Robert P. "Bert" Daday

Robert P. “Bert” Daday, age 85 whose name is synonymous with public service in the Lehigh Valley, whose remarkable 62-year-career included management positions at U.S. Steel and Bethlehem Steel, leadership of the former Bethlehem Community Chest, now United Way, and nearly four decades as the public face of PPL Corporation, died November 25, 2015.

Bert was a tireless advocate for making the Lehigh Valley a better place to live and work, a consummate fundraiser for worthy causes and a steadfast promoter of regional business-public partnerships.

And while economic development, education and transportation were his focus for much of his later career, he also found time earlier in life to be a high school football referee and a radio sportscaster. A 1948 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic, his school sports included baseball, football, basketball, gymnastics and track and field. While attending his beloved University of Notre Dame, he served the football program as secretary for the backfield coach and press box spotter for radio announcers on game days. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, he served as host for the Universitys football coaches, Terry Brennan, Gerry Faust, Joe Yonto, Johnny Ray and Lou Holtz, while visiting the Lehigh Valley.

Those who knew him will remember his gruff outward manner covering (but not too deeply) his heart of gold. Others will “know” Bert Daday through the influence he had on making the Lehigh Valley better: improved highways, an expanded regional airport, job-producing industrial parks, and the positive impact of charitable campaigns he ran for St. Lukes Hospital, the Allentown Symphony, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown Alliance Hall (the former Negro Cultural Center), the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, the Sixth Street Shelter and the Greater Lehigh Valley United Way, to name a few.

Born in South Bethlehem, he was a son of the late Joseph and Margaret Daday. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lois (Reed) Daday and five children: Atty. Stephen G. Daday (husband of Eileen) of Chicago; Kathleen M. Daday Merkel (wife of William) of Lehighton; Atty. Robert P. Daday, Jr. (husband of Donna-Marie) of Allentown; Anne M. Daday Episcopo (wife of Robert) of Allentown; and Margaret M. Daday Koller (wife of Jon, deceased) of Bethlehem; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A son, Robert Reed Daday, died of a congenital heart defect one month after birth.

Bert was one of six children, including: Monsignor Stephen Daday, former principal of Allentown Central Catholic High School; Joseph G. Daday, former director of the Bethlehem City electrical department; and TV and radio sportscaster John L. Daday; and Ethel Daday Bartos, a registered nurse; all now deceased; Paul Daday, who died at an early age; and Bernadette Daday Demyan, a former PPL customer service representative.

Bert attended SS. Cyril & Methodius Elementary School in Bethlehem and Allentown Central Catholic High School before earning a degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1952.

He was a member Assumption BVM Church, Colesville. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

He began his career at the U. S. Steel Corp. Fairless Hills, Pa., after graduating from college, and joined Bethlehem Steel Corp.s Bethlehem plant as a supervisor in 1956.

In 1960 he became assistant director of the Bethlehem Area Community Chest. Named executive director shortly thereafter, he held the post until 1972. During his tenure, he led the organization through a name change and affiliation with the United Way of America. He also was a founder of the Lehigh Valley Community Council, which was the coordinating and planning agency for the social welfare programs in the Valley.

He joined PPL Corp. in 1972 and held various economic development, government affairs, charitable contribution and media relations jobs, working with five PPL chief executive officers over the next 38 years.

He listed among his greatest accomplishments the formation, of the Lehigh Valley Partnership, with Bob Campbell, then PPL CEO, a committee of business people organized to mobilize private sector resources to respond to the needs of the regional community. He served as secretary of the group for many years, stepping aside upon his retirement from PPL at age 80 to become the groups assistant secretary and in 2014 was elected Secretary Emeritus, a position he holds at this time.

In November of 2001, upon the establishment of Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley, he was elected to the Board of Directors, a position which he continues to hold.

He helped form the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Lehigh Valley Business/Education Partnership. He held leadership roles as a Board Member of Lehigh Valley Industrial Parks and as a member of the State Transportation Commission, the I-78 Coalition, the Route 222 and 22 Task Forces and American Parkway.

Among his many awards and honors were: the “Friend of Education Award” from the Bethlehem Education Association; the Frank L. Marcon Economic Development Award from the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce; the Eastern Pennsylvania Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award; the SkillsUSA Leadership by Example Award; the Leadership Award of the Lehigh Valley Hispanic Business Council; the Distinguished Alumni award from Allentown Central Catholic High School; the DeSales Medal; and the Minsi Trails Distinguished Citizen Award.

Services: Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Sunday, November 29, at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E Broad St, Bethlehem, PA 18018; and a Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 30, at Assumption BVM, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015-9097. Calling hours at the church are from 10:00 to 11:00 am on Monday, November 30. Interment to follow at St. Josephs R.C. Church, 5050 St. Josephs Rd., Coopersburg, PA 18036-8920. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Bert Daday Scholarship Fund at Allentown Central Catholic High School, c/o Law Offices of Robert P. Daday, 1030 W. Walnut Street, Allentown, PA 18102 or to Assumption BVM R.C. Church, at 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015-9097.

Viewing
Sunday, November 29, 2015
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Visitation
Monday, November 30, 2015
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Assumption B.V.M.
4101 Old Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem PA 18015
US

Funeral Mass
Monday, November 30, 2015
11:00 AM
Assumption B.V.M.
4101 Old Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem PA 18015
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531