By Joe McDonald
Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 The Morning Call, Inc.
Harry Robidoux, the director of Monroe County’s emergency services for 14 years, died Tuesday after suffering a heart-related problem and crashing his pickup truck on Route 534 in Polk Township, officials said.
Robidoux, 61, was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where he was pronounced dead at 5:12 p.m., said Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim.
Grim said Robidoux died from natural causes, which he described as “cardiac related,” and not from injuries received in the crash.
The accident happened at 4:05 p.m. when Robidoux’s westbound pickup left Route 534 near Lower Middle Creek Road and drove into a drainage ditch before hitting a steel pipe and a bush, state police at Lehighton said.
Robidoux, a Reading native who lived in Tunkhannock Township where he was a volunteer firefighter, headed the emergency services office since 1992.
His death shocked co-workers, friends and firefighters.
“It’s as gloomy as the weather out there in here,” said administrative assistant Ruth Krogstad. “It’s a sad day.”
Monroe County Commissioner Donna Asure said Robidoux was a major force behind the scenes, not only in Monroe County but also in other counties across the state. He was chairman of the eight-county Northeast Pennsylvania Counter-Terrorism Task Force since its formation in 1998 and president of the Keystone Emergency Management Association.
“Harry is going to be someone very difficult to replace,” Asure said. “He had this county in his heart 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Asure said Robidoux called her Tuesday morning and they talked about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to declare Monroe County a disaster area in the wake of last week’s flooding that damaged an estimated 402 properties, including 48 businesses.
“The last thing he said was “OK, boss. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Asure said.
A few hours later, Asure said, she heard Robidoux had been in an accident.
“Harry did a lot of stuff for the volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps,” said Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder Fire Chief Leon Clapper, who credited Robidoux with getting emergency workers computers, radios, saws and other equipment.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at the William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St., Stroudsburg. The burial will be Monday in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.