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Gary Papa Dies, Action News Sports Director Loses Cancer Battle
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by Tina Kells | June 19, 2009 at 01:25 pm
5692 views | 10 Recommendations | 16 comments
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Action News sports director Gary Papa has died at the age of 54. Gary Papa lost a more than five year battle with prostate cancer. The Buffalo, New York native, was well respected by peers and an active advocate of cancer charities and events. He helped found a local prostate cancer fundraiser called Run 4 Your Life. Funeral arrangements for Gary Papa have not yet been made.
Meteorologist Cecily Tynan described Mr. Papa as a "wonderful person, full of life, full of energy, full of love for his family and his coworkers. We're all going to miss him terribly. . . . He fought the battle as well as he could, but he couldn't fight any longer. He'll stay alive in our hearts and in the viewers' hearts."
Papa died at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He's survived by his wife Kathy and two sons, Tucker and Nathaniel.
Mr. Papa was the catalyst for Run 4 Your Life, an annual fund-raiser for prostate cancer research on the Ben Franklin Parkway. It will be held, as scheduled, on Sunday.
In a moving tribute to his friend Phillies director of public affairs Scott Palmer spoke of his friend's five year battle with prostate cancer. Palmer noted that Gary Papa, the father of two boys, Nathaniel and Tucker, passed just two days before Father's Day in the US. Every Father's Day Gary Papa and his family would attend the Run 4 Your Life fundraiser to raise money for prostate cancer research.
"Even when you're prepared for something like this that you know is eventually going to come, it's just so hard to accept," Palmer said. "He was so courageous, so brave. For him to go on the air in an appearance-based business when a lot [of others] would not have gone on the air . . . because it was so important to him to deliver the sports to the greatest fans in the world - Philadelphia sports fans - nothing was going to stop him from doing that."He was just so full of energy, so full of life. He was here for Harry's tribute. He was telling his sons why it was so important for them to be there."
Palmer noted that it was ironic Papa died two days before tomorrow's annual Run 4 Your Life, a Father's Day benefit on the Parkway for the Foundation for Breast and Prostate Health.
A funeral date for Gary Papa has not yet been announced.
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at 14:51 on June 19th, 2009
He was a reliable and constant presence on the Philadelphia TV news scene, with a great broadcasting voice. He will be truly missed.
at 16:02 on June 19th, 2009
My husband & I have watched Gary for years. When we had seen him on TV, with no hair, we said to each other, his cancer must have come back. No matter what, Gary always had that smile. I lost my husband Jim, this past March, with prostrate cancer. He also, had battled this for 4 years. His cancer had gone into his bones. Bone cancer is the most painful cancer, anyone could have. No matter had much pain my husband had, he was just like Gary, could always give you a smile, and hardly ever complained. Both Jim & Gary seemed like they were the same. No matter how they felt, they would push themselves to the limit, to do what they wanted to get done.
My heart goes out to the family...I know what you are going through, at this time.
at 16:57 on June 19th, 2009
My heart goes out to you. I lost two close friends to cancer in the past two years. One had cancer of the lymphnodes and the other that just died in April had colon cancer. It hurts just to watch people waste away.
at 20:33 on June 20th, 2009
I am so sorry about your husband. May he rest in peace with the angels.
at 16:57 on June 19th, 2009
Thank you for posting this Tina:)
at 17:44 on June 19th, 2009
My heart goes out to the family, God Bless All of you.
at 04:25 on June 20th, 2009
It's people like Gary that make us all want to live. I could only hope he and Harry (Kalas) are looking over our sports teams. God Bless you Gary, your painful days are over and your no doubt in a better place. We'll miss you !
at 08:24 on June 20th, 2009
My favorite memory of Gary Papa is the clip he did with his Dad a few years ago. God Bless the Papa family and his co-workers at this very sad time.
at 08:25 on June 20th, 2009
My favorite memory of Gary Papa is the clip he did with his Dad a few years ago. God Bless the Papa family and his co-workers at this very sad time.
at 09:12 on June 20th, 2009
The entire news show last night at 11 p.m. on CH 6 in Phila. was on Gary Papa! Even other sports broadcasters on other stations commented on how much he was admired and will continue to be so by sports fans, Phila. people, and his family.
at 18:48 on June 20th, 2009
TO GARY PAPA'S FAMILY AND ALL OF HIS CO-WORKERS AT ACTION NEWS. SO, SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT HIS LOST IT SURE WAS A VERY SAD DAY FOR ALL OF US TO LOSE SUCH A GREAT MAN. MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.
LEGACY OF LOVE
A HUSBAND, A FATHER A FRIEND TOO,
THIS IS THE LEGACY WE HAVE FROM YOU.
YOU TAUGHT US TO LOVE AND HOW TO FIGHT,
YOU GAVE US ALL STRENGTH , YOU GAVE US THE MIGHT.
A STRONGER PERSON WOULD BE HARD TO FIND,
AND IN YOUR HEART, YOU WERE ALWAYS KIND.
YOU FOUGHT FOR US ALL IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
NOT JUST AS A HUSBAND NOT JUST A FATHER OR A FRIEND
FOR ALL OF US YOU GAVE YOUR BEST,
NOW THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO REST.
SO GO IN PEACE, YOU EARNED YOUR SLEEP,
YOUR LOVE IN OUR HEARTS, WE'LL ETERNALLY KEEP.
at 06:32 on June 21st, 2009
I came across a tribute for Gary Papa. It was so beautiful, and I wanted to know the name of its author to thank her. Please read the tribute and let me know if you have any information about its author.
Tomorrow, I will be attending a memorial service in York PA for a man, Alan Spencer Rosenberg, who was also a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and community member. I would like to share this poem with others.
at 06:11 on June 21st, 2009
Although we mourn the loss of a loved one, know Gary is now in a place with no pain. To Gary's family know he will always be watching over you, hang on to all the special memories Gary left you with. to Gary's Co-workers at Action News may you remember all the fond memories Gary left with all of you and all his viewer's that will also miss him. To all ,you can be proud Gary's DASH IN LIFE WAS SPECIAL !!!!
Linda, Port Norrris,N.J.
at 06:12 on June 22nd, 2009
My husband and I admired Gary for years with his million dollar smile and what seems like a consistent pleasant personality. It seemed throughout his battle he remained constant with a positive outlook. He will be sadly missed
at 09:41 on June 22nd, 2009
I am very, very saddened about the loss of Gary Papa. I was so shocked when I was watching the11PM news and heard that Gary passed away. I really though he was going to beat his cancer. I have watched channel 6 news all my life, I would never ever watch another channel, I only loved Channel 6 news. I have watched Gary Papa since I was a teenager, I am now 44 years old, so I have been watching Channel 6 for a long time. My heart goes out to all of the Channel 6 team, I know yu will miss Gary very much. My heart also goes out to Gary's wife and two boys. My father passed away when I was 21, from Colon cancer, so I know what it is to lose someone to cancer. I know it will take a long time to heal from this, but to the Channel 6 team, agasin my heart goes out to all of you who worked with Gary, and again my condolences to his wife and boys, I am so sorry for your loss.