Local media personality succumbs to illness
Published: July 1, 2009
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share thisIn a week marked by a rash of celebrity deaths, one local media personality and newsman Paul Joseph “P. Jay” Amadio, 76, died Friday, June 26, after an illness.
Amadio, of Forest City, worked as a reporter for the Times-Tribune. In later years, he wrote a local political column for another local publication that detailed the behind scenes happenings at the courthouse. He also worked in radio, in recent years contributing news to WPEL.
Susquehanna County Treasurer Cathy Benedict said, “P. Jay was at odds with me for a good number of years until he finally decided I was doing a good job and we became really good friends. I’ll miss him and I’ll miss our jabs back and forth with each other.”
He also served two terms as mayor of Forest City and as a borough council member. Amadio also served on the Susquehanna County Railroad Authority.
Amadio spent time gathering information in the courthouse each week and would make a point of visiting the assessment office.
“P.Jay came every Wednesday to see me for so long,” said county mapper Teri Gulick. “He was a dear friend. I will always miss that smile and that laugh – no matter what kind of day I was having he would make me smile.” Gulick spoke of the stories Amadio would tell her during her visits.
As a newsman, Gulick said, “He was not afraid to get out there and go after a story whether it made him a friend or a foe – it didn’t matter to him.”
