Rudy Simko was synonymous with the Middle-Monongahela Industrial Development Association and economic development in the Mid-Mon Valley.
That was the reaction from colleagues to the news that Simko was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while walking along the walking track in South Park early Thursday afternoon.
Edward Gill, 73, of South Park was traveling north on Corrigan Drive when he lost control of his car, possibly suffering from a heart attack. His gold Cadillac swerved into the asphalt jogging and walking path, striking Simko along with Margaret Williams, 54, of Baldwin Township, and Denise Golling, 48, of Union Township.
It was a usual part of Simko's daily routine to go for an afternoon walk after visiting the MIDA park, friends said.
MIDA was incorporated Dec. 31, 1966. With grants from U.S. Steel and the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, MIDA purchased the closed Donora Works and converted it into the bustling industrial site it has become.
'We just lost someone who's almost irreplaceable,' said Charles Muia, vice president of MIDA.
'He was such a good guy and a good friend. He was responsible for turning MIDA around from almost a bankrupt situation to where it's flying so high now.'
Muia said Simko and MIDA Executive Director Lue Ann Pawlick worked very well as a team.
A member of MIDA for about two decades, Simko had served as president of the organization since the early 1990s. He was heavily involved in not only its economic turnaround, but also in its merger with the Greater Charleroi Industrial Development Corp. that involved MIDA's purchase of the Speers Industrial Development Park.
He was also credited with working diligently on MIDA's proposed plans to open a 256-acre industrial site at the Bentleyville Exit of Interstate 70 in Fallowfield Township.
Simko spent 28 years with Peoples Natural Gas, now Dominion Peoples. He spent his last three years with the company as supervisor of economic development. But his involvement in bringing jobs to the region began years before that, during his 20 years working out of the Monongahela office as commercial and residential supervisor within the company's marketing division.
He took an early retirement in December 1995, allowing him to dedicate even more time to the community.
'We're all deeply saddened by his tragic loss,' said Elmore Lockley, company spokesman for Dominion Peoples. 'He was such a nice guy and a fun person to work with. He worked very hard and was deeply involved in the community.
That community loss is especially being felt by MIDA officials.
'I don't know what's going to happen now,' said Muia. 'I don't know how we're going to replace him.'
MIDA executive board member Joe Frye has been with MIDA from the very beginning.
'Rudy was a dynamic leader,' said Frye. 'He devoted a tremendous amount of time since his retirement to MIDA and economic development.'
Frye said Simko worked tirelessly to make MIDA's plans for the new industrial park in Fallowfield Township a reality.
'If it wasn't for him, it wouldn't be happening,' said Frye.
'He's going to be a tough person to replace.'
Keith Bassi, solicitor for MIDA since the middle-1980s, said he was 'in total and utter shock' over the news. At about 5 p.m., Bassi returned a telephone message from Simko. He did not learn until later that night that Simko had died in the accident.
'He truly acted as the captain of our ship,' said Bassi. 'He was very well respected not only in our organization but with agencies within the state.'
He said Simko's death comes at a time when MIDA organization is very busy completing economic development plans -Êplans with which Simko was deeply involved.
MIDA was originally formed by the Mon Valley Progress Council in the 1960s.
'Our hearts go out to him and his family,' said Joe Kirk, executive director of the Mon Valley Progress Council.
Pawlick agreed that she and Simko worked well together from the day she took over as executive director eight years ago.
'He was so intelligent and he was so easy to work with,' said Pawlick. 'He cared about the job we were doing.
'He was such a sincere person. He didn't just work with you, he became a part of your life.'
Pawlick said not only MIDA, but the whole valley is going to miss Simko's contributions to economic development. One of those contributions, the industrial park in Fallowfield Township, is scheduled for groundbreaking later this year.
'That project is going to continue with all of the input Rudy put into it daily,' said Pawlick.
