Troy mourns loss of council president

TROY - Troy Borough Council members and officials are expressing grief and shock over the recent sudden death of council president Brian T. Laverty.

Laverty, 55, of Troy, passed away unexpectedly on Friday at Troy Community Hospital.

"He brought a very good financial mind and a fresh outlook to council, and I'm really, really sorry," council member Jerry May said. Laverty was his neighbor, and May had served as council president before Laverty took over. Commenting on Laverty's death, he said it was "just a shock."

Present and former borough council members, the Troy Borough manager, and the mayor attended Laverty's visitation, and the Troy Borough Police Department officers also were there in full uniform.

"I was completely shocked," Troy Police Chief Kyle Wisel said. "I knew Brian on a personal level, not just a professional one. It's hard to explain. I just feel deeply saddened for the family and the future opportunity of working with him on a professional level and our friendship on a personal level." He added that Laverty was "highly respected" by Troy Borough officials and employees.

Troy Borough Manager Dan Close was also expressing his sadness, saying he enjoyed working with him.

As president, Laverty was putting forth "progressive" ideas for energy conservation and ways to reduce costs, he said.

"I was looking forward to working with him on some of his ideas," Close said, adding that council would try and implement some of them.

He also applauded the financial expertise of Laverty, who had his own investment advising business. "Consequently, it did give him a good knowledge of financial issues, which helped with budgeting," Close said.

Laverty was seeking re-election and was on the ballot in the Nov. 3 election. According to Close, council will appoint someone to fill Laverty's seat on council at the November council meeting, at which time it will also appoint a new president.

Continuing his comments, Close described Laverty as a "real environmental type of guy" who was interested in environmental issues.

And he was a trailblazer. According to Laverty's obituary, he had been a member of the Green Party and was the first Green Party Member to be voted into public office in Pennsylvania when he was a Blossburg Borough Councilman. It also notes that his memberships included the Pennsylvania Environmental Network and the Organization United for the Environment.

In addition, an online biography sketch of Laverty notes that he was "a committed environmental activist." According to the biography, he was a featured guest on many TV and radio shows and was seen on CBS's Eye on America feature "What lengths will people go to protect their environment?"

It notes, "Brian believes, 'Corporations are not people and do not have unalienable Rights.'"

Laverty was born Jan. 15, 1954 in Boston, Mass., a son of the late Charles and Janet (Keefe) Laverty. He was a graduate of Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Mass., and served his country in the U.S. Army from 1974 to 1977. He and the former Joanne S. Rubino were married Feb. 2, 1975 in Millis, Mass. He was the founder of the Laverty Group, an affiliate member of the Portfolio Resources Advisor Group. His other memberships included the Democratic Committee, St. John's Catholic Church, and the Community Legal Defense Fund. In his spare time, Laverty wrote a column in a local newspaper, and he was also a devoted husband, father and New England Patriots fan.

Survivors include his loving wife of 34 years, Joanne S. Laverty of Troy; son, Charles "Chuck" Laverty of Pittsburgh; daughter, Christina "Tina" Laverty of Harrisburg; sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Steven Ryan of Farmington, Conn.; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.