Derry community mourns death of borough council president

Derry Borough this week is coping with the loss of one of its veteran public servants, with the unexpected death of council President Al Checca.

Checca, 57, who survived three kidney transplants, died late Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Pittsburgh’s UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. He’d been recovering there for nearly a month from a brain aneurysm that triggered his involvement in a vehicle accident in the borough, his daughter Jessica Bulebosh told TribLive.

“On Sunday, he had a heart attack in addition to everything else,” said Bulebosh, of Greensburg. “He’d had the best day. He was squeezing hands on command. Then, at about 6 p.m., I got a call that there was a serious change in his condition.”

Checca died shortly before midnight, she said.

Colleagues on council learned of Checca’s death Monday morning.

“We thought he was recovering,” said Barbara Phillips, vice president of council, who now is serving as acting president. “When we all got the call, it was a shock.

“It’s a tremendous loss. He’ll be missed without a doubt. He loved the borough, and he wanted what was best for it.”

Checca was named president of council after winning election to a third term in November. He’d served on council for more than a decade, originally as an appointed member.

“There’s going to be a huge hole to fill,” said councilman Nathan Bundy, president pro tem and now acting vice president.

Bundy said Checca, who preceded him in chairing the public works committee, provided valuable guidance.

“He’s been a part of Derry Council for many major projects, including the (Route 217) bridge reconstruction,” Bundy said. “His experience was second to none. He’s helped me tremendously and always made time to answer my questions.”

Mayor Grant Nicely acknowledged there had been friction between him and Checca, but he said Checca had the best interest of the community in his heart.

“He would constantly go to any of the educational programs and keep himself updated and try to use what he could out of those programs for the borough. He was kind of like an encyclopedia, with answers for the town on any questions,” Nicely said.

Among projects Checca supported was development of the borough’s dog park, in 2018.

A Pittsburgh native, Peter Alan Checca volunteered with the Westmoreland County Animal Response Team and had served as a security guard with Derry Area School District and previously as an emergency medical technician in Forest Hills and Chalfant.

“He truly wanted to see good things for the Derry community,” said longtime borough secretary Lori Latta. “He was involved in a lot of positive projects. He’s going to be sadly missed by many.”

“We’ve had an outpouring of support form the community, with over 500 people reaching out,” said Bulebosh. “That’s a great amount for a small community.”

Bulebosh donated the organ for her father’s most recent kidney transplant, a little over a decade ago.

“He was passionate for his community,” she said. “Whether it meant that he was standing alone, he felt he did what was best for his community.”

Checca also is survived by his wife, Kristen, a son, Johnathon, of Derry, and two grandchildren, Gabriella and Colt Bulebosh.

Friends will be received 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in McCabe Funeral Home, 300 W. Third Ave., Derry, with a prayer service following.

At Monday’s council session, Nicely proclaimed that Checca’s vacant seat and his nameplate would be maintained at council meetings for the remainder of the year, in his memory.

Council has 30 days to appoint a borough resident to fill the vacant spot on its roster. Letters of interest may be submitted to the borough at derryboro@gmail.com or 114 E. Second Ave., Derry, PA 15627.