Pocono News Section

Colleagues Remember Former Shamokin Dam Mayor

Colleagues Remember Former Shamokin Dam Mayor - Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 5:42PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009 @ 05:42pm EST
Shamokin Dam, Snyder County-

A former long-time mayor of the tiny borough of Shamokin Dam passed away over the weekend. Jack Treas died Saturday, just over a year after undergoing surgery for a brain tumor.

For more than a quarter century, Treas served as mayor of Shamokin Dam. In that time, he made quite an impression on those with whom he worked.

Council President Robert Herbert said, “He was just a nice guy. I don’t think he harmed anybody in his life. He was just a wonderful man.”

Current Shamokin Dam Mayor Joe McGranaghan called Treas a harmonizer.

McGranaghan explained, “He could walk into a situation that was tense and a little upsetting and he could go and soothe everybody’s feelings and get them all going in the same direction.”

Colleagues say Treas went above and beyond his duties as mayor to help anyone he could. Treas served on several boards of directors, including the Selinsgrove Area School District and Evangelical Hospital, among others.

McGranaghan noted, “That was typical of Jack. He didn’t just put his name into something. He put his heart, his soul, his commitment, his passion, and enthusiasm into everything he did.”

We’re told Treas enjoyed playing golf and performing wedding ceremonies.

In 2005, a park in the borough was dedicated to Treas, who family and friends say will be remembered as a devoted family man and community servant.

Herbert recalled, “Every time you would see Jack and his wife out, they would make it a point to wave at you, or bid you the time of day.”

McGranaghan added, “A great guy, a hard worker, compassionate, decent, fine man, and he will be missed by everyone in this community.”

Jack Treas is survived by a wife, son, and three grandchildren. He was 80 years old.