CITY HALL SAM: Frank Dillon, Great Ward Leader, Passes

FOR OVER 30 years Frank Dillon, 87, led Northeast’s 66A ward, partnering his leadership with Mike McAleer, leader of 66B. He died last Thursday. Frank resigned his leadership due to ill health. His son Shawn Dillon was unanimously elected to replace his dad as ward leader. He was known as a man who kept his word when he committed the ward to candidates. In this earlier picture, he is seen at happier times with his family: Jackie, Shawn and wife Annie and their baby Ava, and Jimmy. Funeral services were held last night and this morning at Givnish Funeral Home on Academy Road, followed by Mass this morning at Our Lady of Cavalry. Accolades continue to pour in to this paper eulogizing Dillon.

Long-time and well-respected 66A WARD LEADER FRANK DILLON passed away last week. His wisdom and advice helped many candidates navigate Philadelphia’s political machine. His political partner was 66B WARD LEADER MIKE McALEER. They worked together as Ward Leaders for over 30 years and helped turn around the Democrats’ fortunes in the Far Northeast.

Frank is survived by his son SHAWN, who succeeded him as Ward Leader. Also surviving is his loving wife JOAN and his children JACQUELINE and JAMES, 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Many people are expected to pack Givnish Funeral Home and Our Lady of Calvary Church to pay their respects. Godspeed, Frank … we will miss you.

Another solemn event was held at the Bridge Street PennDOT Maintenance Shed this week to name a portion of I-95 after Officers CHARLES O’HANLON and BRIAN LORENZO. Both Officers O’Hanlon and Lorenzo died in the line of duty on I-95. Their bravery, strength and courage will be forever memorialized by large signs along I-95 where they lost their lives too soon.

STATE SEN. Mike Stack joins family of fallen Phila. Highway Patrol Officers Charles F. O’Hanlon and Brian Lorenzo at ceremony renaming 12-mile stretch of I-95 after them.

The O’Hanlon and Lorenzo families spoke about their loved ones. Their strength and words provided great comfort to the large crowd of over 60 officers at the event. Remarks were given by FOP PRESIDENT JOHN McNESBY, MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER, Police COMMISSIONER CHARLES RAMSEY, FOP RECORDING SECRETARY BOB BALLENTINE and STATE SEN. MIKE STACK. CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY and STATE REP. BRENDAN BOYLE sent representatives to the ceremony. Stack authored legislation to name the portion of I-95 North and South between Aramingo Avenue and Academy Road after the fallen officers.

The State and City are playing a classic game of ping-pong with school funding. While the State and City point fingers at each other, the likely loser will be dedicated school employees who get pink slips and students who will have fewer resources to succeed in school. The State took over the School District with the creation of the SRC, but GOV. TOM CORBETT is not providing the same level of funding to the schools like his predecessor GOVS. MARK SCHWEIKER and ED RENDELL. Corbett should know this issue is too important for politics and ideology. It’s time for everyone to get together to create long-lasting governance and funding solutions for the Philadelphia School District.

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