing condition worsened by it.
(Bill McLaughlins death) leaves a hole in our lives. Theres enough holes in your life when you get to be 75 ... now you couple that with people passing away from COVID and its just dangerous.
Helping a landmark
McLaughlin had recently been working to help a historic community theater battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
My most recent conversation with him was in December, Ross said. He came in to see me. He was ... very interested in trying to raise funds in support of The Capitol Theatre.
McLaughlin was a member of the theaters board of directors. His family requested in his obituary that, instead of sending flowers, mourners donate to The Capitol Theatre Center. Donation information is available at thecapitoltheatre.org.
A service celebrating McLaughlins life was being planned for a later date.
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