Joseph P. Kuzminski

Former Mayor Joseph P. Kuzminski finished his work on earth on August 26, 2021, at the age of 94.

Born at home on Bingaman Street he was the youngest of 11 children born to Stanley and Mary Kuzminski, Polish immigrants who settled in Reading to raise their family.

He attended Tyson Schoener, Southwest Jr. High, and Reading High. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He began his military career at the Great Lakes Training Center. He served mostly in the Pacific aboard the USS San Marcos. He was a machinist mate 2nd class and served in Guam and Okinowa to line up ships for the invasion of Japan. This ship was then assigned to take part in the testing of the atomic bomb. He was discharged in 1946 and returned home to Reading.

He finished high school then went to Wharton School of Business to acquire a business and finance degree. Joe had a strong desire as a young Pole to be part of the democracy. His first job in government was the Deputy Tax Collector for the City of Reading. He loved serving the public and decided to run for the School Director and served as the Chairman of the City Recreation Board. He ran for City Council and won his first two-year term. He would go on to serve 16 more years as a Councilman and was head of every bureau and department in the City of Reading under the commission form of government which he said was really government with the people. He brought his financial background to Accounts and Finance Department but loved the Streets Department saying it really put him in touch with the people. Following his long tenure as City Councilman, he served as Mayor of the City. He was very proud of his accomplishment and beginning Redevelopment on Penn Street with the General Battery Corporate building relocating to downtown. Following his term as Mayor he went on to work as a Congressional Staffer under Congressman Tim Holden.

In addition to his tireless work for the City of Reading he also served as a chairman for the Democratic City Committee and County Committee for many years. He ran many successful fundraisers and always worked hard for the underserved.

He was a volunteer firefighter and also a member of many fire company social clubs throughout the city. He was a longtime member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, where he was a 4th Degree Knight, and was supportive of every Catholic Church in the City of Reading. He was a dedicated student of bible study and served faithfully as an usher most of his life. His love of God was first in his life and then his love for his city. Equally important to him was his family, daughters, Sharon Epler (Glenn) and Cindy Castner (Tony), his five granddaughters: Elizabeth, Jennifer, Christy, Kelly, and Corey, and his 13 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by all of his siblings and is survived by nieces and nephews.

For the last few years he lived at Country Meadows, where he was also called the Mayor, and was surrounded by the loving staff there. In his final days he and his family were assisted by the loving care of Grain Hospice.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, September 3, 2021, at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Reading with burial to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. A visitation will be held Thursday, September 2, 2021, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading. Contributions may be made to St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 322 S. 5th Street, Reading, PA 19602 or The Bernardine Sisters and mail to Bernardine Franciscan Development Office, 450 Bernardine Street, Reading, PA 19607. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.