GARY PAPA (1954-2009): Those of us in the Delaware Valley are a bit misty tonight after learning that prostate cancer took the life of Channel 6 sports anchor Gary Papa today at the age of 54. Papa had battled cancer for the past five years, unafraid to broadcast with his newly-bald head, and fundraised like hell to fight cancer with all the time he had left, including an annual 5K run/walk which will be held on Father's Day as always.
Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, charismatic, and one of the rare transplants to our city (1981) who was beloved like a native. The role of a local sports anchor isn't what it was in the pre-ESPN era, but after a big event like a Monday night Eagles game or the Phillies victory parade, it's still the locals you want to see, and it was to his Action News team to which I and this city turned. The Channel 6 site has catalogued a ton of archived Papa video and tributes today.
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