Bethlehem loses former Mayor Paul Marcincin: Officials credit his hands-on approach to helping pull the city through the dark, dying days of Bethlehem Steel.

Oct 27, 2009 (The Morning Call - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- BHMSQ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Former Bethlehem Mayor Paul Marcincin, an affable yet sometimes controversial figure at City Hall for 21 years, died Monday morning at Holy Family Manor. He was 88.

Serving during the dark days when Bethlehem Steel laid off thousands of workers, Marcincin led Bethlehem through tight budget times when he served as mayor from 1978 to 1987, but he also made time for celebration.

As Billy Joel was singing about the factories shutting down, Marcincin was taking a chance on helping to bring a new festival to the ailing steel town. He and his assistant were the only people in his Cabinet in 1983 to support the ambitious Musikfest, which now draws a million people over 10 days.

Marcincin had later said he believed Bethlehem needed a party like Musikfest to pep up residents during those bleak days.

"He was a good mayor, hands-on. He believed that a mayor should be out in the city and see the workers," said council President Robert Donchez, who co-managed Marcincin's mayoral campaigns. "He was the mayor through some very difficult times, but his hands-on approach helped pull the city through those days."

Family members say Marcincin's down-to-earth approach probably came from his humble roots. One of nine children born to immigrants, Marcincin grew up on the South Side with little money. His talent for basketball was his ticket out.

At 6 foot 3 inches, Marcincin played basketball at Liberty High School and then for Moravian College. He was drafted for the Air Force in 1943 and finished school after. At Moravian, he earned the nickname "Mo-Mo" and was inducted into Moravian's Hall of Fame.

In 1948, he started playing for semipro basketball teams but quit in 1952 when his first of four children was born. Marcincin taught in the Bethlehem Area School District for 36 years, endearing himself to thousands of students and future voters.

At 44 years old, Marcincin was elected to his first term on City Council and served for 12 years until he unseated a fellow Democrat, Mayor Gordon Mowrer, in 1977.

Ironically, a law that Marcincin voted for in 1973 ultimately led to his leaving office in 1986. The law limited mayors to two terms. Marcincin ran for a third term in 1984 and won. But City Council challenged the legality of his holding office and the courts ruled that Marcincin had to step down.

Mowrer called Marcincin a person of integrity, the kind of man who would give you a friendly pat on the back moments after a contentious public debate.

"He was a good mayor, a mayor for the time," said Mowrer, now a councilman. "During his years, Bethlehem Steel went downhill, and he held the city together."

Under his leadership, Marcincin cut taxes by a half-mill in 1979, but four years later, had to lay off a dozen workers and leave another 30 positions vacant.

He also championed a failed electrical-generating trash incinerator plan that he thought would solve the region's trash problems. But amid the headline-grabbing issues, Marcincin also kept an eye on the basic city services like snowplowing.

"I can remember as a kid, we'd get bombarded with phone calls at home, especially when it snowed. He would make me answer the phone and tell them that the Democrats would get their snow plowed first," oldest son Robert Marcincin said with a laugh. "I didn't know any better then, so that's what I told them."

After leaving office, Marcincin remained on the political scene, serving as interim mayor for three months in 1997 to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Ken Smith.

nicole.mertz@mcall.com

610-778-2253

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