Former Centre County Commissioner Sue Mascolo Dies at 82

Sue Mascolo, a former Centre County commissioner and longtime public servant, died on Wednesday at her Ferguson Township home. She was 82.

‘She was a passionate and dedicated advocate for the Centre Region, one who cared intensely about the well-being of its people and its communities,’ said state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, a longtime friend of Mascolo, who worked for him as a legislative aide. ‘She will be deeply missed.’

Born in Kentucky, Mascolo’s career in public service began in Sheboygan, Wisc., where she managed a senior citizens center. In 1985 she was appointed director of the Bellefonte Senior Center.

In 1991, state Rep. Lynn Herman hired Mascolo as a legislative aide, a role she continued in until 1995 when she successfully ran for Centre County Commissioner.

Mascolo served as vice chair of the Board of Commissioners from 1996 to 2000, also chairing the finance committee and prison board and serving as board representative to the Mid-State Consortium. She also chaired the Centre County Board of Elections for four years.

After her time in office, her service in government and the community continued. She was Ferguson Township’s representative to the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority and was president of the State College Woman’s Club.

A Republican, Mascolo also continued her work in state government as an aide to Conklin, a Democrat. She was still working with him part-time at the time of her death.

“She was a great public servant, a wonderful friend and I was so honored to work with her,” Conklin said. ‘Throughout her life she had the opportunity to interact with thousands of Centre County residents through her work in state and local government. [She] dedicated herself to being a hands-on leader, assisting local residents with their many different needs and requests.’

Mascolo is survived by her husband, Richard, two daughters and three grandchildren, as well as her brother and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Koch Funeral Home and 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in State College, where she was a member. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul’s.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority, in memory of Sue and Dick Mascolo. Donations will be used to purchase benches at the Whitehall Regional Park.