As the Nittany Lions prepared for their season opener today at Beaver Stadium, fans fell silent for a few moments to honor the passing of one of State College's legends, Mayor Bill Welch.
The flag flew at half-mast at the game as Welch's picture filled the scoreboard, quietly conveying the 67 years of life he spent committing to his town, his job and his community.
"Everybody loved him. There were a few that didn't, but most did," Nadine Kofman, Welch's wife of 34 years, said. "He will be awfully missed by many people, including me."
Welch is survived by his wife; three daughters, Jennifer, 41; Jessica, 39 and Justine, 29; and two granddaughters, Clarissa and Linden -- all of whom surrounded the mayor in his final moments at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center on Friday.
A State College resident since the age of two, Welch graduated from State College High School in 1959 and then from Penn State in 1964. From there, Welch went on to be both a reporter and an editor at the Centre Daily Times.
After spending more than 20 years watching over the news of State College, Welch went on to tackle an even bigger goal -- watching over State College itself. In 1994, Welch was elected mayor of the borough, a job he kept until his death.
His wife said the last 16 years of Welch's life were made possible through a kidney donation from his daughter Jessica, an act that gained her the nickname "donor daughter."
"In the last several months, walking and sitting were not comfortable for him," Borough Council President Elizabeth Goreham said. "When he came into the council chambers for a meeting and sat down, no one would have known he was in pain. That really epitomized what he was about as mayor."
To many, he was more than a just a mayor -- he was an influence and a mentor to those on and off the council, council member Donald Hahn said. He was never afraid of conflict or disagreement, a trait for which many remember him.
"He spoke up for what he believed in all the time," council member Peter Morris said. "Frankly, we didn't always agree, but it's OK -- that's democracy."
Hahn, who knew Welch for more than 20 years, recalled the days when the mayor was first running for a position on council.
"Everyone was delighted that he ran for borough," Hahn said. "He was extraordinarily sharp and witty. He was perfect material to work on the council. I think he was born a master of ceremonies."
Several council members gave a nod to Welch's love for overseeing weddings, a passion that led him to preside over a controversial same-sex commitment ceremony last year.
"It took courage," Morris said. "It symbolized the diversity this town should represent."
In addition to being "State College's biggest fan," Welch was dedicated to continually improving the town's relations with the 40,000-student university on its doorstep, Goreham said.
"He loved the university, so he represented those things everywhere," she said. "He was always eager to participate in events which helped further our connection."
Penn State President Graham Spanier called Welch "a dedicated public servant and community leader."
"Bill was proud of his university and the town that surrounded and nourished it," Spanier wrote in an e-mail. "The university and community were in turn proud of Bill, a great humanitarian and ambassador. Penn State deeply mourns his passing."
As quoted in a statement released by Jessica Welch Friday evening, her father was a man with love that was "contagious...unconditional...unrivaled."
"We love and miss him," the statement read.
