Peacefully and gracefully Elissa M. Garofalo formerly of Jim Thorpe, PA, passed away on February 15th surrounded by family and very dear friends.
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, daughter of Matthew A. Garofalo and Maria Morreale Garofalo, Elissa was a graduate of Abington Heights High School and a Penn State University graduate with a degree in Urban & Regional Planning. Retiring in 2021, Elissa held the position of Executive Director of the Delaware & Lehigh (D&L) National Heritage Corridor for nine years.
Prior to coming to the D&L, Elissa co-owned Blue Mountain Sports in Jim Thorpe and was one of America’s first Main Street Managers. She pioneered efforts which led to Jim Thorpe‘s main street (Broadway) being named one of the Great Places of America by the American Planning Association.
During her 21-year tenure with the D&L, she had an enormous positive impact across the entire heritage area, in individual towns, and to the people she worked with. 132 miles of the trail were completed; the “Get Your Tail on the Trail” wellness initiative was launched in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network; the “Tales of the Towpath” educational curriculum was expanded to 80+ elementary schools and 6,500 students participated in related field trips. Elissa’s continued efforts resulted with a section of the trail being dedicated and appropriately named “Elissa’s Mile” in Jim Thorpe.
With Elissa’s leadership, the D&L resulted with major connections along the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers through the historic canals via the D&L Trail. These include the Mansion House Bridge in Jim Thorpe, projects connecting the Delaware Canal section through Bucks County and a merger to save the National Canal Museum and Josiah White III Canal Boat in Easton. Elissa’s vision and efforts brought about the successful merger with the National Canal Museum which contributed to the D&L becoming the first National Heritage Area which is a Smithsonian Affiliate.
Under Elissa’s direction, The Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape program became a model program and driver of THE LINK trail network. Elissa developed two regional revitalization programs and directed the update of Corridor’s Management Action Plan. She was an early steering committee member of Philadelphia’s Regional Bicycle Network, “The Circuit”, as well as on the board and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Alliance of National Heritage.
Elissa was passionate about the outdoors, whether it be mountain biking, white water rafting, downhill and cross-country skiing, a Sprint Triathlon or long walks with her German Shorthair Pointer, Winnie. As a champion of a sober lifestyle, Elissa also enjoyed traveling, new experiences and local history. However, Elissa’s greatest pride and joy were her children, Maggie D’Angelo and Jay Marsden, who she adored immensely as well as her recent grandson, Cameron D’Angelo.
Elissa would light up a room with her infectious smile. If you were a friend of Elissa’s, it was for your lifetime. Elissa, along with special group of supportive friends, called themselves “The Backwoods Babes”. We should all be so fortunate to have friends as loving, loyal and dedicated in our lives.
An annual Christmastime event that Elissa would host in her home was the production of a family favorite dessert, Italian cannoli, a family recipe that has been passed down from generations. Her kitchen was a sanctuary for delicious holiday meals that she would arrange and prepare all on her own. The aroma would fill the room immediately as you entered her home.
Surviving are her children, Mary M. “Maggie” D’Angelo, husband Daniel and grandson Cameron of Sparta, NJ and Thomas J. “Jay” Marsden IV and wife Meredith of Ft. Washington, PA., along with the father of her children Thomas J. Marsden III of Jim Thorpe, PA. Also surviving are three brothers: Richard and wife, Nancianne of Clarks Summit, PA., Roland and wife, Barbara of Boca Raton, FL, Samuel and wife, Andrea of Clarks, Summit, PA, along with 5 nieces, 6 nephews, 8 great nieces and 3 great nephews. Elissa also had two brothers that preceded her in death, Angelo (wife Marise) and Matthew (wife Joyce).
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Cheryl Kunkle, who in the past few years provided Elissa with wonderful surroundings, a calm abode and peaceful living environment in nature’s natural surroundings.
Memorial services will be held this spring.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations to the D&L trail in Elissa’s honor. Contributions can be made online at: delawareandlehigh.org/support/donate noting “Elissa” as the tribute. They can also be directed to the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Inc. (DLNHC), 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road, Easton PA 18042 with the note “Elissa”.
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