14 Facts About James Delgrosso

James Delgrosso served as a longtime city councilman from 1982 until 2003, as well as the interim Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for 10 months from 2003 until 2004.

James Delgrosso received his bachelor's degree in education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

James Delgrosso completed his master's degree at Penn State University and Temple University.

James Delgrosso's family credited his interest in politics and public service to his father, Albert "Prince" James Delgrosso.

Albert James Delgrosso had unsuccessfully campaigned for a seat on the Bethlehem City Council.

James Delgrosso taught driver's education at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, from 1965 to 2003.

James Delgrosso was elected in the Bethlehem City Council in 1981 and took office in 1982.

James Delgrosso served as the chairman of the city council's Finance Committee for twelve years while in office.

James Delgrosso was known as a "fiscal watchdog" during his years as a member of the Bethlehem City Council.

In 1996, fully five years before Bethlehem Steel's bankruptcy, James Delgrosso cast a deciding vote to rezone all of Bethlehem Steel's land located in the city's South Side.

James Delgrosso became the Mayor of Bethlehem on March 12,2003, following the resignation of his predecessor, former Mayor Don Cunningham, who left office to become the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services under Governor Ed Rendell.

Additionally, James Delgrosso served on the boards of directors of several local organizations, including the Historic Bethlehem Partnership, the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation and the Bethlehem Area Public Library.

James Delgrosso died of leukemia on October 8,2009, at the age of 66, in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

James Delgrosso had been diagnosed with the disease in July 2009.