Paying respects to Jim Haggerty in Wilkes-Barre
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Hundreds paid their respects Sunday to a prominent Luzerne County man who lost his battle with cancer just days ago.
Family, friends, and the many he served in the Kingston area filed into the courthouse rotunda in Wilkes-Barre to honor him at a public viewing.
Jim Haggerty was taken way too soon at age 58, losing his battle to an aggressive form of cancer.
On Sunday, emotions ran high at the Luzerne County Courthouse as many paid their respects to the well-known and beloved public servant.
Lying in state Sunday in the Luzerne County Courthouse rotunda, honor and respect on display for Jim Haggerty.
“He was just a great guy,” said Chet Cooper, a friend of Jim Haggerty.
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At 58 years old, Haggerty lost his four-month battle to an aggressive form of cancer on Wednesday.
His family, including his surviving sisters, Kelly and Patricia, were there to mourn and to accept condolences from the many who came to pay their respects.
“The young die too young. Way too young. 58 was just too young so I’m glad he’s at peace now,” said Kingston Mayor Jeffrey Coslett.
After opening his own law firm in the 1990s, Haggerty served the Kingston community as its mayor from 1998 to 2017.
“A very smart man. He was just remarkable, concerned about Kingston and he loved the town,” said Vice President Kingston Council and friend of Jim Haggerty Nancy Cooper.
Most recently he was a District Court Judge, serving Kingston and Edwardsville since 2017.
“Any problems see him. He would take care of it. If he couldn’t do it, he would find somebody who could do it,” Chet said.
His legacy of public service includes rebuilding the Hoyt Library in Kingston, constructing its central fire station, and improving the borough’s public parks.
“The best way to honor Jim is to keep Kingston a great place to live and a great place to open a business. Those were things important to him and that’s the best way we can honor his memory,” said Luzerne County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Alan Stout.
But above all, what many say they will remember is how this highly accomplished man led with his heart.
“Just a great guy with a big heart. With a really big heart. No matter wherever you saw him, he was open to giving you a hug, ‘How’s things going,’ ‘What’s new?’ Top shelf. Just a top-shelf guy,” Maoyr Coslett explained.
The funeral for Jim Haggerty is Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church on North Maple Avenue in Kingston.
He will be laid to rest at Fern Knoll Burial Park in Dallas.
Also, the Kingston Municipal Building will be closed tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. so that the staff there can attend former Mayor Haggerty’s funeral.
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