SCRANTON, Pa. — It was a somber Monday evening in the city of Scranton as hundreds of people filled the sidewalks, slowly making their way inside Saint Peter's Cathedral to say goodbye to a man they knew as mayor.
"About 100,000 people can probably call Jimmy Connors a friend, so it's not surprising that the crowd here today is so large," said Wayne Evans, former Mayor of Scranton.
Passing away last week at 77, Jimmy Connors served as Scranton's 28th mayor from 1990 to 2002.
A job Wayne Evans, another former mayor, says was just a part of the person Connors was, "When you think of Scranton, the type of city, it is hard-working people, blue-collar, generous, all of those things. Jimmy Connors was that guy."
"More importantly, 30 years ago this month, he married my wife and myself," said Charlie Spano, Scranton.
Whether it was preparing for his wedding or getting ready for another mayoral campaign, long-time friend Charlie Spano says the mayor strived in and out of city hall always to make things better, "He was a born optimist, sun, shining happy to see you remembered your name."
"We were on the dance circuit recently, and we went out together all the time with he and his wife. We met for coffee three or four times a week, and we could sit and yack for hours at a clip," said Lisa Noto.
Lisa Noto and Kathy Bharkhda say Connors will be remembered for his huge heart, generosity toward others, and, of course, his love for the city that raised him.
"He was the absolute best, the most sincere, caring man ever," said Noto.
"He's going to be; he's already so missed. We have such a void in our hearts and our lives," said Bharkhda.
A funeral mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter's Cathedral.