Frank J. Concino Jr. has been recalled as a good guy and a civic-minded person, who was affable, likeable and always willing to help his fellow man.
Concino died April 26 after a nine-year battle with prostate cancer.
He was just 64.
"He was a great individual," said Wade Keiffer, a commercial lender with First Citizens National Bank, Lock Haven.
Keiffer worked with Concino when the latter served as president of Northern Central Bank.
"It was just so hard to describe what a gentleman he was," he said. "Within the organization, he knew everyone's name. He's going to be missed."
Concino came to Williamsport in 1994 to work for Northern Central Bank, a subsidiary of Keystone Financial Bank.
He became regional president of Keystone and later was regional president and CFO of Legacy Bank/Northern State Bank.
He eventually served as president and CEO of First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania.
"When he first came to town we became very good friends," recalled Marv Staiman, former head of Staiman Recycling.
Staiman said Concino became involved in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, including with fund-raising activities, as well as the annual Israel Bond dinner, of which Staiman and his wife, Jean, have long been affiliated.
"He was always willing to cooperate when asked to do anything," Staiman said. "He was a pleasant guy. He was very willing and very capable. He was a tremendous asset to Williamsport and Lycoming County."
Paul Rooney, former regional president of Sovereign Bank, said he had a great relationship with Concino, even though the two were competitors in the banking business.
"He was a friendly competitor. It was never a case of him trying to make other people look bad," he said. "Beyond being competitors, we were very good friends."
Rooney recalled Concino's commitment to community organizations, including the United Way, Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and Susquehanna Health,
"I know what kind of commitment that is. I always respected that he was willing to give back," Rooney said.
Keiffer recalled Concino as a "gentleman banker."
"The quality I'll always remember about Frank, no matter who it was within the organization, he gave you the impression that you were generally respected, and he told you that too," he said. "Frank was one of those guys who always had an open door. I've worked for a lot of good people over the years, but one thing with Frank was he was accessible. He was always willing to talk with you about anything."
Charles Luppert, former president of Williamsport Bank, said he and his wife were good friends with Frank.
They sometimes visited Frank and his wife Crystal on trips to Hilton Head, S.C. where the couple lived after leaving Williamsport.
"We spent time with him when he passed away," said Luppert. "He had hospice and wanted to die at home."
He recalled Concino saying he always wanted to die in paradise, and with a home on the golf course, he did, Luppert noted.
He called him a good guy and good banker who was dedicated to the community.
And, he noted Concino's sense of humor and upbeat attitude which he maintained even in his last days.
"That doesn't surprise me," Rooney added. "He had a nine-year bout with cancer. His will to live was great."
Don Creamer, former president of Susquehanna Health System and a Hilton Head neighbor and close friend of Concino's, could not say enough about him.
"Frank was really an incredible human being. He was one of the nicest, one of the kindest, one of the most Christian people I ever met. By virtue of the fact you knew him, it was a blessing. He made everyone around him aspire to be like him. I just can't say enough about him. Anything he could do that could help anyone that was less privileged than him, he was willing to do it."
He was, Creamer said, the sort of man who simply got along with everybody.
"I don't think Frank ever crossed swords with anyone. He was just a lovely, lovely man," he said.
Creamer said after Concino was diagnosed with cancer in July 2002, he fought a courageous battle, never giving up or losing his sense of humor.
"He was able to function quite well until about five or six weeks ago," he said.
A lot of people from Williamsport attended Concino's funeral service this week, he noted.
Susquehanna Health President and CEO Steven P. Johnson issued the following statement: "Susquehanna Health is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former board member and friend to Susquehanna Health, Frank Concino. Frank served on the Williamsport Regional Medical Center board of directors from 1995 to 2007 and the Susquehanna Health board of directors from 2001 to 2007. As a leader in the banking industry, Frank's guidance and insight was essential to the growth and stability of Susquehanna Health. He took his responsibilities very seriously and encouraged reinvestments in facilities and technology. During early discussions of Project 2012, Frank's financial management expertise helped position and prepare us to make the investments necessary to secure the future of Susquehanna Health's service to our patients."
