The late Williamsport native John A. Troisi lived a full life, one that apparently touched many people and served a purpose.

Troisi, who passed away at age 91 on Dec. 10, was considered to be a man who thought about others.

“John was, in every sense of the word, a ‘man for others,'” wrote Jack Houston, his long-time friend who serves as president of the Kiwanis Club of Williamsport, where he said Troisi was a 53-year member.

Such dedication for others included his military service to his country with an eight-year stint in the U.S. Navy, having served on active duty from 1955 through 1957.

His contribution to the downtown business community can’t be overlooked.

For 40 years, Troisi was in a partnership with his father Domenic M. and brother Robert L., in Troisi Menswear.

He became sole owner of the store in 1986 until it closed in 1991. The last 17 years of his years of employment were spent at Beiter’s Home Center.

Capturing images of grizzlies and Little Leaguers

For 50 years, Troisi devoted much of his spare time to his avocation — that of freelance landscape photography.

He sold stock images throughout the world and produced multimedia travelogues, which gained artistic acclaim.

Troisi volunteered his shutterbug skills each August to provide photography support at the annual Little League Golf Classic, capturing the moments spent with Little League supporters and former Major League Baseball Hall of Famers during their time in Lycoming County, according to a post by the Little League organization.

Additionally, Troisi collected travelogues depicting such beauty on earth as landscapes of the Alaskan frontier, that one friend who went with him on that trip said, included grizzly bears snatching salmon out of the water.

Troisi was known for his presence with a camera and ability to capture the pure essence of the excitement of the crowds gathered along West Fourth Street in Williamsport to watch the Grand Slam Parade, which introduces the world to the teams in the annual Little League World Series in South Williamsport and the visitors to host Lycoming County.

Family values

“In a day and age when many don’t know who their extended family are, John stood out,” said Eric Beiter, a city resident and current vice president of Williamsport City Council.

“Not only did he know his extended family, but he would be sure to explain the family tree, so everyone understood,” Beiter said.

“As his second cousin twice removed, with 50 years of age between us, John and I shouldn’t have had much to talk about, but, thankfully, that was never the case,” Beiter remarked.

“When I was a kid, he would always be around at family gatherings, sporting events, you name it, and was often the life of the party,” he said. “As I got older, he became a mentor and one of my closest friends,” Beiter added.

“John introduced me to his love of photography, and as a result, it became a love of mine,” Beiter said.

“I would always be excited to share my work with him and receive feedback to improve my craft,” he said.

“Whether it was listening to him tell old stories about growing up, asking for advice about life, family, or my career, we always made sure to have a gin and tonic close by. He will be missed by so many of us in the community, but his impression will not be forgotten,” Beiter said. “I know every time I reach for my camera, he will be on my mind making sure everything is framed perfectly.”

Such outpouring of kind sentiments was added to by Houston, who offered more personal reflection, and did so on behalf of the many belonging to the Kiwanis Club of Williamsport.

Bouncing back from fire

“We are a better community because he walked among us, and the ‘People of God’ he so loved are his greatest living legacy,” Houston stated in a plug for his late friend.

Houston’s ethreal reference was of what Troisi did for his place of worship – St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church on Washington Boulevard.

In the early 1970s, the Williamsport community watched in heartbreak as a massive blaze claimed the historic church, Houston said.

“It was a moment of profound loss that could have signaled the end of an era,” Houston observed.

“Instead, it became the starting point for a masterclass in leadership, led by a man who believed that a church was not made of stone and mortar, but of people,” he said.

Houston recalled first meeting Troisi in 1975 describing what he accomplished on behalf of the church and for its members.

“I was a member of the priests’ staff and a teacher at St. John Neumann High School,” he said. “John was the President of the Parish Council.”

In the wake of that devastating fire, Troisi didn’t just seek to rebuild a building; he sought to strengthen a community, Houston said.

In fact, Troisi became the driving force behind 300 volunteers, organizing committees with a vision of the “Church” as the “People of God” — a network of service and care.

The magnificent house of worship that stands today on Washington Boulevard is a permanent testament to Troisi’s devotion, Houston said.

In his obituary, Troisi was listed as an “active member” of the church, which included service as the first Chairman of the Parish Council, general chairman of the third St. Boniface Church building committee, a commentator, usher, and certified Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teacher, Troisi was also a fourth degree Knight of Columbus from 1958 until the time of his death.

A friend until the end

From 1985 to 2019, Houston’s career path landed him at Fordham University in New York City — as an academic dean and professor of History.

So when Houston said he returned to Williamsport to retire in 2021, he found that while the decades had passed, Troisi’s spirit had only deepened.

Joining the Kiwanis Club of Williamsport, Houston said he was reunited with Troisi, his “old friend.”

Troisi took great pride in his membership in the Kiwanis Club of Williamsport, where he was a member from 1973 until his passing.

Whether Troisi was serving as the organization’s beloved “Joke of the Day” teller, or hosting the annual “Ray Keyes Salute to Little League Baseball” luncheon, which has been joined by guests such as ESPN’s Julie Foudy and Todd Frazier, he embodied the club’s mission of serving the children of the world, Houston noted.

“His warmth was so infectious that he even inspired Foudy to join our club – a testament to his ability to connect with anyone, from local neighbors to national icons,” Houston said.

Parking and college interests

Troisi served for 20 years, under four mayors on the Williamsport Parking Authority from 1976 through 1995, the authority that oversees the management of the parking lots, decks and parking enforcement staff. He served as the authority’s vice chairman for 14 of those years.

Additionally, Troisi was a member of the former Williamsport Area Community College Business Advisory Board from 1977 through 1985.

Troisi belonged to the Williamsport Community Concert Association board from 1985 through 1991, and served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Lycoming County Historical Society from 2006 through 2010.

He was a volunteer for the formerly-named Williamsport/Lycoming United Way, having served many times as a loaned executive.

Troisi served as a member of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee from 1986 through 1991, and as a member of the Williamsport/Lycoming Foundation Advisory Board from its inception.

Baseball and tennis in his blood

Troisi was a lifetime Los Angeles Dodgers fan, and reveled in their accomplishments.

He was an active Little League Baseball volunteer who in 1995 was recipient of the W. Howard Hartman, Little League Friendship Award.

He was a member of the board of the Williamsport Tennis Club from 1954 until the time of his death and served as president from 1976 through 1995. In the year 2000, he was the recipient of the club’s Brooks E. Reese Sr. Distinguished Service Award.

A lasting character

“What struck me most in these final three years of our friendship was John’s remarkable consistency of character,” Houston said in his written memory of his pal..

“In a world that often feels divided, John approached differences with curiosity rather than caution,” he said.

“He understood that the true strength of any community lies in its diversity,” he said.

“He didn’t just resist the status quo; he was a progressive spirit who looked for potential where others saw problems.”

For Troisi, tradition was never a constraint; it was a foundation.

“He used that foundation to build a more just and thoughtful future for Williamsport.” Houston said.

He and his wife, the former Patricia A. “Patsy” (Delycure) Troisi would have observed their 67th wedding anniversary on Aug. 16.

“I can say with certainty that John Troisi was a legend in his own time,” Houston said.

“He was, in every sense of the word, a ‘man for others.'”

“We are a better community because he walked among us, and the ‘People of God’ he so loved are his greatest living legacy.”